redact-secret · Report
Project API key (ak_)
ak_ + 20 URL-safe nanoid [A-Za-z0-9_-] with at least one upper- and one lower-case letter (the short-prefix guard).
Registry detector composio-api-key since redact-secret#909 (registry pinned at 1127bf9); graduated from a Beta.11 arrival family (#434 slice g, #860 Tier A handoff), contract in benchmarks/lib/beta8/434g.ts. T1.
Research record
From credential-evidence snapshot-2026.10.06.4 · records at 77ce761 · schema 1.8.0. It describes the research on the format, not what any scanner or the product does, and not a support status.
3 events in the review history: 2 observed, 1 reviewed. Latest: observed on 2026-09-28 by automation, project maintainer. Project-maintained review is not independent validation. The family record at this release.
Format
Provider format research from credential-evidence snapshot-2026.10.06.4 · records at 77ce761 · schema 1.8.0.
What it looks like
- Descriptive pattern
^ak_(?=[A-Za-z0-9_-]*[A-Z])(?=[A-Za-z0-9_-]*[a-z])[A-Za-z0-9_-]{20}$
Parts are shown as recorded. Evidence classes belong to the facts below; no class is assigned to a part.
Format facts
Provider documented ·
provider-source· current · observed 2026-09-28provider staff statement of 2026-09-17 (ak_ + 20 nanoid) and the provider OpenAPI example (ak_ + 20): a dated statement by Composio's Head of Security (ruling R3) and the provider OpenAPI example fix ak_ + exactly 20 [A-Za-z0-9_-]; the docs name the prefix and the x-api-key header
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports a dated statement by Composio's Head of Security (ruling R3) and the provider OpenAPI example fix ak_ + exactly 20 [A-Za-z0-9_-]; the docs name the prefix and the x-api-key header
Provider documented ·
field-prefix· current · observed 2026-09-28prefix: ak_
- docs.composio.dev/reference/authenticating-to-composioprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports x-api-key header
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: ts/packages/core/src/utils/sdk.tsprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports prefix: ak_ · #L23
Unresolved ·
field-body· current · observed 2026-09-28body: exactly 20 characters (A provider-staff statement, recorded under the nearest basis; T1 by ruling R3 until a newer provider source contradicts it (none did at the 2026-09-28 re-check).)
- github.com/gitleaks/gitleaks/issues/2276issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports body: exactly 20 characters
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/860issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports R3: a dated provider-staff statement is T1 · #issuecomment-5852413851
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Composio Head of Security, 2026-09-17: ak_+20, oak_+20, uak_+43
Provider documented ·
field-alphabet· current · observed 2026-09-28alphabet: URL-safe nanoid [A-Za-z0-9_-]; a body may start or end with _ or -
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: ts/packages/cli/src/analytics/dispatch.tsprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports \buak_[A-Za-z0-9_-]+, \bak_[A-Za-z0-9_-]+ · #L426-L427
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/860issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports R2 · #issuecomment-5871306275
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports alphabet: URL-safe nanoid [A-Za-z0-9_-]; a body may start or end with _ or -
Unresolved ·
field-separators· current · observed 2026-09-28separators: none; no checksum
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports separators: none; no checksum
Unresolved ·
field-boundary· current · observed 2026-09-28boundary: a key glued to an identifier on either side ([A-Za-z0-9_-]) is not claimed; this keeps ak_ inside oak_/uak_/cak_ from reading as a project key
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports separability
Tool corroborated ·
field-peer-lag· current · observed 2026-09-28peer-lag: no rule in trufflehog 3.97.4 or gitleaks 8.30.1; the staff-authored trufflehog PR #5322 (20/20/43 over [A-Za-z0-9_-]) is still open
- gitleaks/gitleaks @ v8.30.1: config/gitleaks.tomlscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports no composio rule
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/pull/5322scanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports open, updated 2026-09-28
Provider documented ·
field-openapi-example· current · observed 2026-09-28openapi-example: ak_ + 20 in the provider OpenAPI example
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: docs/public/openapi.jsonprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports openapi-example: ak_ + 20 in the provider OpenAPI example
Unresolved ·
field-mixed-case-guard· current · observed 2026-09-28mixed-case-guard: the body has at least one uppercase and at least one lowercase letter (A precision choice, not a provider fact: P(no uppercase) = P(no lowercase) ≈ 3.0e-5 for a uniform body. A digit requirement was rejected (P(no digit) ≈ 3.3%).)
