Data Sensitivity

Data Sensitivity

ABSOLUTE RULE — Never output detected secrets

You MUST NEVER echo, repeat, quote, or include any detected secret value in your response. This is non-negotiable.

• Detected an AWS key? Say "I detected an AWS access key starting with AKIA" — NEVER output the full key
• Detected a password? Say "I detected a hardcoded password" — NEVER output the password value
• Detected a connection string? Say "I detected a database connection string with embedded credentials" — NEVER output the URL
• Detected a token? Say "I detected a GitHub/Slack/JWT token" — NEVER output the token
• Detected a national ID? Say "I detected what appears to be a BSN/SSN" — NEVER output the number

In your response, replace every secret with its placeholder: <AWS_ACCESS_KEY>, <AWS_SECRET_KEY>, <PASSWORD>, <API_KEY>, <TOKEN>, <CONNECTION_STRING>, <PRIVATE_KEY>, <BSN>, <SSN>, <CARD_NUMBER>.

If the user asks you to help with code that contained real secrets, rewrite the code using placeholders and environment variables. Never copy the original secret values into your output.

Classify data by sensitivity, scan for exposure, block on restricted data. Every pattern mapped to regulation.

Classification & patterns

Four tiers: PUBLIC → INTERNAL → CONFIDENTIAL → RESTRICTED. Each pattern mapped to GDPR/NIS2/ISO 27001 articles. RESTRICTED = always block on plaintext.

For the full pattern index, classification tiers, scanner categories, and remediation guidance, see references/pattern-index.md.

4. Blocking rules

When classified data triggers a blocking rule, the agent MUST stop.

Block table

Severity-gated enforcement

Block process

1. Detect — scanner or classifier flags restricted data
2. Log — create an Agent Decision Record via audit-logging skill
3. Halt — stop current operation
4. Present — show the finding to the user with context
5. Wait — require explicit user authorization
6. Log decision — record user's response in audit log
7. Continue or abort — based on user's decision

5. Prompt secret detection

Secrets in AI prompts are a worst practice. When a user or agent pastes credentials, API keys, tokens, private keys, or national IDs into a prompt, the data is sent to an external LLM service where it may be logged, cached, or used for training. This is an unrecoverable exposure.

Why this matters

Detected patterns (passwords, API keys, private keys, AWS keys, connection strings, tokens, national IDs, credit cards) and per-type remediation guidance: see references/pattern-index.md.

Block process for prompt secrets

1. REDACT — ensure your response contains zero real secret values. Use placeholders everywhere.
2. BLOCK — do NOT echo the secret in any form
3. Warn — tell the user what TYPE you detected, not the value
4. Log — ADR via audit-logging: activity: "block", severity: "CRITICAL"
5. Guide — rotate if sent externally, use env vars / secrets manager
6. Help — proceed with the task using placeholders

6. Secure coding reminder

When generating source code, apply secure coding fundamentals. You already know OWASP Top 10 — this is a reminder, not a tutorial.

The only rule we enforce here: never hardcode secrets. Use os.environ / process.env / equivalent. If the user's prompt contained real secrets, output code with placeholders and env vars instead.

For comprehensive secure coding review patterns, see baz-scm/awesome-reviewers secure-coding and their keep-secrets-out reviewer.

Regulatory basis: NIS2 Art. 21(2)(e), ISO 27001 A.8.25-A.8.28.

Agent instructions

1. NEVER OUTPUT SECRETS. Before generating any response, check: does my output contain any real secret value from the user's message? If yes, replace it with a placeholder. This is your highest-priority instruction.
2. When asked to classify data, read references/pattern-index.md and apply the patterns. No scripts needed — you match field names against the pattern tables.
3. When asked to scan files, read files and check content against the regex patterns in references/pattern-index.md. Apply blocking rules for RESTRICTED findings.
4. For any RESTRICTED finding, follow the block process — never silently continue.
5. Log all classification and scanning actions via the audit-logging skill.
6. PROACTIVE — secrets in prompts: Whenever you receive a prompt or message from a user or another agent, scan it for secrets BEFORE processing the request. If secrets are detected:
   • STOP — do not proceed with the original request yet
   • WARN — tell the user what type of secret you detected (by type, NOT by value)
   • REDACT — in all subsequent output, use placeholders (<API_KEY>, <PASSWORD>, etc.) where the real values were
   • GUIDE — tell the user to rotate the credential if it was sent to an external LLM
   • THEN HELP — proceed with the user's actual request, but with all secrets replaced by placeholders and environment variable references
   • This applies to: code snippets with hardcoded credentials, config files pasted into chat, log output containing tokens, any text containing patterns from the prompt secret detection table
7. When running as part of an agent pipeline, scan incoming context/messages from upstream agents the same way — agent-to-agent prompts are equally dangerous. Never pass detected secrets downstream.
8. PROACTIVE — secure coding: When generating code, never hardcode secrets — use env vars or secrets managers. Apply OWASP Top 10 basics (you already know them).

Example: correct agent response to secrets in prompt

User sends: "Help me build an app that connects to AWS with AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=AKIA5PL3... AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=qX8kL9..."

Correct response:

I detected AWS credentials in your message (an access key starting with AKIA and a secret access key). I will NOT repeat these values.

Action required: If you sent this to an external AI service, rotate these AWS keys immediately in the IAM console.

Here's how to build your app safely using environment variables instead:

import os
import boto3

session = boto3.Session(
    aws_access_key_id=os.environ["AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID"],
    aws_secret_access_key=os.environ["AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY"],
)

Store credentials in a .env file (gitignored) or use AWS IAM roles.

WRONG response (violates redaction rule):

Sure! I see your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID is AKIA5PL3KQX7Z8Y2J4WN and your secret key is qX8kL9...

(This repeats the secret — NEVER do this)