CodeBuild Project Plaintext Environment Variables No Sensitive AWS Values Rule

This rule enforces that CodeBuild project plaintext environment variables do not contain sensitive AWS values for Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). It aims to ensure that any plaintext environment variables used in CodeBuild projects do not contain any sensitive AWS credentials that could potentially jeopardize the security of financial institutions.

To remediate this rule violation, follow the step-by-step guide below:

Identify the CodeBuild project that contains plaintext environment variables with sensitive AWS values. You can find this information in your project configuration.

Replace the plaintext environment variables that contain sensitive AWS values with more secure alternatives. Avoid storing AWS credentials directly in plaintext environment variables.

To securely store and manage sensitive AWS values, it is recommended to use AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store. These services provide a secure and centralized way to store secrets and securely retrieve them during build and deployment processes.

Update the CodeBuild project environment variables to use either AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store to retrieve the required sensitive values securely.

If applicable, update the buildspec.yml file used by the CodeBuild project to utilize the retrieved sensitive values from AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store. Modify the necessary sections within the buildspec.yml file to refer to the secured values instead of the previous plaintext environment variables.

Test the updated CodeBuild project to ensure that it functions correctly with the new secure configuration. Validate that the build and deployment processes are not impacted by the changes made to address this rule violation.

In case you encounter any issues during the remediation process, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Double-check the updated CodeBuild project configuration to ensure that the correct AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store references are used.
• Verify that the retrieved sensitive values from AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store are accessible and correct.
• Ensure that the buildspec.yml file is correctly modified to refer to the secured values instead of the deprecated plaintext environment variables.
• Review the AWS CloudTrail logs for any related errors or issues that might help identify the problem.

• It's crucial to follow security best practices when handling sensitive AWS values and avoid storing them directly in plaintext environment variables.
• Regularly review the CodeBuild project configuration and ensure that sensitive AWS values are appropriately managed and updated when necessary.
• Consider implementing least privilege principles to restrict access to CodeBuild projects and ensure that only authorized personnel can modify or view the environment variables containing sensitive information.

Please note that this information is only a general guide, and you should refer to the official AWS documentation and consult with security professionals to ensure compliance with specific regulatory requirements such as FFIEC.