1.7 Securing Your GitLab Projects: SSH Keys, Secrets, and Permissions

Securing Your GitLab Projects: SSH Keys, Secrets, and Permissions (Oh My!)

So, you’re using GitLab to manage your awesome projects! That’s fantastic! But are you making sure your projects are secure? Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Think of securing your GitLab projects like locking your doors and keeping valuables safe. In this post, we’ll cover the basics: SSH keys, secrets, and permissions. Let’s dive in!

Why Security Matters

Before we jump into the “how-to,” let’s quickly touch on “why.” Security breaches can lead to:

• Exposed Code: Think proprietary algorithms or sensitive information getting into the wrong hands.
• Data Loss: Losing valuable project data or customer information.
• Reputational Damage: Trust is everything. A security breach can seriously hurt your project’s or company’s reputation.

So, taking the time to secure your GitLab projects is an investment worth making!

1. SSH Keys: Your Secure Login Passports

Imagine entering your username and password every time you wanted to push code to GitLab. Annoying, right? SSH keys are like digital passports that allow your computer to securely connect to GitLab without constantly typing in your credentials.

What are SSH Keys?

They come in pairs:

• Private Key: This key lives only on your computer and should be treated like gold. Never share it with anyone!
• Public Key: This key gets uploaded to your GitLab account. GitLab uses this to verify you’re the rightful owner of the private key when you try to push or pull code.

How to Set Up SSH Keys:

(This assumes you haven’t already set them up. If you have, skip to the “Adding Your Public Key to GitLab” section.)

1. Open your terminal (Mac/Linux) or Git Bash (Windows).
2. Generate a new SSH key pair: Use the following command (replace your_email@example.com with your actual email):

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
   

   (We recommend ed25519 for better security. If your system doesn’t support it, use rsa instead: ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com")

3. When prompted, choose where to save the key. The default location (e.g., ~/.ssh/id_ed25519) is usually fine. Press Enter.

4. You’ll be asked for a passphrase (password) for your key. This adds an extra layer of security. You can leave it blank (press Enter twice), but it’s highly recommended to set one.

Adding Your Public Key to GitLab:

1. Copy your public key to your clipboard. The command depends on your operating system:
   • Mac: pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
   • Linux (using xclip): xclip -sel clip < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub (You might need to install xclip first: sudo apt-get install xclip or sudo yum install xclip)
   • Linux (using cat): cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub (then manually copy the output)
   • Windows (Git Bash): clip < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

   (Remember to replace id_ed25519.pub with id_rsa.pub if you used rsa instead of ed25519 when generating the key.)

2. In GitLab, go to your profile settings (click on your avatar in the top right corner, then “Settings”).

3. Click on “SSH Keys” in the left sidebar.
4. Paste your public key into the “Key” field.
5. Add a title to help you identify the key (e.g., “My Laptop”).
6. Click “Add Key”.

Now you can clone, push, and pull using SSH! Try it out:

git clone git@gitlab.com:your_username/your_project.git

2. Secrets: Protecting Sensitive Information

Secrets are sensitive pieces of information that your application needs to function, like API keys, database passwords, and other credentials. Never, ever hardcode secrets directly into your code! This is a major security risk.

GitLab’s CI/CD Variables to the Rescue!

GitLab CI/CD variables provide a secure way to store and inject secrets into your CI/CD pipelines (the automated processes that build, test, and deploy your code).

How to Use CI/CD Variables:

1. In your GitLab project, go to “Settings” -> “CI/CD”.
2. Expand the “Variables” section.
3. Click “Add Variable”.
4. Enter the variable key (e.g., DATABASE_PASSWORD).
5. Enter the variable value (your actual database password).
6. Important: Mark the variable as “Masked” if it’s a sensitive value. This will prevent it from being displayed in job logs.
7. You can also mark it as “Protected” if you only want it to be available to pipelines running on protected branches (like main or develop).
8. Click “Add Variable”.

Using Secrets in Your CI/CD Pipeline ( .gitlab-ci.yml):

Now you can access these secrets in your .gitlab-ci.yml file like this:

stages:
  - deploy

deploy_to_production:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying to production using DATABASE_PASSWORD: $DATABASE_PASSWORD"  # DON'T ACTUALLY ECHO A SECRET!
    - # Replace with your actual deployment commands, using the variable
    - your_deployment_script.sh  # And pass the variable as an argument if needed.

Important Note: The above example echoes the variable for demonstration purposes. In a real-world scenario, never echo a secret in your logs! Instead, pass the variable as an argument to your deployment script or use it directly within the script.

3. Permissions: Controlling Who Can Access What

Permissions control who can view, contribute to, or manage your GitLab project. It’s crucial to set them correctly to prevent unauthorized access.

GitLab’s Access Levels:

• Guest: Can only view issues and merge requests.
• Reporter: Can also create issues and merge requests.
• Developer: Can push code, create branches, and merge code.
• Maintainer: Can manage the project, including settings and members.
• Owner: Has ultimate control over the project.

How to Manage Permissions:

1. In your GitLab project, go to “Settings” -> “Members”.
2. Search for the user you want to add or manage.
3. Select the appropriate access level from the dropdown.
4. Click “Add to project”.

Best Practices for Permissions:

• Principle of Least Privilege: Grant users only the minimum permissions they need to do their job.
• Review Permissions Regularly: Periodically check your project’s members and their access levels to ensure they are still appropriate.
• Use Groups: Create GitLab groups to manage permissions for multiple users at once.

Conclusion

Securing your GitLab projects is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. By implementing SSH keys, properly managing secrets, and carefully controlling permissions, you can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and protect your valuable code and data. So, go ahead and implement these security measures today! Your future self (and your team) will thank you for it. Happy coding!