redact-secret · Report

API key (pcsk_)

Current pcsk_<label>_<secret> API key; prefix from provider code, segment widths tool-corroborated.

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

Dossier verdictReady
Dossier evidence levelT2 · Tool-corroborated
Dossier researched2026-09-24

Registry detector pinecone-api-key since redact-secret#730 (registry pinned at f2082ab); graduated from a Beta.8 arrival family (#212, research #228), contract in benchmarks/lib/beta8/212.ts. The Admin API docs describe an unobserved pckey_ prefix; that contradiction is unresolved.

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
Researched2026-09-24

3 events in the review history: 2 observed, 1 reviewed. Latest: observed on 2026-09-24 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: ^pcsk_[A-Za-z0-9]{5,6}_[A-Za-z0-9]{63}$

Parts are shown as recorded. Evidence classes belong to the facts below; no class is assigned to a part.

Format facts

Unresolved · tool-corroboration · current · observed 2026-09-24
Pinned scanner rules are consistent with the contract grammar (1 artifact: trufflehog 3.97.4).
- trufflesecurity/trufflehog @ v3.97.4: pkg/detectors/pinecone/pinecone.goscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports trufflehog 3.97.4: Pinecone
Provider documented · field-prefix · current · observed 2026-09-24
prefix: pcsk_
- pinecone-io/cli @ main: internal/pkg/cli/command/config/set.goprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports prefix: pcsk_
- pinecone-io/skills @ main: CLAUDE.mdprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports prefix: pcsk_
Provider documented · field-segments · current · observed 2026-09-24
segments: pcsk_<label>_<secret>, underscore-separated
- pinecone-io/python-sdk @ main: tests/unitprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports short stand-in values with a label segment
Unresolved · field-label-width · current · observed 2026-09-24
label width: 5 or 6 alphanumeric characters
- trufflesecurity/trufflehog @ main: pkg/detectors/pinecone/pinecone.goscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports PR #4917 "verified against real keys"; a 4-character label is rejected by its test
Tool corroborated · field-secret-width · current · observed 2026-09-24
secret width: exactly 63 alphanumeric characters (74-75 total) (pleno-dlp's looser pcsk_[A-Za-z0-9_]{40,} is recorded as a peer difference.)
- betterleaks/betterleaks @ main: cmd/generate/config/rules/pinecone.goscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports secret width: exactly 63 alphanumeric characters (74-75 total)
- trufflesecurity/trufflehog @ main: pkg/detectors/pinecone/pinecone.goscanner-rule-source · last read 2026-09-24 · latest outcome read · supports secret width: exactly 63 alphanumeric characters (74-75 total)
Unresolved · field-documented-pckey-prefix · current · observed 2026-09-24
documented pckey_ prefix: Admin API docs: new keys have the format pckey_<public-label>_<unique-key> (Contradicts every pcsk_ observation; neither positive nor negative here.)
- docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/2026-04/admin/create_api_keyprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-03 · latest outcome read · supports documented pckey_ prefix: Admin API docs: new keys have the format pckey_<public-label>_<unique-key>
Unresolved · listed-references · current · observed 2026-09-24
The legacy contract lists 1 reference without stating which property each supports.
- docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/2026-04/admin/create_api_keyprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-03 · latest outcome read · supports Listed as a reference by the legacy contract
Unresolved · dossier-research · current · observed 2026-09-24
Legacy dossier research (verdict ready, tier T2) cited 3 sources; the dossier does not attribute sources to individual properties.
- docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/authenticationprovider-documentation · last read 2026-09-29 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
- docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/2026-04/admin/create_api_keyprovider-documentation · last read 2026-10-03 · latest outcome read · supports Cited by the legacy dossier research for this family
- redact-secret/redact-secret @ 8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7: docs/audits/evidence/726/README.mdproject-research-note · last read 2026-09-27 · latest outcome read · supports Final research evidence recorded by the legacy dossier
Unresolved · taxonomy-sources · current · observed 2026-09-24
The legacy taxonomy lists 1 source for this family. The taxonomy records no date; the dossier researchedAt is used as the observed-at date.
- pinecone-io/cli @ main: internal/pkg/cli/command/config/set.goprovider-sdk-source · last read 2026-09-24 · 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 pcsk_, then a public label of 5 or 6 letters and digits, _, and a 63-character letters-and-digits secret (74 or 75 in total). The prefix comes from Pinecone's CLI and SDK code and tests; the segment widths come from scanner rules (TruffleHog and others). The Admin API docs instead say new keys are pckey_<public-label>_<unique-key>, and no scanner, sample or report shows a pckey_ value. The switch from UUID keys to pcsk_ is undated.
Basis: T2. Provider code (CLI help text, SDK tests) for the prefix; scanner rules for widths. The pckey_ text is provider documentation and is unresolved, not a negative.
Issuance: not attempted. The free Starter plan issues keys with permissions fixed at All. A key made through the Admin API would test pckey_ (needs a service account).
Contract in core: detector-families.md (frozen in the #726 record, implemented under #730).

