What are ephemeral credentials in cybersecurity?

Compromised credentials are one of the top cyber threats organizations face today. According to IBM research, stolen credentials were used in 30 percent of all cyber incidents – more than any other attack vector.

One way companies are tackling this problem is by using ephemeral credentials. These credentials drastically reduce the window of opportunity for attackers, thereby limiting the potential damage of a compromise.

Ephemeral credentials are short-lived credentials that are made available only when needed and then automatically rendered useless afterwards. You don’t store them long-term (like you would store passwords in a database), and they expire after a short time or a single use.

In terms of granting access, they work just like permanent credentials. You can access the same systems, services or data without any added friction.

The key difference, though, is that ephemeral credentials don’t persist (or stay valid) indefinitely. This is done to ensure that even if someone manages to steal them, they’ll likely expire before they can be misused.

Ephemeral credentials come in different forms depending on the use case and the system they’re meant to protect. Here are some of the most common types:

a. Ephemeral certificates

These are short-lived digital certificates used for mutual TLS authentication. They replace long-term certificates that require regular, manual rotation.

b. Ephemeral database credentials

These are temporary usernames and passwords that are issued to access a database. They’re often tied to a specific session and automatically expire after a short period.

c. Ephemeral API keys

Just like regular API keys, these allow access to APIs, but they’re time-bound and automatically revoked after use or after a set expiry. This helps prevent misuse even if a key is exposed in logs or browser code.

d. Just-In-Time (JIT) access tokens

JIT access tokens are issued at the time of a request and grant access to a system or resource for a limited window. They follow the principle of least privilege and disappear once the task is done.

e. Ephemeral user accounts

These are temporary user identities that are created when access is needed and then removed shortly after. This is useful in scenarios like break-glass access or contractor onboarding, where permanent accounts would pose unnecessary risk.

There’s an important difference between ephemeral credentials and ephemeral accounts, even though both are designed to reduce long-term access risks.

Ephemeral credentials are temporary authentication details (like tokens or certificates) that are tied to an existing user or system. They allow access without having to create or manage new identities/accounts.

Ephemeral accounts, on the other hand, are temporary user identities themselves. They are created when access is needed once, or for a short period, and they are removed or disabled soon after the task is complete.

Here’s a simple checklist to help you decide when to use which:

Ephemeral credentials are used when…

• A user or system already exists and just needs short-lived access
• You want to avoid long-term secrets like stored passwords or API keys, especially for tier-zero assets
• You’re integrating with tools that support token-based or certificate-based access
• You’re applying zero-trust or just-in-time access models

Ephemeral accounts are used when…

• There’s no existing identity and you don’t want to create a permanent one
• Temporary access needs to be tightly controlled and isolated
• You’re dealing with third parties, contractors or emergency access scenarios
• You want to make sure all traces of access are removed after the session ends

To help you get an even better understanding of ephemeral credentials and how they work in real-world scenarios, let’s look at a typical workflow where ephemeral certificates are used to secure privileged access.

1. An engineer initiates a request to access a production environment or sensitive system. This request is made through an access management tool or privileged access management (PAM) platform.
2. The system verifies the engineer’s identity using existing credentials and checks whether they have the necessary permissions. If the workflow requires, the system may prompt a manager to approve the request.
3. Once approved, the platform generates an ephemeral certificate that’s tied to the engineer’s identity. This certificate is valid only for a short period and cannot be reused.
4. The engineer uses the ephemeral certificate to establish a secure connection (like mutual TLS) to the production server. The system grants access based on the certificate.
5. After the set time, the certificate becomes invalid. No manual revocation is needed, and the access window closes automatically.
6. All actions tied to the ephemeral certificate (e.g., access time, systems touched and commands run) are logged for auditing and compliance.

Ephemeral credentials are an important security measure that helps limit the risk of long-term credential exposure and unauthorized access. Any organization looking to implement a zero-trust model, or reduce its attack surface in general, should consider adding ephemeral credentials to its access management strategy.