[PATCH v6 5/6] secret: Add functionality to load and save secrets in encrypted format

12 Feb 2026

From: Arun Menon <armenon@redhat.com>

Now that we have the functionality to provide the secrets driver
with an encryption key through a configuration file or using system
credentials, and the newly introduced array to iterate over the
encryption schemes, we can use the key to save and load secrets.

Encrypt all secrets that are going to be saved on the disk if the
'secrets_encryption_key' path is set in the secret.conf file OR
if a valid systemd generated credential exists.

While loading secrets, identify the decryption method by matching the file
extension of the stored secret against the known array values.
If no matching scheme is found, the secret is skipped. If the encryption
key is changed across restarts, then also the secret driver will fail to load
the secrets from the disk that were encrypted with the former key.

Signed-off-by: Arun Menon <armenon@redhat.com>
Co-authored-by: Peter Krempa <pkrempa@redhat.com>
---
 src/conf/virsecretobj.c    | 204 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------
 src/conf/virsecretobj.h    |  14 ++-
 src/secret/secret_driver.c |  18 +++-
 3 files changed, 172 insertions(+), 64 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/conf/virsecretobj.c b/src/conf/virsecretobj.c
index a3dd7983bb..b448be493a 100644
--- a/src/conf/virsecretobj.c
+++ b/src/conf/virsecretobj.c
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@
 #include "virhash.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virstring.h"
+#include "virsecret.h"
+#include "virrandom.h"
+#include "vircrypto.h"
+#include "virsecureerase.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECRET
 
@@ -45,6 +49,16 @@ struct _virSecretObj {
     size_t value_size;
 };
 
+typedef struct _virSecretSchemeInfo {
+    const char *suffix;
+    virCryptoCipher cipher;
+} virSecretSchemeInfo;
+
+virSecretSchemeInfo schemeInfo[] = {
+    { ".aes256cbc", VIR_CRYPTO_CIPHER_AES256CBC },
+    { ".base64", -1 },
+};
+
 static virClass *virSecretObjClass;
 static virClass *virSecretObjListClass;
 static void virSecretObjDispose(void *obj);
@@ -377,12 +391,14 @@ virSecretObjListAdd(virSecretObjList *secrets,
 
         if (!(obj = virSecretObjNew()))
             goto cleanup;
-
         /* Generate the possible configFile and secretValueFile strings
-         * using the configDir, uuidstr, and appropriate suffix
+         * using the configDir, uuidstr, and appropriate suffix.
+         * Note that secretValueFile extension is not set here. It is determined
+         * based on a) existing availability of secret file (virSecretLoadValue) or
+         * b) target storage format (virSecretObjSaveData)
          */
         if (!(obj->configFile = virFileBuildPath(configDir, uuidstr, ".xml")) ||
-            !(obj->secretValueFile = virFileBuildPath(configDir, uuidstr, ".base64")))
+            !(obj->secretValueFile = virFileBuildPath(configDir, uuidstr, NULL)))
             goto cleanup;
 
         if (virHashAddEntry(secrets->objs, uuidstr, obj) < 0)
@@ -654,9 +670,15 @@ virSecretObjDeleteConfig(virSecretObj *obj)
 void
 virSecretObjDeleteData(virSecretObj *obj)
 {
+    size_t i;
+
     /* The configFile will already be removed, so secret won't be
      * loaded again if this fails */
-    unlink(obj->secretValueFile);
+    for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS(schemeInfo); i++) {
+        g_autofree char *deleteFile = g_strconcat(obj->secretValueFile, schemeInfo[i].suffix, NULL);
+
+        ignore_value(unlink(deleteFile));
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -682,18 +704,69 @@ virSecretObjSaveConfig(virSecretObj *obj)
 
 
 int
-virSecretObjSaveData(virSecretObj *obj)
+virSecretObjSaveData(virSecretObj *obj,
+                     bool encryptData,
+                     uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                     size_t secretsKeyLen)
 {
     g_autofree char *base64 = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *filename = NULL;
+    size_t i;
+    g_autofree unsigned char *secretbuf = NULL;
+    const unsigned char *secret = NULL;
+    size_t secretLen = 0;
 
     if (!obj->value)
         return 0;
 
