KeyBox
A modern, web-based SSH console and key management tool that functions as a secure bastion host.
What is KeyBox?
Bastillion is a modern, web-based SSH console and key management tool that centralizes secure access to multiple systems. It functions as a bastion host with a friendly dashboard, allowing administrators to manage SSH keys, launch web terminals, and enforce security policies like two-factor authentication. The project solves the problem of decentralized and insecure SSH access management in infrastructure environments.
System administrators, DevOps engineers, and security teams managing SSH access across multiple servers or cloud instances. It is particularly useful for organizations needing centralized, auditable, and secure remote access management.
Developers choose Bastillion for its clean, browser-based interface that simplifies SSH management without sacrificing security. Its unique selling point is combining bastion host functionality with key management, two-factor authentication, and web-based terminals in a single self-hosted platform.
Overview
A modern, web-based SSH console and key management tool. Bastillion gives you a clean, browser-based way to manage SSH access across all your systems. Think of it like a bastion host with a friendly dashboard.
Use Cases
Best For
- Centralizing SSH access management across a fleet of servers
- Enforcing two-factor authentication for SSH connections
- Managing and distributing SSH public keys from a single dashboard
- Providing web-based terminal access for teams without local SSH clients
- Auditing SSH sessions and command execution
- Integrating SSH management with existing LDAP directories
Not Ideal For
- Environments requiring minimal resource footprint, as Bastillion's Java 21 runtime adds significant overhead compared to lightweight SSH tools
- Teams already using infrastructure-as-code platforms like Ansible or Terraform that manage SSH keys directly, adding an unnecessary layer
- Scenarios where SSH access must be entirely offline or air-gapped, as Bastillion relies on web-based connectivity and external dependencies
- Organizations needing real-time, multi-user terminal collaboration beyond basic command sharing
Pros & Cons
Pros
Implements two-factor authentication with Authy or Google Authenticator and integrates with LDAP for external user management, enhancing login security and enterprise compatibility.
Provides a dashboard to distribute and manage SSH public keys across systems, simplifying key rotation and access control as highlighted in the SSH key management settings.
Allows launching secure web shells directly from the browser, eliminating the need for local SSH clients and enabling access from any device with a web interface.
Defaults to Ed25519 SSH keys and supports Ed448, offering up-to-date encryption with performance benefits, as noted in the custom SSH key pair configuration.
Cons
Requires Java 21, which adds installation complexity and resource usage, making it heavier than native SSH solutions or tools written in languages like Go.
Involves editing multiple files like BastillionConfig.properties and jaas.conf for LDAP, which can be error-prone and time-consuming for quick deployments.
Critical auditing features are not enabled out-of-the-box, requiring manual edits to log4j2.xml and properties files, which could lead to security oversights.
Uses the Prosperity Public License instead of a permissive open-source license, potentially limiting commercial use and community contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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