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/909issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports adopted
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports the ak_ short-prefix guard
Unresolved ·
field-other-provider· current · observed 2026-09-28other-provider: bkend.ai issues ak_ + 64 hex (Another provider's credential: a length twin, never a benign control.)
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports excluded shapes
Unresolved ·
field-unshaped-siblings· current · observed 2026-09-28unshaped-siblings: ck_ consumer keys and cak_ agent keys have no known length or alphabet (Only their obvious placeholders (ck_..., ck_test_dummy, cak_e2e_agent) are benign controls; no key-shaped ck_ or cak_ value is authored.)
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports excluded shapes
Unresolved ·
listed-references· current · observed 2026-09-28The legacy contract lists 15 references without stating which property each supports.
- docs.composio.dev/reference/authenticating-to-composioprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: ts/packages/cli/src/commands/login.cmd.tsprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract · #L801
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: ts/packages/core/src/utils/sdk.tsprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract · #L23
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: docs/public/openapi.jsonprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9: ts/packages/cli/src/analytics/dispatch.tsprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract · #L426-L427
- github.com/gitleaks/gitleaks/issues/2276issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/909issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/README.mdproject-research-note · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/860issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract · #issuecomment-5852413851
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/860issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract · #issuecomment-5871306275
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/860issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret-benchmarks/issues/434issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/pull/5322scanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
Provider documented ·
dossier-research· current · observed 2026-09-28Legacy dossier research (verdict ready, tier T1) cited 4 sources; the dossier does not attribute sources to individual properties.
- ComposioHQ/composio @ 34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9other · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
- github.com/gitleaks/gitleaks/issues/2276issue-or-discussion · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdproject-research-note · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Final research evidence recorded by the legacy dossier
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
Provider documented ·
taxonomy-sources· current · observed 2026-09-28The legacy taxonomy lists 3 sources for this family. The taxonomy records no date; the dossier researchedAt is used as the observed-at date.
- docs.composio.dev/reference/authenticating-to-composioprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a source for this family in the legacy taxonomy
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262: docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.mdprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a source for this family in the legacy taxonomy
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321provider-documentation · last read 2026-09-28 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a source for this family in the legacy taxonomy
Open questions
No open question is recorded for this revision.
Benchmark dossier notes
From the provider dossier, as written. The evidence level above says how well the format is backed; a fact the dossier does not record is not shown.
- Shape
- prefix
ak_, exactly 20 body characters from[A-Za-z0-9_-](URL-safe nanoid), no checksum. - Basis
- T1. Width and alphabet from a dated staff statement (2026-09-17, Composio's Head of Security, on trufflehog#5321 and gitleaks#2276; ruling R3), plus the provider OpenAPI example (
ak_+ 20) and CLI redaction regexes (alphabet, R2). trufflehog PR 5322 carries the same widths and was still open on 2026-09-28. - Issuance
- optional confirmation only (checklist in the handoff).
- Contract in core
- detector-families.md.
In this benchmark
Fixture rows on the current run. Counts are for redact-secret in published · redact-secret 0.1.0-beta.14 mode.
- Fixtures
- 48
- Left readable
- 0
- Redacted too much
- 0
- False alarms
- 0
48 fixtures: 19 expect a redaction, 29 must stay quiet. See every row
| Evidence level | Fixtures | Left readable | Too much | False alarms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1Provider-documented | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T2Tool-corroborated | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T3Project policy | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Every scanner on the same fixtures
In run order. Counts are what each scanner recorded on this family's fixtures, whichever rules it has; a scanner with no rule for the family has nothing to report on it.
| Scanner | Fixtures | Left readable | Too much | False alarms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| flare-redactRuntime library · 1.6.1 · Published npm package · secrets-only (pii, generic_assignment disabled) · JavaScript engineNo rule maps to it | 48 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| gitleaksRepository scanner · 8.30.1 · Directory scan · default rulesNo rule maps to it | 48 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| redact-secretProduct measured here · 0.1.0-beta.14 · Published npm package · default detectors1 detector mapped | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| trufflehogRepository scanner · 3.97.4 · Filesystem scan · verification disabledNo rule maps to it | 48 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
Looks like it, but isn't
Values the dossier records as resembling this credential without being one.