-    base64 = g_base64_encode(obj->value, obj->value_size);
+    /* Based on whether encryption is on/off, save the secret in either
+     * the latest encryption scheme or in base64 formats.
+     * Subsequently, delete the other formats of the same uuid on the disk.
+     */
+    if (encryptData && secretsEncryptionKey) {
+        g_autofree uint8_t *encryptedValue = NULL;
+        size_t encryptedValueLen = 0;
+        const size_t ivlen = 16;
+        g_autofree unsigned char *ivbuf = g_new0(unsigned char, ivlen);
+
+        filename = g_strconcat(obj->secretValueFile, schemeInfo[0].suffix, NULL);
+
+        if (virRandomBytes(ivbuf, ivlen) < 0)
+            return -1;
+
+        if (virCryptoEncryptData(schemeInfo[0].cipher,
+                                 secretsEncryptionKey, secretsKeyLen,
+                                 ivbuf, ivlen,
+                                 (uint8_t *)obj->value, obj->value_size,
+                                 &encryptedValue, &encryptedValueLen) < 0)
+            return -1;
+
+        ivbuf = g_realloc(ivbuf, ivlen + encryptedValueLen);
+        memcpy(ivbuf + ivlen, encryptedValue, encryptedValueLen);
+
+        secretbuf = g_steal_pointer(&ivbuf);
+        secret = secretbuf;
+        secretLen = ivlen + encryptedValueLen;
+    } else {
+        filename = g_strconcat(obj->secretValueFile, schemeInfo[G_N_ELEMENTS(schemeInfo) - 1].suffix, NULL);
+        secret = (unsigned char *) obj->value;
+        secretLen = obj->value_size;
+    }
+
+    base64 = g_base64_encode(secret, secretLen);
 
-    if (virFileRewriteStr(obj->secretValueFile, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR, base64) < 0)
+    if (virFileRewriteStr(filename, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR, base64) < 0)
         return -1;
 
+    for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS(schemeInfo); i++) {
+        g_autofree char *deleteFile = g_strconcat(obj->secretValueFile, schemeInfo[i].suffix, NULL);
+
+        if (STREQ(filename, deleteFile))
+            continue;
+
+        ignore_value(unlink(deleteFile));
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -737,7 +810,10 @@ virSecretObjGetValue(virSecretObj *obj)
 int
 virSecretObjSetValue(virSecretObj *obj,
                      const unsigned char *value,
-                     size_t value_size)
+                     size_t value_size,
+                     bool encryptData,
+                     uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                     size_t secretsKeyLen)
 {
     virSecretDef *def = obj->def;
     g_autofree unsigned char *old_value = NULL;
@@ -753,7 +829,10 @@ virSecretObjSetValue(virSecretObj *obj,
     obj->value = g_steal_pointer(&new_value);
     obj->value_size = value_size;
 
-    if (!def->isephemeral && virSecretObjSaveData(obj) < 0)
+    if (!def->isephemeral && virSecretObjSaveData(obj,
+                                                  encryptData,
+                                                  secretsEncryptionKey,
+                                                  secretsKeyLen) < 0)
         goto error;
 
     /* Saved successfully - drop old value */
@@ -807,60 +886,65 @@ virSecretLoadValidateUUID(virSecretDef *def,
 
 
 static int
-virSecretLoadValue(virSecretObj *obj)
-{
-    int ret = -1, fd = -1;
-    struct stat st;
-    g_autofree char *contents = NULL;
+virSecretLoadValue(virSecretObj *obj,
+                   uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                   size_t secretsKeyLen)
+{
+    const size_t secretFileMaxLen = 10 * 1024 * 1024; /* more won't fit in the RPC buffer */
+    size_t i;
+
+    /* Find the file and match the storage scheme based on suffix. */
+    for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS(schemeInfo); i++) {
+        g_autofree char *filename = g_strconcat(obj->secretValueFile,
+                                                schemeInfo[i].suffix, NULL);
+        g_autofree char *filecontent = NULL;
+        int filelen = 0;
+        g_autofree unsigned char *decoded = NULL;
+        size_t decodedlen = 0;
+
+        if (!virFileExists(filename))
+            continue;
 
