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SPECIFICTION
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OpenBao

openbao.org

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Spec score 8.0 #12 of 46 in Secrets Management Tools

What it is

OpenBao is a free, open-source system for storing and controlling access to secrets such as API tokens, encryption keys, passwords, and certificates. Management is available through a web UI, CLI, or HTTP API. Key/value secrets are encrypted before persistent storage, while dynamic credentials can be generated for Kubernetes and SQL databases and revoked when leases expire. Leases can be renewed, and individual secrets or groups can be revoked. OpenBao also encrypts and decrypts data without retaining it. Authentication methods include GitHub, LDAP, and AppRole, with token-based policies. Its storage barrier uses AES-256-GCM and verifies authentication tags during decryption. High-availability configurations are supported. Deployment options include packages, containers, binaries, source builds, and Helm; documentation covers Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Windows. Releases provide GPG signatures and SBOMs. Integrated Storage defaults to a 1 MiB maximum entry size, configurable with max_entry_size.

Spec sheet

Product
OpenBao is an identity-based secrets and encryption management system for storing and controlling access to sensitive data such as API tokens, encryption keys, passwords, and certificates.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Deployment
OpenBao can be installed through package managers, container registries, precompiled binaries, source builds, or Helm for Kubernetes.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Integrations
The project lists integrations including Sigstore for artifact signing, StackHPC for OpenStack, and Percona for database encryption key management.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Security
OpenBao's security barrier encrypts data sent to storage with AES-256-GCM and verifies the authentication tag when decrypting.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Founded
2023Read 28 Sep 2026 · openbao.org
Access methods
Users can manage OpenBao through its UI, CLI, or HTTP API.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Authentication
OpenBao supports authentication methods including GitHub, LDAP, and AppRole, and associates authenticated clients with policies through tokens.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Dynamic secrets
OpenBao can generate secrets on demand for systems such as Kubernetes and SQL databases, then automatically revoke them when their lease expires.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Encryption
OpenBao can encrypt and decrypt data without storing it, using centrally defined encryption parameters.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
High availability
OpenBao supports running in a highly available configuration to help preserve availability during failures.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Leases and revocation
Secrets have leases that can be renewed through built-in APIs, and OpenBao can revoke individual secrets or groups of secrets.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Notable limit
Integrated Storage has a default maximum entry size of 1 MiB, which can be configured through max_entry_size.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Release security
The download page says releases have GPG signatures and SBOMs are available on the GitHub Releases page.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Secret storage
OpenBao encrypts key/value secrets before writing them to persistent storage.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Security boundary
The security model treats arbitrary control of the storage backend and memory analysis of a running instance as out of scope.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org
Supported operating systems
Installation documentation includes packages for Linux distributions, Homebrew for macOS, FreeBSD packages, and a Windows executable.Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org

Plans and prices

OpenBao Free Open source software under Mozilla Public License 2.0 Self-managed deployment · no vendor pricing or usage limits stated Read 9 Oct 2026 · openbao.org

Every OpenBao plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Dynamic secrets with lease-based revocation
  • UI, CLI, and HTTP API management
  • AES-256-GCM storage protection
  • High-availability configuration support
  • Free under Mozilla Public License 2.0

Limits

  • Integrated Storage defaults to 1 MiB entries
  • Self-managed deployment responsibility
  • Storage backend control is outside security scope
  • Running-instance memory analysis is out of scope

Who it suits

OpenBao suits teams that need self-managed secret storage, dynamic credentials, encryption services, and policy-based access. It supports Kubernetes and multiple operating systems and deployment methods.

Verdict

OpenBao offers broad secret, lease, encryption, authentication, and deployment controls without vendor pricing. Operators must account for its stated security boundaries and storage-entry limit.

Where Specifiction places it

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