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secure_gate/traits/
reveal_secret.rs

1//! Traits for controlled, polymorphic secret revelation.
2//!
3//! > **Import path:** `use secure_gate::RevealSecret;`
4//!
5//! This module defines the core `RevealSecret` trait. See
6//! [`revealed_secrets`](crate::traits::revealed_secrets) for
7//! [`EncodedSecret`](crate::EncodedSecret), the wrapper for encoded output.
8//!
9//! The design ensures:
10//! - No implicit borrowing (`Deref`, `AsRef`, etc.) from the secret wrapper itself —
11//!   reaching the secret always names a method
12//! - Scoped access is preferred (minimizes lifetime of exposed references)
13//! - Direct exposure is possible but clearly marked as an escape hatch
14//! - Owned consumption is available for FFI hand-off and type migration
15//! - Length metadata (`len`, `is_empty` via [`SecretLen`]) is available without
16//!   exposing contents — though length itself can be sensitive; see [`SecretLen`]
17//!
18//! # Three-Tier Access Model
19//!
20//! All secret access follows an explicit hierarchy. Prefer tiers earlier in the list:
21//!
22//! | Tier | Method | When to use |
23//! |------|--------|-------------|
24//! | 1 — Scoped borrow (preferred) | `with_secret` / `with_secret_mut` | Almost all application code |
25//! | 2 — Direct reference (escape hatch) | `expose_secret` / `expose_secret_mut` | FFI, third-party APIs requiring `&T` |
26//! | 3 — Owned consumption | `into_inner` | FFI hand-off, type migration, APIs requiring `T` by value |
27//!
28//! **Audit note:** `into_inner` does not appear in an `expose_secret*` grep sweep —
29//! audit it separately. See the [`revealed_secrets`](crate::traits::revealed_secrets) module
30//! and SECURITY.md for the full list of auditable access surfaces.
31//!
32//! # Key Traits
33//!
34//! | Trait                  | Access     | Preferred Method          | Escape Hatch             | Metadata          | Feature     |
35//! |------------------------|------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|-------------|
36//! | [`RevealSecret`]                | Read-only  | `with_secret` (scoped)    | `expose_secret`     | — (see [`SecretLen`]) | Always |
37//! | [`crate::RevealSecretMut`]      | Mutable    | `with_secret_mut` (scoped)| `expose_secret_mut` | Inherits above    | Always |
38//!
39//! # Security Model
40//!
41//! - **Core wrappers** (`Fixed<T>`, `Dynamic<T>`) implement both traits → full access.
42//! - **Generated newtypes** (`fixed_newtype!` / `dynamic_newtype!`) implement both, forwarding to the wrapper they hold.
43//! - **`EncodedSecret` implements neither.** It is an output wrapper, not a secret wrapper: its contents are reached through `Deref<Target = str>` and its two named consumers.
44//! - **Zero-cost** — all methods are `#[inline(always)]` where possible.
45//! - **Scoped access preferred** — `with_secret` / `with_secret_mut` limit borrow lifetime, reducing leak risk.
46//! - **Direct exposure** (`expose_secret` / `expose_secret_mut`) is provided for legitimate needs (FFI, third-party APIs), but marked as an escape hatch.
47//! - **Owned consumption** (`into_inner`) is available when the secret must be moved out of the
48//!   wrapper. It transfers ownership of the plain value and nothing is copied; the wrapper's
49//!   zeroize-on-drop does not follow it, so the caller owns the value's lifetime from there.
50//!
51//! # Note for `RevealSecret` Implementors
52//!
53//! Adding `into_inner` to this trait means every `RevealSecret` implementor must provide
54//! an owned-extraction implementation. For wrappers intentionally limited to borrowing
55//! semantics, implement `into_inner` with `unimplemented!()` or a compile-time guard, and
56//! document the design rationale clearly.
57//!
58//! # Usage Guidelines
59//!
60//! The preferred and recommended way to access secrets is the scoped `with_secret` /
61//! `with_secret_mut` methods. `expose_secret` / `expose_secret_mut` are escape hatches
62//! for rare cases and should be audited closely. `into_inner` is reserved for the uncommon
63//! case where ownership of the inner value is required.
