redact-secret · Report

Classic personal access token

Classic PAT, prefixed ghp_.

GitHub
Detectors: github-token
Run 2026-10-07
Mode published · redact-secret 0.1.0-beta.14

Dossier verdictReady
Dossier evidence levelT1 · Provider-documented
Dossier researched2026-09-20

New pipelineAuthority

Built from the new pipeline

The new pipeline is the authority for credential qualification. These numbers are read from the qualification view derived from the official credential-eval run of the public-evidence-snapshot population. The regression and policy populations keep their own counts on the qualification pages and are not added in here.

Authority: new
Population: public-evidence-snapshot
Engine: credential-eval 0.1.0-alpha.16
Evidence: snapshot-2026.10.06.4
Run: sha256:4bec6e539482…
Recorded: 2026-10-07
Authorised for: @redact-secret/core@0.1.0-beta.14

Maintainer-reviewed (independent review pending)

598 fixtures of the 7,041 in evidence release snapshot-2026.10.06.4 carry this label. They are counted in the numbers on this page.

Passed the project’s own verification (source evidence, automated checks, recorded counter-arguments); not yet independently reviewed.

OpenRedaction default (all patterns): not measured in this run (optional)

The default (all-pattern) profile is slow and noisy for credential evaluation: personal data and resource identifiers dominate its findings, and its last official measurement took 7 minutes of scanner time on a population the credential profile scans in seconds (its methods run takes 40+ minutes), so it is a manual measurement and never blocks other scanners or core verification (#763). Its earlier results stay as history with their run identity; the credential profile is a separate scanner, never spliced with it.

Last measurement: policy-corpus@linux-x64 (configuration sha256:2451ce7bf380), public-evidence-snapshot+methods@linux-x64 (configuration sha256:d47d081ce5fb), public-evidence-snapshot@linux-x64 (configuration sha256:2451ce7bf380), regression-corpus@linux-x64 (configuration sha256:2451ce7bf380) · engine 0.1.0-alpha.5 · recorded 2026-10-05 · retained record, no longer listed by the run registry. It stays labelled with that run identity and is never combined with another profile or another run.

Open the qualification page for this pointer

OpenRedaction credential profile (33 types): not measured in an official run (local exploratory diagnostics only: see ADR)

The credential profile is the comparison profile chosen in docs/decisions/2026-10-06-choose-the-openredaction-credential-bearing-profile-as-the-comparison-scanner.md. It is optional in the official run class because no pinned engine configuration measures it yet: making it required would refuse every official view until the owner approves the one profile-only run. Its own history starts with that run; nothing of the default's is reused for it.

No earlier measurement of it is recorded. Nothing is shown in its place.

Official measurement: pending: requires owner approval (one profile-only run; see the decision).

Open the qualification page for this pointer

Every population and its qualification

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.

Review stateDraft, not reviewed
Format revision1 · current
ResearchResearched
Researched2026-09-20

4 events in the review history: 3 observed, 1 reviewed. Latest: observed on 2026-10-03 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

Shape not recorded.

Format facts

Provider documented · provider-source · current · observed 2026-09-17
2021-04 prefix scheme: ghp_/gho_/ghu_/ghs_/ghr_ prefixes and underscore separator; 36-character body is tool-corroborated (checksum in the last six characters per github.blog/2021-04-05) [Legacy contract 'github-token' is shared by 5 families; this statement is not specific to one of them.]
- docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/about-authentication-to-githubprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports ghp_/gho_/ghu_/ghs_/ghr_ prefixes and underscore separator; 36-character body is tool-corroborated (checksum in the last six characters per github.blog/2021-04-05) · #githubs-token-formats
Tool corroborated · tool-corroboration · current · observed 2026-09-17
Pinned scanner rules are consistent with the contract grammar (2 artifacts: gitleaks 8.30.1; trufflehog 3.97.4). [Legacy contract 'github-token' is shared by 5 families; this statement is not specific to one of them.]
- gitleaks/gitleaks @ v8.30.1: config/gitleaks.tomlscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports gitleaks 8.30.1: gitleaks.toml
- trufflesecurity/trufflehog @ v3.97.4: pkg/detectors/github/v2/github.goscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports trufflehog 3.97.4: github/v2/github
Provider documented · dossier-research · current · observed 2026-09-20
Legacy dossier research (verdict ready, tier T1) cited 2 sources; the dossier does not attribute sources to individual properties.
- docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/about-authentication-to-githubprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family · #githubs-token-formats
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7: docs/decisions/2026-09-20-map-github-token-families-onto-independent-finding-types.mdproject-research-note · last read 2026-09-20 · latest outcome read · supports Final research evidence recorded by the legacy dossier
Provider documented · taxonomy-sources · current · observed 2026-09-20
The legacy taxonomy lists 1 source for this family. The taxonomy records no date; the dossier researchedAt is used as the observed-at date.
- docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/about-authentication-to-githubprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a source for this family in the legacy taxonomy · #githubs-token-formats

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.

Basis: prefix and role from the token-formats page; body from GitHub's 2021-04-05 token-format post; contracted per family in #517 (T1; body tool-corroborated).

