"Leaked Algolia API Keys Exposed Data of Millions of Users"
Security researchers at CloudSEK have recently identified thousands of applications leaking Algolia API keys and tens of applications with hardcoded admin secrets, which could allow attackers to steal the data of millions of users. The researchers noted that organizations can use Algolia’s API to incorporate into their applications functions such as search, discovery, and recommendations. The API is used by over 11,000 companies, including Lacoste, Slack, Medium, and Zendesk. CloudSEK says it has identified 1,550 applications that leaked Algolia API keys, including 32 apps that had hardcoded admin secrets, providing attackers with access to pre-defined Algolia API keys. The researchers say that the offending 32 apps had more than 2.5 million downloads, potentially exposing the data of their users to malicious attacks. The researchers noted that a threat actor could exploit these weaknesses to read user information, including IP addresses, access details, and analytics data, and delete user information. The researchers stated that while this is not a flaw in Algolia or other such services that provide integrations, it is evidence of how API keys are mishandled by app developers. So, it is up to individual companies to address the security concerns associated with payment gateways, AWS services, and open firebases. The researchers noted that the Algolia API requires that the Application ID and API key are passed via two headers to use services such as search, browse index, add records/delete records, list/update indexes, read/update index settings, and to retrieve logs and information from APIs. An attacker with access to the leaked API keys could access any of these features and read the information they should not have access to. CloudSEK points out that organizations should revoke the leaked API keys and generate new ones that are stored securely and that authenticated endpoints should be used to communicate with sensitive, external APIs to prevent the leak of secrets. The company has informed Algolia and the affected organizations of the hardcoded API keys.
SecurityWeek reports: "Leaked Algolia API Keys Exposed Data of Millions of Users"