redact-secret · Report

Generic API key

AIza prefixed general-purpose API key.

Google
Detectors: google-api-key
Run 2026-10-07
Mode published · redact-secret 0.1.0-beta.14

Dossier verdictReady
Dossier evidence levelT1 · Provider-documented
Dossier researched2026-09-23

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
Researched2026-09-23

2 events in the review history: 1 observed, 1 reviewed. Latest: observed on 2026-09-23 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: ^AIza[A-Za-z0-9_-]{35}$

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 2026-09-23
Google Cloud API key example: the provider page identifies the exposed key_string as an API key and shows an AIza-prefixed example; the 35-character suffix and alphabet remain gitleaks-corroborated
- docs.cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keysprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-23 · latest outcome read · supports the provider page identifies the exposed key_string as an API key and shows an AIza-prefixed example; the 35-character suffix and alphabet remain gitleaks-corroborated
Unresolved · tool-corroboration · current · observed 2026-09-22
Pinned scanner rules are consistent with the contract grammar (1 artifact: gitleaks 8.30.1).
- 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
Provider documented · field-prefix · current · observed 2026-09-23
prefix: AIza (The T1 tier rests on a single provider example (the supabase-management by-example precedent, redact-secret#642), the weakest basis of the seven families.)
- docs.cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keysprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-23 · latest outcome read · supports one AIza-prefixed example
Provider documented · field-total-length · current · observed 2026-09-23
total-length: 39 characters
- docs.cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keysprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-23 · latest outcome read · supports total-length: 39 characters
Unresolved · field-body · current · observed 2026-09-23
body: 35 characters of [A-Za-z0-9_-]
- gitleaks/gitleaks @ v8.30.1: config/gitleaks.tomlscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-10-04 · latest outcome read · supports body: 35 characters of [A-Za-z0-9_-]
Unresolved · field-aq-dot-format · current · observed 2026-09-22
aq-dot-format: a newer AQ.-prefixed key format (Not fixtured in either direction.)
- github.com/redact-secret/redact-secret/issues/642scanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-22 · latest outcome read · supports unconfirmed community reports
Provider documented · dossier-research · current · observed 2026-09-23
Legacy dossier research (verdict ready, tier T1) cited 2 sources; the dossier does not attribute sources to individual properties.
- docs.cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keysprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-23 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7: docs/audits/evidence/642/README.mdproject-research-note · last read 2026-09-23 · latest outcome read · supports Final research evidence recorded by the legacy dossier

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 AIza followed by 35 characters from letters, digits, underscore and hyphen, 39 characters in all.
Basis: T1 for the prefix and total length, from one example on Google Cloud's API keys page ("The API key string is an encrypted string, for example, AIza…"). The page states no prefix rule and no grammar. The 35-character body comes from gitleaks 8.30.1 (gcp-api-key) and flare-redact, which agree, and from trufflehog's googlegemini rule with the split AIzaSy plus 33, the same total length.
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: 32
Left readable: 0
Redacted too much: 0
False alarms: 0

32 fixtures: 12 expect a redaction, 20 must stay quiet. See every row

redact-secret fixture counts by evidence level
Evidence level	Fixtures	Left readable	Too much	False alarms
T1Provider-documented	12	0	0	0
T2Tool-corroborated	12	0	0	0
T3Project policy	5	0	0	0
T0Pending review	3	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
flare-redactRuntime library · 1.6.1 · Published npm package · secrets-only (pii, generic_assignment disabled) · JavaScript engine1 rule targets it	32	0
gitleaksRepository scanner · 8.30.1 · Directory scan · default rules1 rule targets it	32	0
redact-secretProduct measured here · 0.1.0-beta.14 · Published npm package · default detectors1 detector mapped	32	0
trufflehogRepository scanner · 3.97.4 · Filesystem scan · verification disabled1 rule targets it	32	12

Benchmark dossier questions

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

Open caveat: The provider shows the AIza prefix and a 39-character length in one example, not a stated grammar; the 35-character body alphabet is tool-corroborated.

Looks like it, but isn't

Values the dossier records as resembling this credential without being one.

Collisions: Gemini keys use this same shape; #519 decided they are not a separate family because restriction to an API is not visible in the bytes. The page now describes "authorization keys" that authenticate as a service account and gives no string format for them; the reported AQ. prefix does not appear on it. A Firebase Web SDK apiKey has the same shape and was moved from exempt to redacted by #749. The OAuth client ID (...apps.googleusercontent.com) and a service account email are public identifiers.

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	`google_api_key`	AIza + 35 characters
gitleaks · rules 8.30.1	`gcp-api-key`	AIza + 35 characters
openredaction · rules 1.1.5	`FIREBASE_API_KEY`	AIza + 35 characters
openredaction · rules 1.1.5	`GOOGLE_API_KEY`	AIza + 35 characters
trufflehog · rules 3.97.4	`googlegemini`	AIzaSy + 33 characters

Find

Evidence level

Scanners

32 of 32 rows

Fixtures in this family

32 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 Generic API key
Fixture	Kind and evidence	redact-secret
`google-api-key-curl-generate-content`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-env-maps-key`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-firebase-web-config`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-geocode-query`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-github-actions-places`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-goog-api-key-header`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-google-services-json`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-k8s-secret-stringdata`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-shape-1-bare`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-shape-1-quoted`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-shape-1-unicode-crlf`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-api-key-shell-export-gemini`google · documented-format-literal	Must redactT1 · Provider-documented	Redacted
`google-key-shape-under-firebase-config-label`authored-conflicting-field-label-semantics · google-api-key-shape-under-firebase-and-generic-labels	Pending reviewT0 · Pending	Unscored
`google-key-shape-under-generative-api-env-label`authored-conflicting-field-label-semantics · google-api-key-shape-under-firebase-and-generic-labels	Pending reviewT0 · Pending	Unscored
`google-key-shape-under-json-api-key-field`authored-conflicting-field-label-semantics · google-api-key-shape-under-firebase-and-generic-labels	Pending reviewT0 · Pending	Unscored
`google-api-key-geocode-query-length-twin`google · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-goog-api-key-header-prefix-case-twin`google · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-google-services-json-prefix-twin`google · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-label-prose`google · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`google-api-key-maps-script-template-placeholder`google · documentation-placeholder	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`google-api-key-mask`google · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`google-api-key-oauth-client-id-public-id`google · public-identifier	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`google-api-key-prefix-only`google · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`google-api-key-reference`google · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`google-api-key-restriction-note-prose`google · prose-mention	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-bare-twin`google · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-prefix-bare-twin`google · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-prefix-quoted-twin`google · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-prefix-unicode-crlf-twin`google · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-quoted-twin`google · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-shape-1-unicode-crlf-twin`google · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`google-api-key-short-body`google · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet

Sources

Researched 2026-09-23.

Documentation and code

docs.cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keys

Research log

redact-secret/redact-secret#296Research issue
redact-secret/redact-secret#519Research issue
redact-secret/redact-secret#642Research issue
Final evidence, pinned to a commit/redact-secret/redact-secret/blob/8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7/docs/audits/evidence/642/README.md