64//!
65//! - **Always prefer scoped methods** (`with_secret`, `with_secret_mut`) in application code.
66//! - Use direct exposure only when necessary (e.g., passing raw pointer + length to C FFI).
67//! - Audit every `expose_secret*` call — they should be rare and well-justified.
68//! - Audit every `into_inner` call — it transfers ownership out of the wrapper's protection.
69//!
70//! # Examples
71//!
72//! Scoped (recommended):
73//!
74//! ```rust
75//! use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
76//!
77//! let secret = Fixed::new([42u8; 4]);
78//! let sum: u32 = secret.with_secret(|bytes| bytes.iter().map(|&b| b as u32).sum());
79//! assert_eq!(sum, 42 * 4);
80//! ```
81//!
82//! Direct (escape hatch – use with caution):
83//!
84//! ```rust
85//! use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
86//!
87//! let secret = Fixed::new([42u8; 4]);
88//!
89//! // Example: FFI call needing raw pointer + length
90//! // unsafe {
91//! //     c_function(secret.expose_secret().as_ptr(), secret.len());
92//! // }
93//! ```
94//!
95//! Mutable scoped:
96//!
97//! ```rust
98//! use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret, RevealSecretMut};
99//!
100//! let mut secret = Fixed::new([0u8; 4]);
101//! secret.with_secret_mut(|bytes| bytes[0] = 99);
102//! assert_eq!(secret.expose_secret()[0], 99);
103//! ```
104//!
105//! Owned consumption (into_inner):
106//!
107//! ```rust
108//! use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
109//!
110//! let key = Fixed::new([0xABu8; 16]);
111//! // Consumes `key` and transfers ownership of the bytes: they move into `owned`
112//! // and an inert sentinel is left for `Fixed::drop` to zeroize in their place.
113//! let owned: [u8; 16] = key.into_inner();
114//! assert_eq!(owned, [0xABu8; 16]);
115//! // `owned` is an ordinary array now — you own its lifetime.
116//! ```
117//!
118//! Polymorphic generic code:
119//!
120//! ```rust
121//! use secure_gate::SecretLen;
122//!
123//! fn print_length<S: SecretLen>(secret: &S) {
124//!     println!("Length: {} bytes", secret.len());
125//! }
126//! ```
127//!
128//! These traits are the foundation of secure-gate's security model: all secret access is
129//! explicit, auditable, and controlled. Prefer scoped methods in nearly all cases.
130//!
131//! # Implementation Notes
132//!
133//! Long-lived `expose_secret()` references can defeat scoping — the borrow outlives the
134//! call site and the compiler cannot enforce that the secret is not retained. This is an
135//! intentional escape hatch for FFI and legacy APIs; audit every call site.
136
137/// Read-only access to a wrapped secret.
138///
139/// Implemented for **all** [`Fixed<T>`](crate::Fixed) and [`Dynamic<T>`](crate::Dynamic),
140/// whatever the inner type — length metadata lives in the narrower [`SecretLen`].
141/// Prefer the scoped [`with_secret`](Self::with_secret) method; use
142/// [`expose_secret`](Self::expose_secret) only when a long-lived reference is
143/// unavoidable. See [`RevealSecretMut`](crate::RevealSecretMut) for the mutable
144/// counterpart.
145pub trait RevealSecret {
146    /// The inner secret type being revealed.
147    ///
148    /// This can be a sized type (e.g. `[u8; N]`, `u32`) or unsized (e.g. `str`, `[u8]`).
149    type Inner: ?Sized;
150
151    /// Provides scoped (recommended) read-only access to the secret.
152    ///
153    /// The closure receives a reference that cannot escape — the borrow ends when
154    /// the closure returns, minimizing the lifetime of the exposed secret.
155    /// Prefer this over [`expose_secret`](Self::expose_secret) in all application code.
