envconsul VS platform-compat

Might not perfectly fit but I think that was one of the ideas behind - https://github.com/hashicorp/envconsul (which can use Vault as a source), and probably to a degree consul-template (though a quick skim of the documentation and I'm not sure if can use Vault as a source.)

You have envchain to store secrets as ENV variables in your keyring and execute commands:

https://github.com/sorah/envchain

Not really something you would use for production web apps, I think envconsul covers that usecase:

https://github.com/hashicorp/envconsul

Have you looked into Hashicorp's consul + envconsul? You can also encrypt data using their vault.

DotNet offers the SecureString class to keep a string encrypted in Memory, but as long as the OS does not natively support this concept, the only advantage is that it resides in memory for a shorter time, the disadvantage is that SecureStrings are easier to search for.

Note the KeePass's resistance to the attack mentioned depends on the security of .NET's secure string, which, here's what Microsoft has to say about it (https://github.com/dotnet/platform-compat/blob/master/docs/D...)

As for KeePassXC, last I checked it didn't even bother.

TIL. Looks like the deprecation note recommends MailKit.

Well of course, but it does have to be passed to the module that generates the hashes AD uses in the first place. And as I said, the standard password reset screen is bound to store the password in plain text somewhere as well.

This won’t help you with your question, but I figured I should warn against using send-mailmessage.

points you here.

Some of the reasons for not using Hashtable or other non-generic collection types are outlined here. That's why Microsoft doesn't recommend their usage in new implementations across all of its API documentation.

And if you really want to be secure you need to something better than a SecureString: https://github.com/dotnet/platform-compat/blob/master/docs/DE0001.md