Usage of weak model specific encryption key

• Rule ID: ruby_rails_weak_custom_key
• Languages: ruby
• Source: weak_custom_key.yml

Description

Weak model-specific encryption keys can compromise data security. To ensure effective encryption, model-specific encryption keys should be 12 bytes or greater.

Remediations

• Do not use model-specific encryption keys shorter than 12 bytes. Short keys are easier to crack, putting your data at risk.

  class User < ApplicationRecord
    encrypts :email, key: "weak-key" # unsafe
  end

• Do ensure your model-specific encryption keys are 12 bytes or longer to maintain strong encryption and protect sensitive data.

  class User < ApplicationRecord
    encrypts :email, key: "stronger-key-example"
  end

References

• Rails encryption setup and recommended key practice
• Rails encryption - model-specific keys

Associated CWE

• CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength

OWASP Top 10

• A02:2021 - Cryptographic Failures

Configuration

To skip this rule during a scan, use the following flag

bearer scan /path/to/your-project/ --skip-rule=ruby_rails_weak_custom_key

To run only this rule during a scan, use the following flag

bearer scan /path/to/your-project/ --only-rule=ruby_rails_weak_custom_key