-    if ((fd = open(obj->secretValueFile, O_RDONLY)) == -1) {
-        if (errno == ENOENT) {
-            ret = 0;
-            goto cleanup;
-        }
-        virReportSystemError(errno, _("cannot open '%1$s'"),
-                             obj->secretValueFile);
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
+        if ((filelen = virFileReadAll(filename, secretFileMaxLen, &filecontent)) < 0)
+            return -1;
 
-    if (fstat(fd, &st) < 0) {
-        virReportSystemError(errno, _("cannot stat '%1$s'"),
-                             obj->secretValueFile);
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
+        filecontent = g_realloc(filecontent, filelen + 1);
+        filecontent[filelen] = '\0';
 
-    if ((size_t)st.st_size != st.st_size) {
-        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
-                       _("'%1$s' file does not fit in memory"),
-                       obj->secretValueFile);
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
+        decoded = g_base64_decode(filecontent, &decodedlen);
 
-    if (st.st_size < 1) {
-        ret = 0;
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
+        virSecureErase(filecontent, filelen);
 
-    contents = g_new0(char, st.st_size + 1);
+        if (schemeInfo[i].cipher == -1) {
+            obj->value = g_steal_pointer(&decoded);
+            obj->value_size = decodedlen;
+        } else {
+            size_t ivlen = 16;
+            int rc;
 
-    if (saferead(fd, contents, st.st_size) != st.st_size) {
-        virReportSystemError(errno, _("cannot read '%1$s'"),
-                             obj->secretValueFile);
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
-    contents[st.st_size] = '\0';
+            if (decodedlen < ivlen) {
+                virReportError(VIR_ERR_INVALID_SECRET,
+                               _("Encrypted secret size '%1$zu' is invalid"),
+                               obj->value_size);
 
-    VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fd);
+                virSecureErase(decoded, decodedlen);
+                return -1;
+            }
 
-    obj->value = g_base64_decode(contents, &obj->value_size);
+            rc = virCryptoDecryptData(schemeInfo[i].cipher,
+                                      secretsEncryptionKey, secretsKeyLen,
+                                      decoded, ivlen, /* initialization vector is stored at start of the buffer */
+                                      decoded + ivlen, decodedlen - ivlen,
+                                      &obj->value, &obj->value_size);
 
-    ret = 0;
+            virSecureErase(decoded, decodedlen);
 
- cleanup:
-    if (contents != NULL)
-        memset(contents, 0, st.st_size);
-    VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fd);
-    return ret;
+            if (rc < 0)
+                return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -868,7 +952,9 @@ static virSecretObj *
 virSecretLoad(virSecretObjList *secrets,
               const char *file,
               const char *path,
-              const char *configDir)
+              const char *configDir,
+              uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+              size_t secretsKeyLen)
 {
     g_autoptr(virSecretDef) def = NULL;
     virSecretObj *obj = NULL;
@@ -882,7 +968,7 @@ virSecretLoad(virSecretObjList *secrets,
     if (!(obj = virSecretObjListAdd(secrets, &def, configDir, NULL)))
         return NULL;
 
-    if (virSecretLoadValue(obj) < 0) {
+    if (virSecretLoadValue(obj, secretsEncryptionKey, secretsKeyLen) < 0) {
         virSecretObjListRemove(secrets, obj);
         g_clear_pointer(&obj, virObjectUnref);
         return NULL;
@@ -894,7 +980,9 @@ virSecretLoad(virSecretObjList *secrets,
 
 int
 virSecretLoadAllConfigs(virSecretObjList *secrets,
-                        const char *configDir)
+                        const char *configDir,
+                        uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                        size_t secretsKeyLen)
 {
     g_autoptr(DIR) dir = NULL;
     struct dirent *de;
@@ -915,7 +1003,9 @@ virSecretLoadAllConfigs(virSecretObjList *secrets,
         if (!(path = virFileBuildPath(configDir, de->d_name, NULL)))
             continue;
 
