6 Effective Secret Scanning Tools

Secret scanning tools identify and protect sensitive information that may be exposed within software assets. Developers often embed secrets like API keys, database credentials, and encryption keys in source code—but if left unprotected, these can serve as direct entry points for attackers. 

Failing to secure sensitive information has led to significant security breaches for large organizations. For instance, in June 2024, a hacker known as IntelBroker breached Advanced Micro Devices's systems and sold data that included source code and financial records.

A secret scan reduces risks and defends against vulnerabilities. Here are some common tools to know, along with why Legit Security tops the list.

What Is Secret Scanning?

Secret scanning is the automated process of detecting sensitive information within codebases, logs, or configuration files. 

Developers sometimes leave secrets in their code, either by oversight or for convenience. But without secure storage and proper access controls, they become vulnerable. For example, a leaked hardcoded secret like an API key could allow unauthorized access to a cloud service, leading to data theft or service disruptions.

A secret scanning tool automates vulnerability detection by continuously monitoring repositories and building a pipeline for exposed secrets. These tools can identify specific formats, like hardcoded passwords, using advanced pattern recognition and even machine learning. Once it detects a secret, the tool provides actionable insights to remediate the issue. 

Many secret scanning tools integrate directly into development workflows so it’s easier to catch and fix problems during the coding process rather than after deployment.

Benefits of Secret Scanning Tools

A secret scanner addresses risks before they can be exploited. By integrating these tools into development workflows, you reduce incident response times and make codebases more secure. 

Below are the key benefits of implementing secret scanning:

• Early detection of vulnerabilities: Secret scanning tools analyze code as written, identifying risks before they become active vulnerabilities and reducing the exposure window.
• Enhanced security automation: Many tools integrate with version control systems like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket for continuous scanning without much developer overhead. 
• Compliance and regulatory alignment: Many industries require strict adherence to data protection regulations. Secret scans help organizations comply with standards like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) by preventing the exposure of sensitive data.
• Reduced incident response time: If a secret is exposed, these tools provide immediate alerts so teams can swiftly revoke compromised credentials and minimize damage.
• Integration with DevSecOps practices: Organizations can incorporate security checks into the SLDC by embedding secret scanning into CI/CD pipelines. 

6 Secret Scanning Tools

The right secrets scanner should identify exposed data and fit into your team's workflow without interrupting development cycles. Here are six options to choose from: 

1. Legit Security 

Legit Security’s AI-powered tools take secrets scanning to the next level. Legit provides enterprise-grade performance, giving you the visibility, prevention, and remediation capabilities you need to secure secrets across the entire development lifecycle. 

Legit Security offers real-time monitoring for secrets within repositories and third-party dependencies. It also enforces secure development policies across teams so that exposed secrets are detected and addressed during the earliest stages of development. Plus, Legit’s integration with CI/CD tools like Jenkins and GitLab enables automated security checks throughout the development process.

Advanced secret scanning tools like Legit don’t just scan repositories. They also analyze build logs, where secrets often leak due to misconfigurations. Not every tool does this, and attackers frequently exploit exposed credentials in these areas to compromise software supply chains.

2. GitGuardian 

GitGuardian provides secret detection for both public and private codebases. Its detection algorithms identify over 350 types of secrets, including API keys, private certificates, and proprietary tokens, in real time.

3. AWS Secrets Manager 

AWS Secrets Manager stores and retrieves sensitive information. While it’s primarily a storage solution, it complements secret scanning by checking that credentials are not hardcoded into apps. This tool is best for organizations heavily invested in the AWS ecosystem.

4. TruffleHog 

TruffleHog is an open-source tool designed for deep repository scanning. It supports regex pattern matching and entropy-based detection to identify high-entropy strings like cryptographic keys. Plus, TruffleHog analyzes both real-time and historical commits, allowing it to detect past secrets—even if they’ve since been removed from the code.

5. Doppler 

Doppler combines secret scanning with secret management, acting as a hub for storing and distributing sensitive information. It simplifies workflows by integrating directly with development environments and CI/CD tools. However, its scanning capabilities are less advanced than dedicated tools like Legit, which actively searches for exposed credentials in codebases. Doppler is best alongside a dedicated secret scanning tool. 

6. GitLeaks

GitLeaks is an open-source command-line tool that detects hardcoded secrets in Git repositories. It scans both current and historical commits and supports custom rules to detect API keys and other sensitive data.

GitLeaks works well for development teams looking for a lightweight, easily configurable solution. However, it lacks real-time scanning and primarily relies on regex patterns, which can result in a high number of false positives. 

How to Choose the Right Secret Scanning Tool

A good secret scanning tool must monitor all areas and detect leaked credentials across the SDLC. It should also have:

• Development environment compatibility: Choose a tool that integrates with your existing tech stack, including version control systems, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms.
• Detection capabilities: Evaluate the types of secrets the tool can detect. Look for options with advanced detection methods, like entropy analysis and pattern matching, to cover various vulnerabilities. 
• AI-powered tools: AI learns from past scanning results and minimizes irrelevant alerts by accurately identifying complex patterns in the code. It also reduces manual sifting through non-issues so you can focus on real vulnerabilities.
• Remediation support: Find tools that offer actionable remediation steps, like automated secret revocation or integration with ticketing systems.
• Scalability for large teams: Make sure the tool can handle the scale of your organization. It should be able to scan thousands of repositories without disrupting workflows.
• Real-time monitoring: Tools with continuous monitoring identify secrets as soon as they’re exposed so teams can revoke and replace them before attackers do.
• Cost-effectiveness: Assess the tool's pricing structure in relation to your organization’s needs, including any additional features or services offered.

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between SAST and Secret Scanning?

SAST, which stands for static application security testing, analyzes static code to identify vulnerabilities before deployment. Secret scanning may be part of SAST, but it’s a different process.

What Are the 3 Types of Scanning in Cyber Security?

There are three main types of vulnerability scanners: 

• Network-based vulnerability scanners: Networks notoriously offer many opportunities for cybercriminals to enter. Network-based scanners analyze the systems and hardware within an organization’s network infrastructure to spot weak points.
• Application vulnerability scanners: Application scanners simulate real-life attacks in a process often referred to as dynamic application security testing, or DAST. This minimizes risk across the attack surface. 
• Cloud vulnerability scanners: Like network scanners, these tools comb through a company’s cloud infrastructure for vulnerabilities and identify points that could pose risks.

Experience Enterprise-Level Secret Scanning With Legit Security

Legit Security uses smart technology to find and protect secrets across all your development tools and processes. Unlike basic scanning tools that just look at code, Legit Security checks everything—your development tools, system settings, and the way your teams work together to build software. 

Legit provides enterprise-grade performance, giving you the visibility, prevention, and remediation capabilities you need to secure secrets across the entire SDLC. Book a demo now.