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Segment Public API Token

A Segment Public API Token is used to authenticate requests to Segment's API, which allows for the management and configuration of data pipelines. This token is crucial for accessing various functionalities within Segment, such as tracking events, managing sources, and configuring destinations. Exposure of this token can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and manipulation of data flows, posing a significant security risk.

How Does It Look​

Segment Public API Tokens can appear in various contexts, such as:

  • Environment variables:

    export SEGMENT_API_TOKEN="sgp_1234567890abcdef"

  • Configuration files (JSON):

    {
      "segment": {
        "apiToken": "sgp_1234567890abcdef"
      }
    }

  • Code snippets:

    const segmentApiToken = "sgp_1234567890abcdef";

  • Connection strings:

    segment://sgp_1234567890abcdef@api.segment.io

Severity​

  • 🟠 High

The severity is high because a Segment Public API Token provides access to manage data pipelines and configurations. Unauthorized access can lead to data manipulation, exposure of sensitive customer data, and potential service disruptions. The blast radius includes any data sources and destinations configured within Segment.

What Can an Attacker Do?​

With immediate access to a Segment Public API Token, an attacker can manipulate data flows and configurations within Segment.

Key actions an attacker can perform:

  • Modify data pipelines: Change or delete data sources and destinations (if the token has write permissions).
  • Access sensitive data: Retrieve customer data and event logs (if read access is enabled).
  • Inject malicious data: Send false data to destinations, potentially corrupting downstream systems (if write access is granted).
  • Disrupt services: Disable or alter integrations, causing operational disruptions (if administrative permissions are available).

An attacker could potentially escalate their access by leveraging other connected services or exploiting misconfigurations, leading to broader system compromise.

Real-World Impact​

Exposure of a Segment Public API Token poses significant business risks, including data breaches and operational disruptions.

Potential consequences include:

  • Data Exposure: Unauthorized access to customer data and event logs (if the token has read access to sensitive data).
  • Financial Loss: Costs associated with data breaches and service disruptions (if billing/resource creation is permitted).
  • Operational Disruption: Interruption of data flows and integrations, affecting business operations (if the attacker has delete/modify permissions).
  • Reputational Damage: Loss of customer trust and brand reputation due to data breaches and service issues.

In a worst-case scenario, the exposure could lead to cascading effects, such as regulatory fines and long-term damage to customer relationships.

Prerequisites for Exploitation​

To exploit a Segment Public API Token, an attacker needs:

  • Network access: Ability to send requests to Segment's API endpoints.
  • Additional context: Knowledge of specific account configurations or endpoints.
  • No rate limits: If rate limits are not enforced, the attacker can perform extensive operations.

How to Verify If It's Active​

To verify if a Segment Public API Token is active, use the following command:

curl -X GET "https://api.segment.io/v1/sources" -H "Authorization: Bearer [TOKEN]"

Valid credential response: A list of sources configured in the Segment account.

Invalid/expired credential response: An error message indicating unauthorized access or invalid token.

Detection Patterns​

Common Variable Names:

  • SEGMENT_API_TOKEN
  • SEGMENT_TOKEN
  • API_TOKEN
  • SEGMENT_KEY
  • SEGMENT_SECRET
  • SEGMENT_ACCESS_TOKEN

File Locations:

  • .env
  • config.json
  • settings.yaml
  • credentials.js
  • appsettings.json

Regex Pattern:

sgp_[a-zA-Z0-9]{16,32}

Remediation Steps​

  1. Revoke immediately - Go to Segment's API settings and delete the compromised token.
  2. Audit access logs - Review Segment's access logs for unauthorized requests or data modifications during the exposure window.
  3. Assess blast radius - Identify all systems, applications, and environments that used the exposed token.
  4. Rotate credential - Generate a new API token in Segment with least-privilege permissions.
  5. Update dependent systems - Deploy the new token to all applications and update CI/CD pipelines securely.
  6. Harden access controls - Enable IP allowlisting in Segment and require secure connections.
  7. Implement secrets management - Migrate credentials to a secrets manager (HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager) to prevent hardcoding.
  8. Add detection controls - Set up pre-commit hooks and repository scanning to catch credential leaks before they reach production.

Credential exposures often go undetected for extended periods, increasing the window for exploitation. As a long-term strategy, plan to establish an internal process or engage an external vendor for continuous external exposure monitoring. This helps identify leaked secrets across public repositories, paste sites, dark web forums, and other external sources before attackers can leverage them. Proactive detection and rapid response are essential to minimizing the impact of credential leaks.

References​