ADR-0007: Root Key Lifecycle and Management Strategy

Status: accepted
Date: 2024-11-03
Tags: Security

Context

Our system requires a robust and secure approach to managing the root key, which is fundamental to the entire security infrastructure. We need to establish:

Key generation and storage policies
Backup and recovery procedures
Rotation policies
Emergency recovery procedures

The root key is a critical security component that requires careful handling throughout its lifecycle while maintaining operational efficiency.

Decision

We will implement the following key management strategy:

Root Key Characteristics

Long-lived key with periodic rotation
Generated automatically by SPIKE Nexus
Stored exclusively in memory, never on disk in plain text

Key Protection

Administrator-provided password through SPIKE Pilot
Encrypted backup for emergency recovery
Memory-only plain text existence

Key Rotation:

Periodic rotation schedule
Automatic re-encryption of all dependent secrets
Maintain system availability during rotation

Consequences

Positive

No plain text key storage on disk
Administrator-controlled recovery capability
Automated key generation reduces human error
Regular rotation enhances security
Automatic re-encryption maintains data security
Clear recovery procedures

Negative

Dependency on administrator password
Risk of system unavailability if both memory content and recovery password are lost
Performance impact during key rotation and re-encryption
Need for careful password management
Operational complexity during rotation

Implementation Requirements

Key Generation

Initial Generation

Automated generation by SPIKE Nexus
Cryptographically secure random number generator
Immediate memory storage

Storage Requirements:

Memory-only plain text storage
Secure memory handling
Memory zeroing after use

Backup and Recovery

Password Requirements

Strong password policies
Secure password transmission
Password storage guidelines

Backup Process

Encryption of root key
Secure storage of encrypted backup
Regular backup verification

Key Rotation

Rotation Process:

Automated rotation procedure
Gradual secret re-encryption
Validation of re-encrypted secrets

Scheduling:

Define rotation intervals
Maintenance window planning
Emergency rotation procedures

Critical Operations

Password Management

Administrator Responsibilities:

Secure password creation
Password storage
Access control
Regular password verification

Recovery Procedures:

Emergency recovery process
Password verification
System restoration steps

Rotation Operations

Pre-rotation:

System health check
Backup verification
Resource availability check

During Rotation:

Progress monitoring
Error handling
Recovery readiness

Post-rotation:

Verification of re-encrypted secrets
System health validation
Backup update

Monitoring and Alerts

Key Health

Memory presence verification
Backup status
Rotation schedule tracking

Critical Alerts:

Failed rotation attempts
Backup failures
Memory issues
Access attempts

Recovery Procedures

Emergency Recovery:

Password validation
Backup decryption
System restoration
Verification steps

Failed Rotation Recovery:

Rollback procedures
System state verification
Impact assessment

References

NIST Key Management Guidelines
OWASP Key Management Cheat Sheet
Cryptographic Key Lifecycle Best Practices

Notes

Regular audits of key management procedures required
Document all rotation events and issues
Maintain detailed recovery runbooks
Regular testing of recovery procedures
Password management procedures must be documented and practiced

Warning

The administrator password for key recovery is CRUCIAL. Loss of this password combined with system failure could result in permanent data loss. Implement appropriate password management procedures.