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API Keys:
paste uses 96 bit API keys which are stored as SHA-256 hashes.
The keys are transmitted as base64 (RFC 4648) encoded Bearer tokens with
no padding.
The length is long enough to be secure against any and all forms of brute
force but short enough that the base64 encoding is only 16 characters
meaning it can be easily typed out.
Coincidentally, 96 is also evenly divisible by 6 so the base64 encoding
has no padding.
Base64 was chosen as the limited use of symbols makes it easier to type.
Storing the keys as plain SHA-256 is sufficiently secure as:
- Brute forcing the keys would, as mentioned before, be infeasible.
- If someone recovers the hash, they would have an easier time brute
forcing, but still infeasible with current computing power.
- There is a timing attack but it would require predictably generating
hashes with longer and longer prefixes which is infeasible.
But, to further reduce the chances of a recovered hash being brute
forced, a KDF with a small number of rounds could be used to seriously
increase the time required.
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