terraform config_error ai_generated partial

Error: Output refers to sensitive values: The root module output "db_password" is marked as sensitive, but Terraform cannot display it in the CLI output.

ID: terraform/sensitive-output-in-root-module

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
75%Fix Rate
85%Confidence
1Evidence
2023-08-05First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
Terraform v1.5 active — — —
Terraform v1.6 active — — —
Terraform v1.7 active — — —

Root Cause

An output value is marked as sensitive (via the 'sensitive = true' attribute), preventing Terraform from displaying its value in the CLI after apply, but the user expects to see it.

generic

中文

输出值被标记为敏感（通过 'sensitive = true' 属性），导致 Terraform 在 apply 后无法在 CLI 中显示其值，但用户期望看到它。

Official Documentation

https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/values/outputs#sensitive-outputs

Workarounds

  1. 70% success If you need the value temporarily, use 'terraform output -no-color' and pipe to a file, but note sensitive outputs are still hidden. Instead, check the AWS Console or use 'aws secretsmanager get-secret-value' if the value is stored in Secrets Manager. 
    If you need the value temporarily, use 'terraform output -no-color' and pipe to a file, but note sensitive outputs are still hidden. Instead, check the AWS Console or use 'aws secretsmanager get-secret-value' if the value is stored in Secrets Manager.
  2. 85% success For automation, store the sensitive value in a secure backend (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Vault) and retrieve it programmatically. Example: add 'resource "aws_secretsmanager_secret_version" "db_password" { secret_id = aws_secretsmanager_secret.db.id, secret_string = random_password.db.result }' to persist the value securely. 
    For automation, store the sensitive value in a secure backend (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Vault) and retrieve it programmatically. Example: add 'resource "aws_secretsmanager_secret_version" "db_password" { secret_id = aws_secretsmanager_secret.db.id, secret_string = random_password.db.result }' to persist the value securely.

中文步骤

  1. If you need the value temporarily, use 'terraform output -no-color' and pipe to a file, but note sensitive outputs are still hidden. Instead, check the AWS Console or use 'aws secretsmanager get-secret-value' if the value is stored in Secrets Manager.
  2. For automation, store the sensitive value in a secure backend (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Vault) and retrieve it programmatically. Example: add 'resource "aws_secretsmanager_secret_version" "db_password" { secret_id = aws_secretsmanager_secret.db.id, secret_string = random_password.db.result }' to persist the value securely.

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 50% fail

    If the output depends on a sensitive input variable or resource attribute, Terraform may still treat it as sensitive. Also, exposing secrets in plain text is a security risk.

  2. 90% fail

    Sensitive outputs are also redacted in JSON output; they appear as "(sensitive value)" even in machine-readable formats.

  3. 70% fail

    This hides the value completely, which may break automation scripts that depend on the output.