HashiCorp Vault Token Regex for Java
/^(?:hvs\.|s\.)[A-Za-z0-9]{20,200}$/What this pattern does
This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching hashicorp vault token, ported and verified for Java. In security-sensitive code, using an unverified regex can open the door to both false positives and denial-of-service attacks. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Java project — whether you're validating in a Spring Boot controller, a Jakarta EE service, or a standalone utility class.
Java Implementation
// HashiCorp Vault Token
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Security > Secrets & Config
import java.util.regex.Pattern;
public class HashicorpVaultTokenValidator {
private static final Pattern PATTERN =
Pattern.compile("^(?:hvs\\.|s\\.)[A-Za-z0-9]{20,200}$");
public static boolean validate(String input) {
return PATTERN.matcher(input).matches();
}
// Example
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(validate("hvs.CAESILdJHHVdRKmXpGGNVRpzuIMz8NuNEMFWMJ0ZjUVNxWqp")); // true
}
}Test Cases
Matches (Valid) | Rejects (Invalid) |
|---|---|
hvs.CAESILdJHHVdRKmXpGGNVRpzuIMz8NuNEMFWMJ0ZjUVNxWqp | hvs.short |
s.aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwX | vs.aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwX |
| — | HVSA.aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwX |
When to use this pattern
This pattern is drawn from the Security > Secrets & Config category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Java developers because critical in Java applications since the JVM regex engine uses backtracking and is susceptible to ReDoS without careful pattern design. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.
Common Pitfalls
Vault tokens in environment variables or logs are a common leak vector. Always set short TTLs for tokens. Enable Vault audit logging to track token usage. Use AppRole or Kubernetes auth over static tokens.
Technical Notes
Vault tokens: older format uses s. prefix; newer (Vault 1.10+) uses hvs. for service tokens, hvb. for batch tokens, hvr. for recovery tokens. Tokens expire based on TTL and are linked to specific Vault policies. Revoke via vault token revoke if exposed.
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