GitHub represents a goldmine of accidentally exposed credentials for security researchers and ethical hackers. This comprehensive guide explores how OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) techniques can uncover private keys on GitHub public repositories—a method that has proven capable of discovering over 100 credentials in just 24 hours without requiring special permissions or sophisticated tools.

What is OSINT and Why GitHub Security Matters

OSINT involves collecting information from publicly available sources to gain valuable intelligence. GitHub, as the world’s largest code hosting platform, contains millions of repositories where developers sometimes inadvertently commit sensitive information such as:

• AWS root access keys for cloud infrastructure management
• Stripe live payment tokens with transaction capabilities
• GitHub deployment secrets for CI/CD pipelines
• Google Cloud service account credentials with administrative permissions

According to recent security reports, credential exposure on public repositories continues to grow at an alarming rate, with a 28% increase in the past year alone.

Effective GitHub Dorking Techniques for Finding Private Keys on GitHub

GitHub dorking utilizes advanced search operators to locate specific information within the platform’s vast code repositories. The following search patterns consistently yield results:

Primary Search Queries to Find Private Keys on GitHub

• filename:.env AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY – Targets environment files containing AWS credentials
• extension:json "private_key" NOT test – Identifies JSON files with private keys while excluding test files
• path:/config prod AND "password" – Discovers passwords in production configuration directories
• filename:config.js stripe live_ – Locates Stripe payment processing credentials

Advanced Search Refinements

• org:<company name> – Narrows searches to specific organization repositories
• "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----" – Finds complete RSA private keys
• "Authorization: Bearer" – Uncovers authentication tokens in code
• extension:pem private – Identifies private key files

These search operators can be combined and modified to target specific types of credentials depending on the security researcher’s focus.

Automating Private Keys on GitHub Discovery

Manual searching quickly becomes inefficient when scanning vast ecosystems to find private keys on GitHub. Implementing automation significantly improves discovery rates and provides continuous monitoring capability.

Recommended Automation Tools

• gitdorks-go – Lightweight Go-based scanner for GitHub repositories
• github-search CLI – Command-line tool for advanced GitHub searches
• Python with GitHub API v3 – Custom scripting for tailored search patterns

Implementation Methods

1. Continuous Integration Pipeline:
   • Configure GitHub Actions workflows to execute searches periodically
   • Set up AWS Lambda functions with scheduled triggers
   • Implement cron jobs on dedicated servers for regular scanning
2. Notification Systems:
   • Integrate Telegram bot APIs for real-time alerts
   • Configure Discord webhooks for team notification
   • Set up Slack channels for collaborative response

This automated approach transforms credential discovery from a manual process to a systematic security practice.

Verification and Validation Methods

Not all discovered credentials remain active. Proper verification methods help identify truly valuable findings:

Find Private Keys on GitHub Scanning Tools

• gitleaks – Uses entropy analysis to identify high-value secrets
• trufflehog3 – Applies pattern matching and validation rules
• gf secrets – Employs regular expression matching for credential formats

Testing Protocols

For AWS credentials: aws sts get-caller-identity confirms access level and account details For Stripe tokens: Testing API endpoints with minimal permissions For GitHub tokens: Repository listing requests to verify access scope For Google Cloud: Resource enumeration to determine permission boundaries

Effective validation separates truly valuable discoveries from expired or revoked credentials.

The Ethics and Legality of OSINT Research

It’s crucial to understand that proper OSINT research differs fundamentally from hacking. This approach:

• Only accesses publicly available information
• Does not attempt to circumvent security controls
• Follows responsible disclosure procedures
• Operates within bug bounty program guidelines

Organizations expose sensitive credentials through various means:

• Incomplete .gitignore configuration
• Commit history containing previously sensitive files
• Public gists with configuration snippets
• Forked repositories inheriting secrets

Security Best Practices for Developers

Preventing credential exposure requires implementing proper security hygiene:

Credential Management

• Use secrets management tools – Implement HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or similar solutions
• Environment-based configuration – Separate credentials from code entirely
• CI/CD integration – Inject secrets during deployment rather than storing them in code

Repository Scanning

• Pre-commit hooks – Implement gitleaks or similar tools before allowing commits
• Automated scanning – Regular repository auditing for sensitive information
• Historical analysis – Check previous commits for credential exposure

Remediation Steps

• Immediate revocation – Rotate all exposed credentials immediately
• Access auditing – Review activity logs for compromise indicators
• Repository cleaning – Remove sensitive information from historical commits

Conclusion about Finding Private Keys on GitHub

Finding private keys on GitHub discovery through OSINT techniques represents a powerful approach for security researchers and an important consideration for development teams. By understanding search techniques, implementing automation, and following responsible disclosure practices, security professionals can help identify and remediate credential exposures before malicious actors exploit them.

For developers, implementing proper credential management practices and regular security audits significantly reduces exposure risk. As organizations continue their digital transformation journey, securing code repositories becomes an increasingly critical security control.

Author: TheMsterDoctor1 – on X