Security: Exposed Groq API Key in .env
- Dominant language
- JavaScript
- Stars
- 13
- Forks
- 36
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
## Security Alert: Exposed API Key Detected
Hi there,
I'm [Zak Cole](https://crap.dev), a security researcher. I run automated scans to help developers identify accidentally exposed API credentials before malicious actors find them.
### What I Found
**File:** `.env`
**Key Type:** Groq
**Exposed Key (redacted):** `gsk_14VI********************************************wDeu`
### Why This Matters
Exposed API keys can lead to:
- **Unauthorized charges** on your account (AI API calls can get expensive fast)
- **Data exfiltration** if the key has access to your resources
- **Abuse** of your account for spam, attacks, or other malicious activity
### Recommended Actions
1. **Immediately revoke this key** in your Groq dashboard
2. **Generate a new key** and store it securely (environment variables, secrets manager)
3. **Check your usage** for any unauthorized activity
4. **Add `.env` to your `.gitignore`** to prevent future leaks
### How to Store Secrets Properly
```bash
# .gitignore
.env
.env.*
*.env
```
Load from environment instead of hardcoding:
```python
import os
api_key = os.environ.get("API_KEY")
```
---
This is an automated disclosure from a public service I run to help secure the open source ecosystem. No keys were stored or used, only pattern-matched and reported.
**Need help building a secure application?** I'm available for consulting and development work. Reach out if you want help shipping something that doesn't leak credentials.
**Follow for more security content:**
- Me: [x.com/0xzak](https://x.com/0xzak) | [crap.dev](https://crap.dev)
- My company: [Number Group](https://numbergroup.xyz) | [x.com/numbergroupxyz](https://x.com/numbergroupxyz)
Stay safe!
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by checking the exposed .env file and the repository’s .gitignore, then review the Groq dashboard and usage history as described in the report. Done means the exposed credential is revoked and replaced, .env is ignored, and no active secret remains in the repository.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- javascript, nodejs
- Domain
- security
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 30/100