RE: Salt Storage - web.config or database?

["Burke, Charles" <Charles_Burke () HomeDepot com>]

I agree with Saxe.  But if you must go with a global salt value (rather
weak) and storing in web.config then encrypt it first using DPAPI.

The developers sometimes argue performance to get their way!

The DPAPI solution will allow them to decrypt salt on startup (no DB
retrievals).

I have lost this battle many times but when I challenge the developer to
use the system APIs (DPAPI in this case) and show examples.. they cannot
dispute my solution.


-----Original Message-----
From: cynthia.peluso () us ngrid com [mailto:cynthia.peluso () us ngrid com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 10:20 AM
To: webappsec () securityfocus com
Subject: Salt Storage - web.config or database?

Where is the best place to store salts?  I have developers that will be
using the Microsoft random number generator (ASP.NET ) to generate a
salt to append to the password and then hash.  They want to store the
salt in the web.config file and the password hashes in the database.
What is  best practice for salt storage?  The developer's concern is
that storing the salts in the database will increase traffic volume. I'm
not sure if this is the case as we are talking 16 bytes or so.  If
stored in web.config what level of protection is required?



Cindy  


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