Context and Problem
When interacting with third parties, it’s often necessary to provide access to certain parts of a system without exposing sensitive information or full permissions.
- Giving too much access to external users or systems can increase the risk of data breaches or misuse.
- Managing access rights for external parties can be complicated and error-prone.
- It can be difficult to ensure that only necessary permissions are granted.
Solution
The Valet Key pattern provides limited access to external parties, allowing them to perform specific tasks without granting full access to the system.
- Identify the operations or data the external party needs access to.
- Create a limited access key that provides only the permissions necessary to perform those operations.
- Ensure that the key does not allow access to sensitive parts of the system or data.
- Set expiration dates or usage limits on the key to ensure temporary access.
- Monitor and audit the use of valet keys to detect any misuse or attempts to extend access beyond the granted permissions.
Benefits
- Least Privilege
- Only the minimum required permissions are granted, reducing the risk of misuse.
- Security
- Reduces the exposure of sensitive data or system functionality by restricting external access.
- Flexibility
- Allows controlled access to external parties for specific operations or tasks.
- Simplicity
- Streamlines access control by using a simple, limited-access mechanism.
Trade-offs
- Complexity
- Managing valet keys and ensuring they provide only necessary permissions can be complex.
- Risk of Over-provisioning
- If not properly managed, valet keys can inadvertently grant more access than intended.
- Short-term access limitations
- Expiration or usage limits might inconvenience users who need continuous access.
Issues and Considerations
- Key management
- Ensuring valet keys are securely generated, distributed, and revoked when no longer needed.
- Expiration and renewal
- Handling the lifecycle of valet keys, including expiration, renewal, and revocation.
- Scope of access
- Ensuring valet keys are limited to only the necessary permissions for the intended purpose.
When to Use This Pattern
- When you need to grant external parties access to specific parts of a system without compromising overall security.
- When you want to limit the scope of permissions granted to external users or services.
- When temporary access to resources is required for external parties or contractors.