Control: 1.7 Ensure User-Managed/External Keys for Service Accounts Are Rotated Every 90 Days or Fewer

Description

Service Account keys consist of a key ID (Private_key_Id) and Private key, which are used to sign programmatic requests users make to Google cloud services accessible to that particular service account. It is recommended that all Service Account keys are regularly rotated.

Rotating Service Account keys will reduce the window of opportunity for an access key that is associated with a compromised or terminated account to be used. Service Account keys should be rotated to ensure that data cannot be accessed with an old key that might have been lost, cracked, or stolen.

Each service account is associated with a key pair managed by Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It is used for service-to-service authentication within GCP. Google rotates the keys daily.

Remediation

From Console

Delete any external (user-managed) Service Account Key older than 90 days:

1. Go to GCP console at APIs & Services\Credentials using https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials.
2. In the Section Service Account Keys, for every external (user-managed) service account key where creation date is greater than or equal to the past 90 days, click Delete Bin Icon to Delete Service Account key.

Create a new external (user-managed) Service Account Key for a Service Account:

1. Go to APIs & Services\Credentials using https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials.
2. Click Create Credentials and Select Service Account Key.
3. Choose the service account in the drop-down list for which an External (user-managed) Service Account key needs to be created.
4. Select the desired key type format among JSON or P12.
5. Click Create. It will download the private key. Keep it safe.
6. Click Close if prompted.
7. The site will redirect to the APIs & Services\Credentials page. Make a note of the new ID displayed in the Service account keys section.

Default Value

GCP does not provide an automation option for External (user-managed) Service key rotation.