# Inter-VM Pass password manager for Qubes OS This is a very simple password management system that lets you securely store passwords in a compartment fully isolated from your other compartments. It accomplishes this feat by by leveraging both the excellent [`pass`](https://passwordstore.org/) program, and Qubes OS IPC to isolate the actual password store — and the master password for the store — from the environments where you may use the passwords in the store. With this program, you can store and retrieve passwords between VMs without having to grant any of the VMs any special policy privileges other than access to the Qubes services implemented here. Details and features: 1. The actual password store is stored in a separate VM, never decrypted in the VM you manage the passwords from. 2. You do not need to set up your own GPG key, as `qvm-pass init` does it for you. 3. There are two different services one for read-only access and one for read-write. 4. There is a `get-or-generate` feature, not available in normal `pass`, which is useful for stuff like programs that need a password generated and then remembered (such as the excellent [`qubes-pass` Ansible lookup plugin](https://github.com/Rudd-O/ansible-qubes/tree/master/lookup_plugins). *Tip:* combine this program with the excellent [`qubes-pass` lookup plugin for Ansible Qubes](https://github.com/Rudd-O/ansible-qubes) or the [`pass` lookup plugin for Ansible](https://github.com/gcoop-libre/ansible-lookup-plugin-pass) so that you can securely manage VMs and machines that require secrets. ## Using the software These instructions assume you have installed the software. See the *Installing the software* heading below for more information. Step 1: decide which VM you'll use to manage passwords, and which VM you'll use to store passwords in. In the password manager VM, create the file `/rw/config/pass-split-domain` and add the name of the password store VM as the first and only line of the file. Now, from the password manager VM, run the command: ``` qvm-pass init ``` This step will create the necessary GPG keys and password store database in the password store VM. You'll receive a Qubes policy prompt asking you whether to allow your password manager VM to access `ruddo.PassManage` — it is safe to say yes. You will then receive a password prompt from GPG, confirming the creation of the key and the password that, in the future, will be used to encrypt and access the password store. Note: don't forget to back your password store VM up regularly! At this point, you are ready to `list`, `insert` and run other operations in your password store VM. `list` and `get` operations will use the service `ruddo.PassRead`, while management operations will use the service `ruddo.PassManage`, which allows you to set different policies for different VMs based on what you want these VMs to be able to do with the password store VM. Run `qvm-pass -?` on a terminal to get usage information. ## Installing the software There are three components for this software: * The client `qubes-pass` you install in the VMs (or their templates) where you want to manage your passwords. * The service `qubes-pass-service` you install in the VMs (or their templates) where you want to store your passwords. * The policy `qubes-pass-dom0` is the dom0 side of things, necessary to enable the services and control access from the clients to the service. Here's how you install `qubes-pass` on Fedora VMs (*see below for other OSes*): After cloning this repository on a suitable VM, and installing the `rpm-build` package onto that VM, run the command: ``` make rpm ``` This will generate three installable packages on the local directory: * `qubes-pass-.noarch.rpm` * `qubes-pass-service-.noarch.rpm` * `qubes-pass-dom0-.noarch.rpm` Copy the `qubes-pass-.noarch.rpm` file to the template VM or standalone VM where you plan to manage passwords. Install the RPM with `dnf install `. At this point, this VM, as well as any VMs using this as a template, have gained the ability to list and store passwords stored in other VMs. Now copy the `qubes-pass-service-.noarch.rpm` file to the template VM or standalone VM where you plan to store passwords. Install the RPM with `dnf install `. At this point, this VM, as well as any VMs using this as a template, have gained the ability to securely store passwords in `/home/user/.password-store`. Now power off any template VMs you've installed software into, as well as any VMs based on that template VM you plan to use the software from. Now copy the `qubes-pass-dom0-.noarch.rpm` file to your dom0. At this point, the default policy (which is `ask`) is active on your Qubes OS system, and you can begin using the client. Those clever among you will have discovered that there is a `Makefile` included, and that you can use the `Makefile` to install the software on other non-RPM, non-Fedora templates. I welcome pull requests to add support for other distro packages and Qubes OS templates. Thanks in advance for your help. ## Troubleshooting and debugging As always, you can file new issues on the repo of this project for help with fixing bugs that the programs may have. Pull requests also welcome.