System and method for sharing secret with an agent running in a virtual computing instance

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions for sharing secrets with virtual computing instances in a distributed system, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computer causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

• writing a time-to-live (TTL) address in a virtual computing instance to access secret information using a cluster management center that manages the virtual computing instance as part of a logical cluster of virtual computing instances, wherein the TTL address is valid during a specified time;
• invoking the TTL address written in the virtual computing instance to retrieve the secret information;
• and
• using the secret information to execute an operation that requires the secret information.

A system comprising:

• memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• write a time-to-live (TTL) address in a virtual computing instance to access secret information using a cluster management center that manages the virtual computing instance as part of a logical cluster of virtual computing instances, wherein the TTL address is valid during a specified time;
• invoke the TTL address written in the virtual computing instance to retrieve the secret information;
• and
• use the secret information to execute an operation that requires the secret information.