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: 43
Left readable: 0
Redacted too much: 0
False alarms: 0

43 fixtures: 18 expect a redaction, 24 must stay quiet, 1 record project policy. See every row

redact-secret fixture counts by evidence level
Evidence level	Fixtures	Left readable	Too much	False alarms
T2Tool-corroborated	33	0	0	0
T3Project policy	10	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	False alarms
flare-redactRuntime library · 1.6.1 · Published npm package · secrets-only (pii, generic_assignment disabled) · JavaScript engineNo rule maps to it	43	19	0
gitleaksRepository scanner · 8.30.1 · Directory scan · default rulesNo rule maps to it	43	6	2
redact-secretProduct measured here · 0.1.0-beta.14 · Published npm package · default detectors1 detector mapped	43	0	0
trufflehogRepository scanner · 3.97.4 · Filesystem scan · verification disabled1 rule targets it	43	0	0

Benchmark dossier questions

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

Open caveat: Provider docs contradict the observed prefix (pckey_ vs pcsk_) and give no widths; the prefix is provider code, the 5-6 and 63 character widths are tool-only (checklist in benchmarks#228).

Looks like it, but isn't

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

Collisions: service account client_id (32 alphanumeric) and client_secret (about 64 characters of letters, digits, -, _; no prefix) are other credentials. UUIDs everywhere (key, project, service account and organization ids) are public. Masked forms: pcsk*** plus four characters (CLI) and ... plus four (Python repr). Index hosts and PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT strings are public.

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
trufflehog · rules 3.97.4	`pinecone`	pcsk_ + 5-6 characters + _ + 63 characters

No rule maps to this family in flare-redact, gitleaks, openredaction.

Find

Evidence level

Scanners

43 of 43 rows

Fixtures in this family

43 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 API key (pcsk_)
Fixture	Kind and evidence	redact-secret
`cerebras-api-key-pinecone-key-near-miss`pinecone · credential-named-literal-near-miss	Project policyT3 · Project policy	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-actions-env`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-api-key-header`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-compose-env`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-dotenv`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-error-log`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-export`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-header-placeholder-placeholder`pinecone · documentation-placeholder	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-json-config`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-key-shape-bare`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-key-shape-quoted`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-key-shape-unicode-crlf`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-n8n-credential`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-pc-config`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-python-client`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-secret-print`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-short-secret-twin`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-ts-client`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-twin-base-dotenv`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-twin-base-export`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-twin-base-python`pinecone · documented-format-literal	Must redactT2 · Tool-corroborated	Redacted
`pinecone-api-key-base64-host-encoded-value`pinecone · benign-encoded-value	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-cli-environment-public-id`pinecone · public-identifier	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-cli-mask-placeholder`pinecone · documentation-placeholder	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-ellipsis-placeholder`pinecone · documentation-placeholder	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-env-reference-reference`pinecone · templated-reference	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-hyphen-delimiter-twin`pinecone · boundary-violation	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-index-host-public-id`pinecone · public-identifier	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-key-guidance-prose`pinecone · prose-mention	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-label-prose`pinecone · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-long-label-twin`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-long-secret-twin`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-mask`pinecone · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-prefix-letter-twin`pinecone · prefix-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-prefix-only`pinecone · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-prefix-only-near-miss`pinecone · format-near-miss	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-project-id-public-id`pinecone · public-identifier	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-reference`pinecone · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-sdk-environ-reference`pinecone · templated-reference	Must not flagT3 · Project policy	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-short-body`pinecone · benign-lookalike	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-short-label-twin`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-short-label-twin-wrong-length`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet
`pinecone-api-key-short-secret-twin-wrong-length`pinecone · wrong-length	Must not flagT2 · Tool-corroborated · twin	Quiet

Sources

Researched 2026-09-24.

Documentation and code

github.com/pinecone-io/cli/blob/main/internal/pkg/cli/command/config/set.go
docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/2026-04/admin/create_api_key
docs.pinecone.io/reference/api/authentication

Research log

redact-secret/redact-secret-benchmarks#228Research issue
redact-secret/redact-secret#726Research issue
redact-secret/redact-secret#730Research issue
Final evidence, pinned to a commit/redact-secret/redact-secret/blob/8b6a5fde52ecb4dfce13f09c7a947062d21483c7/docs/audits/evidence/726/README.md

Other Pinecone families

Legacy API key (bare UUID)