No. GitHub App private keys do not expire automatically. If an old key is still valid and someone obtains it, they can authenticate as the app and use its access within the limits of the app’s installations and permissions. That is not automatic control of a GitHub user account or every repository on GitHub—but an abandoned key can remain a serious risk until an authorized app owner revokes it.
Do GitHub App private keys expire?
No. GitHub’s private-key management documentation says keys do not expire automatically; an authorized app owner must delete a key to revoke it. Forgetting where a key was stored does not invalidate it.
A GitHub App private key is used to sign a JSON Web Token (JWT). The app uses that JWT when requesting an installation access token. These are distinct credentials with different lifetimes: the key has no automatic expiry, while an installation access token expires one hour after creation by default, according to GitHub’s REST API documentation. The token’s short lifetime does not make the private key expire.
What can someone do with a leaked GitHub App key?
Someone holding the key can authenticate as the app. The potential impact depends on which accounts have installed that app and what permissions those installations grant. GitHub notes that an app’s key can provide access to each account where the app is installed; it does not grant unrestricted access to all GitHub repositories. Review the app’s permissions and installations to understand its actual reach, and request only the permissions the app needs, as GitHub recommends in its GitHub App best practices.
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There is no relevant published incident-rate figure in the cited GitHub guidance, so the possibility should not be mistaken for evidence that forgotten-key takeovers are common. The practical concern is persistence: an old key remains usable until it is revoked.
Is deleting a secret from a repository enough?
No. Removing the key from a file, deleting a commit, or recreating a repository does not revoke the credential. GitHub’s guidance on leaked secrets warns that removing a leaked value from source or deleting and recreating the repository does not prevent exploitation. If exposure is possible, revoke the key at GitHub rather than relying on source cleanup.
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After revocation, investigate where the key may have been exposed and whether it was used while valid. Depending on your setup, check repositories and their history, build logs, deployment environments, secret stores, and access records available to your organization. These are practical investigation steps; what records exist will vary by system.
How should you rotate a GitHub App private key?
For planned rotation, create and deploy a replacement before removing the old key. GitHub supports multiple private keys so an app can be moved to a new key without downtime; a replacement must exist before you delete the only key. Use this sequence:
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- Create: Generate a new private key for the GitHub App and store it in the intended secure location.
- Update: Configure the service or workload that signs app JWTs to use the new key.
- Verify: Confirm the app can authenticate and perform its required work with the replacement key.
- Revoke: Delete the old key from the app’s private-key settings once the replacement is working.
If compromise is suspected, do not wait for a routine maintenance window or for a full investigation before revoking the exposed key. Replace it as needed to restore service, and then investigate the exposure and activity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where should the private key be stored?
Choose storage based on whether a workload needs to read the private key or only use it to sign. GitHub recommends considering a key vault, such as Azure Key Vault, and a sign-only design where feasible: the workload can request signing without receiving the private value. A vault is not a guarantee against compromise; access to the vault and the signing environment still needs to be controlled.
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Storing the key in an environment variable may be weaker because an attacker who gains access to that environment may be able to read the key and authenticate as the app. Avoid hard-coding private keys in source. For any storage design, consider which workloads and identities can use the key, whether signing access is auditable, how quickly you can deploy a replacement, and how narrowly the app’s permissions and installations limit potential impact.
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