Secure Source of Randomness

[pixeebot]

This codemod replaces all instances of functions in the random module (e.g. random.random() with their, much more secure, equivalents from the secrets module (e.g. secrets.SystemRandom().random()).

There is significant algorithmic complexity in getting computers to generate genuinely unguessable random bits. The random.random() function uses a method of pseudo-random number generation that unfortunately emits fairly predictable numbers.

If the numbers it emits are predictable, then it's obviously not safe to use in cryptographic operations, file name creation, token construction, password generation, and anything else that's related to security. In fact, it may affect security even if it's not directly obvious.

Switching to a more secure version is simple and the changes look something like this:

- import random
+ import secrets
  ...
- random.random()
+ secrets.SystemRandom().random()

More reading

• https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Insecure_Randomness
• https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/338
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/330
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/326
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1241

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[pixeebot]

I'm confident in this change, and the CI checks pass, too!

If you see any reason not to merge this, or you have suggestions for improvements, please let me know!

[pixeebot]

Just a friendly ping to remind you about this change. If there are concerns about it, we'd love to hear about them!