- Collisions
ak_is short and its alphabet includes_and-, so a 20-character snake_case identifier fits; the handoff proposes a mixed-case post check (false-negative cost about 6e-5).oak_anduak_containak_but are excluded by the leading boundary. A bkend.aiak_+ 64 hex is another provider.
Scanner rules for this family
Mapped by hand (reviewed 2026-09-30) from each scanner's pinned rule file, never from what a scanner found on the fixtures.
No peer rule maps to this family
None of the reviewed peer scanners has a rule that can match a credential of this family.
None mapped
Fixtures in this family
48 rows, redact-secret's outcome on each. Rows that need a look come first (0), then the rest in corpus order. Choose "Every scanner" to see each scanner's outcome for the same rows.
| Fixture | Kind and evidence | redact-secret |
|---|---|---|
composio-api-key-actions-envcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-bare-prosecomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-bearer-headercomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-chat-pastecomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-compose-envcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-csv-commacomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-digest-encoded-valuecomposio · benign-encoded-value | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-dotenvcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-end-of-inputcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-exportcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-inside-xak-twincomposio · boundary-violation | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-json-api-keycomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-json-tokencomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-key-shape-barecomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-key-shape-quotedcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-key-shape-unicode-crlfcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-mcp-configcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-provider-headercomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-sdk-kwargcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-ts-constructorcomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-x-api-key-headercomposio · documented-format-literal | Must redactT1 · Provider-documented | Redacted |
composio-api-key-actions-secret-referencecomposio · templated-reference | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-all-lowercase-body-twincomposio · wrong-alphabet | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-all-uppercase-body-twincomposio · wrong-alphabet | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-bkend-ak-64-hex-twincomposio · wrong-length | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-body-long-twincomposio · wrong-length | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-body-short-twincomposio · wrong-length | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-dot-in-body-twincomposio · wrong-alphabet | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-ellipsis-placeholdercomposio · documentation-placeholder | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-env-reference-referencecomposio · templated-reference | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-hyphen-prefix-twincomposio · prefix-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-inside-cak-twincomposio · boundary-violation | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-inside-oak-twincomposio · prefix-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-inside-uak-twincomposio · prefix-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-kebab-case-identifier-near-misscomposio · format-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-key-guidance-prosecomposio · prose-mention | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-label-prosecomposio · benign-lookalike | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-maskcomposio · benign-lookalike | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-plus-in-body-twincomposio · wrong-alphabet | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-prefix-onlycomposio · benign-lookalike | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-project-id-public-idcomposio · public-identifier | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-referencecomposio · benign-lookalike | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-short-bodycomposio · benign-lookalike | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-sibling-placeholders-placeholdercomposio · documentation-placeholder | Must not flagT3 · Project policy | Quiet |
composio-api-key-snake-case-identifier-near-misscomposio · format-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-trailing-glue-twincomposio · boundary-violation | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
composio-api-key-truncated-near-misscomposio · format-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated | Quiet |
composio-api-key-uppercase-prefix-twincomposio · prefix-near-miss | Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin | Quiet |
Sources
Researched 2026-09-28.
Documentation and code
- docs.composio.dev/reference/authenticating-to-composio
- github.com/trufflesecurity/trufflehog/issues/5321
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/blob/270faf84dc12f6a4a4cf61fe3ffab7aadc4f7262/docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.md
- github.com/ComposioHQ/composio/tree/34484551843e575e79cca244d9fca3e4459f59e9
- github.com/gitleaks/gitleaks/issues/2276
Research log
- redact-secret/redact-secret#860Research issue
- redact-secret/redact-secret#909Research issue
- redact-secret/redact-secret-benchmarks#434Research issue
- Final evidence, pinned to a commit/redact-secret/redact-secret/blob/8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7/docs/audits/evidence/860/composio.md