156    ///
157    /// # Examples
158    ///
159    /// ```rust
160    /// use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
161    ///
162    /// let secret = Fixed::new([42u8; 4]);
163    /// let sum: u32 = secret.with_secret(|bytes| bytes.iter().map(|&b| b as u32).sum());
164    /// assert_eq!(sum, 42 * 4);
165    /// ```
166    fn with_secret<F, R>(&self, f: F) -> R
167    where
168        F: FnOnce(&Self::Inner) -> R;
169
170    /// Returns a direct (auditable) read-only reference to the secret.
171    ///
172    /// Long-lived `expose_secret()` references can defeat scoping — prefer
173    /// [`with_secret`](Self::with_secret) in application code. Use this only when
174    /// a long-lived reference is unavoidable (e.g. FFI, third-party APIs).
175    ///
176    /// # Examples
177    ///
178    /// ```rust
179    /// use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
180    ///
181    /// let secret = Fixed::new([42u8; 4]);
182    ///
183    /// // Auditable escape hatch — FFI use case:
184    /// // unsafe { c_fn(secret.expose_secret().as_ptr(), secret.len()); }
185    /// let _ = secret.expose_secret();
186    /// ```
187    fn expose_secret(&self) -> &Self::Inner;
188
189    /// Consumes the wrapper and transfers ownership of the plain inner value.
190    ///
191    /// This is the safe, idiomatic path when ownership of the secret is required — for
192    /// example, to hand the value to an API that takes `T` by value, to move between
193    /// wrapper types, or at FFI boundaries where the callee takes ownership.
194    ///
195    /// **Protection ends here.** The returned value is an ordinary `[u8; N]` / `String` /
196    /// `Vec<T>` with no zeroize-on-drop and no redacted `Debug` — you own the secret and
197    /// its lifetime from this call onward. The value is moved, never duplicated-and-kept:
198    /// an inert [`SentinelValue`](crate::SentinelValue) is left for the wrapper's `Drop` to
199    /// zeroize in its place, so exactly one copy survives the call and it is yours. For
200    /// `Dynamic` that move is literal — the allocation itself is handed over, nothing is
201    /// read or written. For `Fixed` the secret is stored inline, so the bytes are
202    /// transferred into your slot and the wrapper's slot receives the sentinel; there is no
203    /// indirection to hand over instead. If you want the protection to continue, do not call this
204    /// — keep the wrapper, or move the value into a new one.
205    ///
206    /// # Availability
207    ///
208    /// Only callable when `Self::Inner: Sized + SentinelValue + Zeroize`. The
209    /// [`SentinelValue`](crate::SentinelValue) bound is required to construct the inert
210    /// placeholder that the wrapper's `Drop` impl runs on after the real secret is moved
211    /// out. (A plain `Default` bound is deliberately **not** used: the standard library
212    /// only implements `Default` for arrays up to 32 elements, which would make
213    /// `into_inner` unusable for `[u8; 64]` and other common key sizes.) The `Zeroize`
214    /// bound is required because the wrapper still zeroizes the sentinel on drop.
215    /// For custom inner types that intentionally omit `SentinelValue` (e.g. key types
216    /// where no safe placeholder value exists), `into_inner` is not callable — use
217    /// `with_secret` or `expose_secret` instead.
218    ///
219    /// The three concrete implementations in this crate all satisfy the bounds:
220    /// - `Fixed<[u8; N]>` — `[u8; N]: SentinelValue + Zeroize` for **any** `N` ✓
221    /// - `Dynamic<String>` — `String: SentinelValue + Zeroize` ✓
222    /// - `Dynamic<Vec<T>>` — `Vec<T>: SentinelValue + Zeroize` ✓
223    ///
224    /// # Allocation Behavior
225    ///
226    /// `Fixed::into_inner` is zero-cost (no allocation). The `Dynamic::into_inner`
227    /// impls allocate one small `Box<T>` sentinel (24 bytes on 64-bit) before swapping
228    /// out the real secret; if that allocation panics (OOM), the original `inner` is
229    /// untouched and `Dynamic::drop` zeroizes the secret during unwind. Confidentiality
230    /// is preserved on the panic path. See the per-impl docs on
231    /// [`Dynamic`](crate::Dynamic) for the exact pattern.
