Hardcoding Secrets
Hardcoding secrets refers to the practice of embedding sensitive information, such as passwords, API keys, or encryption keys, directly into source code or configuration files. This is a security anti-pattern that exposes credentials to unauthorized access, especially when code is stored in version control systems like Git. It bypasses secure storage mechanisms and makes secrets difficult to manage and rotate.
Developers should avoid hardcoding secrets to prevent security breaches, as it can lead to data leaks, unauthorized system access, and compliance violations. Instead, they should use secure alternatives like environment variables, secret management tools (e.g., HashiCorp Vault), or configuration files excluded from version control, particularly in cloud-native or distributed applications where secrets need dynamic handling.