aws-vault for Credential Management

aws-vault stores AWS credentials in OS keystore.

Idea

aws-vault is a tool for storing AWS credentials securely. Where the default ~/.aws/credentials file stores credentials in plain text, aws-vault stores them in the OS keychain; the discipline is better security with the same usability.

What the idea looks like:

• Credentials in macOS Keychain or Linux equivalent.: aws-vault stores credentials in the OS keychain (Keychain on macOS, libsecret on Linux, Credential Manager on Windows). The OS provides encryption and access control.
• Not in plain ~/.aws/credentials.: The default file is plain text. Anyone reading the file gets the credentials; backups expose them; the discipline is upgraded by aws-vault.
• Reduces credential theft risk.: When malware or unauthorized access targets the engineer's machine, plain text credentials are easy targets. Keychain-stored credentials are harder; the discipline reduces the attack surface.
• Per-profile security.: Each AWS profile is stored separately. Different profiles for different accounts; the keychain handles each; the discipline scales.
• Session-based.: aws-vault uses STS to produce session credentials. Long-lived static credentials are not exposed to the application; sessions expire; the discipline is more secure.

The idea is straightforward: better credential storage. The discipline is meaningful security improvement.

Usage

The CLI usage is similar to direct AWS CLI but with aws-vault wrapping. The wrapping adds the credential security; the AWS CLI behavior is unchanged.

• aws-vault exec profile -- aws s3 ls runs commands with creds.: The exec subcommand runs another command with the credentials. The aws-vault unlocks the credentials; passes them to the wrapped command; cleans up after.
• Session-scoped.: The credentials produced are session credentials. They have bounded lifetime; STS creates them; the long-lived secret is not directly exposed.
• Expires.: The session credentials expire. Subsequent commands re-create sessions; the discipline produces fresh credentials repeatedly; the static secret stays bounded.
• Multiple commands.: aws-vault exec can run scripts with multiple AWS commands. The credentials persist for the script's duration; the wrapping is one-time.
• Profile management.: aws-vault add adds a new profile. The credentials prompt is interactive; the keychain stores; the profile is ready for use.

Usage is similar to standard AWS CLI. The discipline is just adding the aws-vault wrapper.

Alternatives

Beyond aws-vault, AWS SSO and similar identity-based approaches handle credentials differently. The team picks based on their auth setup.

• aws sso login for AWS SSO setups.: Teams using AWS Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO) use the native sso login. The discipline is similar; the implementation differs.
• Pick by your auth setup.: The choice depends on the team's authentication. Static IAM users with long-lived credentials benefit from aws-vault; SSO-based teams use sso login.
• Federated identity.: Teams using federated identity (Okta, OneLogin, Azure AD) use tools like saml2aws or aws sso login. The discipline matches the federation setup.
• Migration to SSO.: Teams migrating from static IAM to SSO migrate from aws-vault to sso login. The migration is bounded; the discipline transfers.
• Document the team's choice.: The team standardizes on one approach. New engineers learn it; the discipline is consistent.

aws-vault for credentials is one of those security disciplines that pays off in better credential hygiene. Nova AI Ops integrates with cloud identity events, surfaces patterns, and supports the team's identity discipline.