232    ///
233    /// # Examples
234    ///
235    /// ```rust
236    /// use secure_gate::{Fixed, RevealSecret};
237    ///
238    /// let key = Fixed::new([0xABu8; 16]);
239    /// let owned: [u8; 16] = key.into_inner();
240    /// assert_eq!(owned, [0xABu8; 16]);
241    /// // `owned` is a plain array — no wiping, no redaction. You own it.
242    /// ```
243    ///
244    /// ```rust
245    /// # #[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
246    /// # {
247    /// use secure_gate::{Dynamic, RevealSecret};
248    ///
249    /// let pw = Dynamic::<String>::new("hunter2".to_string());
250    /// let owned: String = pw.into_inner();
251    /// assert_eq!(owned, "hunter2");
252    /// // Same allocation, moved out — no copy was made.
253    /// # }
254    /// ```
255    fn into_inner(self) -> Self::Inner
256    where
257        Self: Sized,
258        Self::Inner: Sized + crate::SentinelValue + zeroize::Zeroize;
259}
260
261/// Length metadata for secrets whose inner type has a meaningful length.
262///
263/// Separated from [`RevealSecret`] so the core access trait can be implemented
264/// for **every** inner type — including local user-defined ones (see the
265/// [`CloneableSecret`](crate::CloneableSecret) newtype pattern), which have no
266/// meaningful `len()`. Implemented for `Fixed<[T; N]>`, `Dynamic<String>`, and
267/// `Dynamic<Vec<T>>`.
268///
269/// # Security
270///
271/// These methods do not expose secret **contents** — but that is not the same
272/// as length being harmless, and the distinction matters:
273///
274/// - For `Fixed<[u8; N]>`, `len()` is `N`: a compile-time constant already
275///   visible in the type. Nothing is revealed.
276/// - For variable-length secrets (`Dynamic<String>`, `Dynamic<Vec<u8>>`),
277///   length **can be sensitive**. A password's length narrows a brute-force
278///   search; a token's length can fingerprint its issuer. Treat it as metadata
279///   *about* a secret, not as public data: validate against it (minimum-length
280///   checks, buffer sizing) but never log it, put it in an error message that
281///   leaves the process, or persist it next to an identifier.
282///
283/// This trait is deliberately separate from [`RevealSecret`] so that measuring
284/// a secret is a visible choice. `use secure_gate::SecretLen;` is an audit
285/// marker — `grep SecretLen` finds every module that measures secrets — and
286/// generic code bounded only on `RevealSecret` cannot call `len()`. The other
287/// route, `with_secret(|s| s.len())`, needs no trait but surfaces in the
288/// `with_secret` audit sweep instead. Neither is prevented; both are greppable.
289/// This is accident-prevention, not a barrier.
290///
291/// Constant-time comparison is **not** length-hiding: `ConstantTimeEq` on
292/// variable-length secrets delegates to `subtle`, whose slice comparison
293/// short-circuits when lengths differ, so length *inequality* is observable
294/// through timing whether or not `len()` is ever called. Lengths are usually
295/// public in the protocols where that matters; for password verification, be
296/// aware of it.
297///
298/// # Examples
299///
300/// ```rust
301/// use secure_gate::{Fixed, SecretLen};
302///
303/// let key = Fixed::new([0u8; 32]);
304/// assert_eq!(key.len(), 32);
305/// assert_eq!(key.byte_len(), 32);
306/// assert!(!key.is_empty());
307/// ```
308pub trait SecretLen: RevealSecret {
309    /// Returns the number of elements in the secret, matching the underlying
310    /// container's `len()` — element count for `Vec<T>` and `[T; N]`, byte
311    /// count for `String` (where the element is a byte).
312    fn len(&self) -> usize;
313
314    /// Returns the total size of the secret in bytes.
315    ///
316    /// For single-byte element types (`Vec<u8>`, `String`, `[u8; N]`) this
317    /// equals `len()`. Implementations for multi-byte element types override
318    /// this to return `len() * core::mem::size_of::<T>()`.
319    #[inline(always)]
320    fn byte_len(&self) -> usize {
321        self.len()
322    }
323
324    /// Returns `true` if the secret is empty.
325    #[inline(always)]
326    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
327        self.len() == 0
328    }
329}