-        if (!(obj = virSecretLoad(secrets, de->d_name, path, configDir))) {
+        if (!(obj = virSecretLoad(secrets, de->d_name, path, configDir,
+                                  secretsEncryptionKey,
+                                  secretsKeyLen))) {
             VIR_ERROR(_("Error reading secret: %1$s"),
                       virGetLastErrorMessage());
             continue;
diff --git a/src/conf/virsecretobj.h b/src/conf/virsecretobj.h
index 17897c5513..4e872f7b29 100644
--- a/src/conf/virsecretobj.h
+++ b/src/conf/virsecretobj.h
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ int
 virSecretObjSaveConfig(virSecretObj *obj);
 
 int
-virSecretObjSaveData(virSecretObj *obj);
+virSecretObjSaveData(virSecretObj *obj,
+                     bool encryptData,
+                     uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                     size_t secretsKeyLen);
 
 virSecretDef *
 virSecretObjGetDef(virSecretObj *obj);
@@ -101,7 +104,10 @@ virSecretObjGetValue(virSecretObj *obj);
 int
 virSecretObjSetValue(virSecretObj *obj,
                      const unsigned char *value,
-                     size_t value_size);
+                     size_t value_size,
+                     bool encryptData,
+                     uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                     size_t secretsKeyLen);
 
 size_t
 virSecretObjGetValueSize(virSecretObj *obj);
@@ -112,4 +118,6 @@ virSecretObjSetValueSize(virSecretObj *obj,
 
 int
 virSecretLoadAllConfigs(virSecretObjList *secrets,
-                        const char *configDir);
+                        const char *configDir,
+                        uint8_t *secretsEncryptionKey,
+                        size_t secretsKeyLen);
diff --git a/src/secret/secret_driver.c b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
index 9b13772ad3..2f4ac60f5a 100644
--- a/src/secret/secret_driver.c
+++ b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
@@ -229,7 +229,10 @@ secretDefineXML(virConnectPtr conn,
 
     if (!objDef->isephemeral) {
         if (backup && backup->isephemeral) {
-            if (virSecretObjSaveData(obj) < 0)
+            if (virSecretObjSaveData(obj,
+                                     driver->configDir,
+                                     driver->config->secretsEncryptionKey,
+                                     driver->config->secretsKeyLen) < 0)
                 goto restore_backup;
         }
 
@@ -333,7 +336,10 @@ secretSetValue(virSecretPtr secret,
     if (virSecretSetValueEnsureACL(secret->conn, def) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (virSecretObjSetValue(obj, value, value_size) < 0)
+    if (virSecretObjSetValue(obj, value, value_size,
+                             driver->configDir,
+                             driver->config->secretsEncryptionKey,
+                             driver->config->secretsKeyLen) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     event = virSecretEventValueChangedNew(def->uuid,
@@ -542,7 +548,9 @@ secretStateInitialize(bool privileged,
     if (!(driver->secrets = virSecretObjListNew()))
         goto error;
 
-    if (virSecretLoadAllConfigs(driver->secrets, driver->configDir) < 0)
+    if (virSecretLoadAllConfigs(driver->secrets, driver->configDir,
+                                driver->config->secretsEncryptionKey,
+                                driver->config->secretsKeyLen) < 0)
         goto error;
 
     return VIR_DRV_STATE_INIT_COMPLETE;
@@ -564,7 +572,9 @@ secretStateReload(void)
     if (!(driver->config = virSecretDaemonConfigNew(driver->privileged)))
         return -1;
 
-    ignore_value(virSecretLoadAllConfigs(driver->secrets, driver->configDir));
+    ignore_value(virSecretLoadAllConfigs(driver->secrets, driver->configDir,
+                                         driver->config->secretsEncryptionKey,
+                                         driver->config->secretsKeyLen));
 
     return 0;
 }
-- 
2.51.1

    