security password management

Manage password items.

Syntax: Find a generic password item.
 find-generic-password [-h] [-a account] [-s service] [-options...] [-g] [-keychain...]
 
Syntax: Delete a generic password item.
 delete-generic-password [-h] [-a account] [-s service] [-options...] [-keychain...]
 Options 
 -a account Match account string
 -c creator Match creator (four-character code)
 -C type Match type (four-character code)
 -D kind Match kind string
 -G value Match value string (generic attribute)
 -j comment Match comment string
 -l label Match label string
 -s service Match service string
 -g Display the password for the item found
Syntax: Delete an internet password item.
 delete-internet-password [-h] [-a account] [-s server] [options...] [keychain...]
 
Syntax: Find an internet password item.
 find-internet-password [-h] [-a account] [-s server] [options...] [-g] [keychain...]
 
 Options
 -a account Match account string
 -c creator Match creator (four-character code)
 -C type Match type (four-character code)
 -d securityDomain Match securityDomain string
 -D kind Match kind string
 -j comment Match comment string
 -l label Match label string
 -p path Match path string
 -P port Match port number
 -r protocol Match protocol (four-character code)
 -s server Match server string
 -t authenticationType Match authenticationType (four-character code)
 -g Display the password for the item found

Examples

Add to keychain:

$ security add-generic-password -a $USER -s 'PASS64' -w this_is_the_secret

Read from the keychain:

$ security find-generic-password -a "$USER" -w -s 'PASS64'
this_is_the_secret

Save the password to an environment variable 'P64', Be aware that it is possible to view the environment using ps -E, which could expose the password:

$ export $(echo "P64"="$(security find-generic-password -a "$USER" -w -s 'PASS64')")

Delete from the keychain:

$ security delete-generic-password -a "$USER" -s 'PASS64'

"The man who looks for security, even in the mind, is like a man who would chop off his limbs in order to have artificial ones which will give him no pain or trouble" ~ Henry Miller (The Rosy Crucifixion I )

Related macOS commands

Local man page: security - Command line help page on your local machine.
security - Administer Keychains, keys, certificates and the Security framework.