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: 116
Left readable: 0
Redacted too much: 0
False alarms: 0

116 fixtures: 43 expect a redaction, 39 must stay quiet, 34 record project policy. See every row

redact-secret fixture counts by evidence level
Evidence level	Fixtures	Left readable	Too much	False alarms
T1Provider-documented	43	0	0	0
T2Tool-corroborated	35	0	0	0
T3Project policy	38	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.

Counts per scanner on this family's fixtures
Scanner	Fixtures	Left readable	Too much	False alarms
flare-redactRuntime library · 1.6.1 · Published npm package · secrets-only (pii, generic_assignment disabled) · JavaScript engine1 rule targets it	116	0	1	0
gitleaksRepository scanner · 8.30.1 · Directory scan · default rules1 rule targets it	116	40	0	0
redact-secretProduct measured here · 0.1.0-beta.14 · Published npm package · default detectors1 detector mapped	116	0	0	0
trufflehogRepository scanner · 3.97.4 · Filesystem scan · verification disabled1 rule targets it	116	43	0	2

Benchmark dossier questions

Things the sources do not settle. They are listed so nobody reads them as settled.

Open caveat: Only the prefix and token role are provider-documented; the 36-character body follows GitHub's 2021-04-05 token-format post (36-byte body, CRC32 in the last six characters), and core does not verify the checksum.

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.

Peer scanner rules that target this family
Scanner	Rule	What the rule matches
flare-redact · rules 1.6.1	`github_token`	ghp_, gho_, ghu_, ghs_, ghr_ + 36 or github_pat_ + 82 characters
gitleaks · rules 8.30.1	`github-pat`	ghp_ + 36 alphanumerics
openredaction · rules 1.1.5	`GITHUB_TOKEN`	ghp_, gho_, ghu_, ghs_ or ghr_ + 36 or more characters
trufflehog · rules 3.97.4	`github/v2`	ghp_, gho_, ghu_, ghs_, ghr_ or github_pat_ + 36-255 characters

Find

Evidence level

Scanners

116 of 116 rows

Fixtures in this family

116 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.

Fixtures in Classic personal access token
Fixture	Kind and evidence	redact-secret
`github-token`authored-github · early-filler-token-assignments	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`quoted-token`authored-github · early-filler-token-contexts	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`unicode-prefix`authored-github · early-filler-token-contexts	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-base-a`context-and-large-input-bases-authored · environment-assignment	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-base-b`context-and-large-input-bases-authored · environment-assignment	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-bare-value`context-carrier-projections-generated · value-at-input-edges	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-bearer-header`context-carrier-projections-generated · partial-span-leakage	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-bom-prefix`context-carrier-projections-generated · multibyte-text-offsets	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-crlf-lines`context-carrier-projections-generated · crlf-line-endings	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-emoji-prefix`context-carrier-projections-generated · multibyte-text-offsets	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-json-field`context-carrier-projections-generated · structured-text-value	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-korean-text-prefix`context-carrier-projections-generated · multibyte-text-offsets	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-log-line`context-carrier-projections-generated · environment-assignment	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-markdown-code-span`context-carrier-projections-generated · markdown-and-comment-value	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-nbsp-before-value`context-carrier-projections-generated · multibyte-text-offsets	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-shell-export-quoted`context-carrier-projections-generated · quoted-value-extent	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-url-query`context-carrier-projections-generated · partial-span-leakage	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-xml-element`context-carrier-projections-generated · structured-text-value	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-yaml-scalar`context-carrier-projections-generated · structured-text-value	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`default-literal`docker-compose-resolution-authored · compose-default-value-holds-literal-credential	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`resolved-config-literal`docker-compose-resolution-authored · compose-resolved-config-renders-referenced-credential	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`github-token-ghp-prefix-plain-twin`github · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`github-token-ghp-prefix-unicode-crlf-twin`github · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`github-classic-pat-head-of-1mib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-head-of-256kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-head-of-64kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-middle-of-1mib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-middle-of-256kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-middle-of-64kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-tail-of-1mib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-tail-of-256kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-tail-of-64kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · credential-after-long-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-three-occurrences-in-1mib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-three-occurrences-in-256kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-three-occurrences-in-64kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-two-distinct-keys-in-1mib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-two-distinct-keys-in-256kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`github-classic-pat-two-distinct-keys-in-64kib`large-and-repeated-input-projections-generated · multiple-credentials-per-input	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`attribute-string`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`body-nested-map-and-array`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`body-string`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`body-string-holding-serialized-json`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`exception-message-and-stacktrace`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`resource-attribute`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`two-secrets-with-upper-case-trace-id`opentelemetry-log-records-authored · credential-in-opentelemetry-log-record-fields	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`crlf`authored-github · crlf-line-endings	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`crlf-twin`authored-github · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`env`authored-github · environment-assignment	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`env-twin`authored-github · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`json`authored-github · structured-text-value	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted

Sources

Researched 2026-09-20.

Documentation and code

docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/about-authentication-to-github#githubs-token-formats

Research log

redact-secret/redact-secret#517Research issue
Final evidence, pinned to a commit/redact-secret/redact-secret/blob/8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7/docs/decisions/2026-09-20-map-github-token-families-onto-independent-finding-types.md