Using the Secret Manager with the REST API

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Access and manage Secret Manager secrets with the REST API

Objective

The objective of this guide is to present the use of the REST API for the Secret Manager.

Requirements

Instructions

Description

The Secret Manager is a product that allows you to securely store credentials, API keys, SSH keys, or any other type of secret necessary for the operation of your applications.

A secret is a collection of one or more key-value pairs grouped within a version. Each modification of a secret creates a new version of that secret, allowing you to go back in the history of changes to the secret.

The REST APIs are one of the two API sets offered by the Secret Manager, along with the HashiCorp Vault KV2 compliant API. These APIs are designed to be similar to the OVHcloud API set and the OKMS APIs for the Key Management Service.

The REST APIs can be used either through the centralized OVHcloud API or directly on the OKMS domain in the region. The only difference lies in the exact API path:

  • Centralized OVHcloud API: /v2/okms/resource/{okmsId}/secret/{path}
  • Regionalized OKMS API: /api/{okmsId}/v2/secret/{path}

This documentation will focus on the APIs of the OKMS domain in the region.

Contacting the OKMS domain

Communication with the OKMS domain for encryption and signature actions is available via APIs.

Since the OKMS domain is regionalized, you can access the API directly in its region: https://my-region.okms.ovh.net.

For example, for a OKMS domain created in the eu-west-rbx region: https://eu-west-rbx.okms.ovh.net.

It's possible to communicate with the OKMS domain using:

Authenticate using a Personal Access Token, service account, or access certificate. For REST API usage, a PAT or service account is recommended.

To test API calls interactively, use the OKMS Swagger UI at https://<region>.okms.ovh.net/swagger/.

Create a Secret

To create a secret, you can use the following API:

MethodPathDescription
POST/api/{okmsId}/v2/secret/Create a Secret

The API expects the following values:

FieldValueDescription
cas_requiredbooleanIf enabled, it is necessary to systematically specify the current version number when making changes
custom_metadataJsonAdditional data associated with the secret. This data is not protected by the secret
deactivate_version_afterDuration StringDuration after which versions are deactivated
max_versionsIntegerMaximum number of versions for the secret
pathStringSecret path
versionJsonSecret content. It is possible to have nested JSON

For example:

{
  "metadata": {
    "cas_required": true,
    "custom_metadata": {
      "project": "A",
      "team": "X"
    },
    "deactivate_version_after": "10h30m10s",
    "max_versions": 5
  },
  "path": "prod/database/MySQL",
  "version": {
    "data": {
      "login": "admin",
      "password": "my_secret_password",
      "address": {
        "ip": "1.1.1.1"
      },
      "ports": [
        "30",
        "31"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Manage Secrets

Update Metadata and configuration

Once the secret is created, it is possible to update the secret's metadata or configuration.

MethodPathDescription
PUT/v2/secret/{path}Update a secret

The API expects the following values:

FieldValueDescription
cas_requiredbooleanIf enabled, it is necessary to systematically specify the current version number when making changes
custom_metadataJsonAdditional data associated with the secret. This data is not protected by the secret
deactivate_version_afterDuration StringDuration after which versions are deactivated
max_versionsIntegerMaximum number of versions for the secret

It is also possible to change the default configuration of the OKMS domain for the values cas_required, deactivate_version_after, and max_versions using the API:

MethodPathDescription
PUT/v2/secretConfigSet the default configuration of the OKMS domain

Create a new version

It is also possible to modify the secret's content, which implies creating a new version for the secret. New versions can be created using the API:

MethodPathDescription
PUT/v2/secret/{path}Update a secret
PUT/v2/secret/{path}/versionCreate a new version of a secret

Whether the modification of the data of the secret is done using the general API for updating the secret or the specific API, a new version of the secret is created.

A secret can contain as many versions as desired, up to the maximum limit of the max_versions parameter. If the maximum number of versions is reached, the oldest version is automatically deleted.

Manage versions

It is possible to manage the different versions of the secret using the API:

MethodPathDescription
PUT/v2/secret/{path}/version/{version}Update the version of a secret

The API expects the unique value:

FieldValueDescription
stateactive , deactivated, deletedactive: The value of this version is accessible
deactivated: The value of this version is still present in the system but is no longer accessible until the version is reactivated
deleted: The value of this version is no longer present in the system and cannot be restored.

Go further

OKMS authentication methods

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