Streamlining Test Account Management in Legacy Codebases with Python Security Tools

Managing Test Accounts in Legacy Systems: A Python-Driven Approach

Legacy codebases often pose significant challenges for security teams, especially when it comes to managing test or staging accounts. These accounts are vital for testing but can introduce security vulnerabilities if not properly handled. As a security researcher and senior developer, I’ve developed a Python-based strategy to address this problem effectively.

The Challenge of Managing Test Accounts

Legacy systems typically lack proper segregation, automation, or controls around test accounts. Common issues include:

• Hardcoded credentials or inconsistent account configurations
• Lack of visibility into account status or activity
• Manual management leading to human error

These issues increase attack surface and complicate compliance efforts.

The Python Solution Overview

The goal is to create a scalable, scriptable approach that can:

• Discover all test accounts automatically
• Revoke or reset credentials regularly
• Enforce policy compliance
• Log activities for audit purposes

Below, I present a typical implementation that uses the Python ldap3 library for Active Directory environments, along with REST API calls for cloud-based identity providers.

Discovering Test Accounts

First, identify test accounts by common naming conventions or account attributes. A typical LDAP query might look like:

from ldap3 import Server, Connection, ALL

# Connect to LDAP server
server = Server('ldap://legacy.example.com', get_info=ALL)
conn = Connection(server, user='admin', password='admin_password')
conn.bind()

# Search for test accounts
conn.search('dc=example,dc=com', '(cn=*test*)', attributes=['cn', 'uid'])
accounts = conn.entries

print(f'Found {len(accounts)} test accounts')

This script scans the directory for accounts with 'test' in their common name, but can be extended to match any pattern.

Credential Rotation and Revocation

Once the test accounts are identified, the next step is to reset passwords or disable accounts periodically.

# Example to disable accounts
for account in accounts:
    dn = account.entry_dn
    conn.modify(dn, {'userAccountControl': [(MODIFY_REPLACE, [514])]})  # 514 disables account

Using standard LDAP control codes ensures that test accounts are not only identified but also controlled.

Policy Enforcement and Audit Logging

For compliance, log all changes with a timestamp and administrator identity.

import logging
from datetime import datetime

logging.basicConfig(filename='test_account_management.log', level=logging.INFO)

def log_action(action, account_dn):
    timestamp = datetime.utcnow().isoformat()
    logging.info(f"{timestamp} - {action} - {account_dn}")

# Log disabling of an account
for account in accounts:
    dn = account.entry_dn
    conn.modify(dn, {'userAccountControl': [(MODIFY_REPLACE, [514])]})
    log_action('Disabled account', dn)

This creates an audit trail that helps with compliance and troubleshooting.

Automating and Integrating

The script can be scheduled via cron or CI/CD pipelines to run at regular intervals, ensuring ongoing security. For cloud-based identity providers, REST API calls can be integrated similarly.

Conclusion

By leveraging Python scripting, legacy systems can be transformed from risk liabilities into manageable, auditable environments. Automating test account management strengthens security posture and compliance, significantly reducing manual effort and human error.

For complex environments, consider building a centralized dashboard that visualizes account statuses and automates responses. Remember, continuous monitoring and automation are key to maintaining security in legacy codebases.

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Disclaimer: Always test scripts in a staging environment before applying to production systems to prevent accidental lockouts or disruptions.

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