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sec-design.md

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Okay, let's create a design document for the json_serializable package in Dart.

BUSINESS POSTURE

Business Priorities and Goals:

  • Enable developers to easily serialize and deserialize Dart objects to and from JSON.
  • Reduce boilerplate code associated with JSON serialization.
  • Improve developer productivity by automating the generation of serialization logic.
  • Provide a robust and maintainable solution for JSON handling in Dart applications.
  • Support various customization options for serialization behavior.
  • Integrate seamlessly with the Dart ecosystem and build tools.

Business Risks:

  • Incorrectly generated serialization logic could lead to data corruption or unexpected application behavior.
  • Vulnerabilities in the generated code or the package itself could expose applications to security risks, such as injection attacks or denial of service.
  • Lack of support for specific JSON structures or data types could limit the package's applicability.
  • Performance bottlenecks in the serialization process could impact application responsiveness.
  • Changes in the Dart language or the build_runner system could break compatibility.
  • Inadequate documentation or examples could hinder adoption and usage.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:

  • security control: The package relies on code generation, which reduces the risk of manual errors in serialization logic.
    • Implemented in: json_serializable package itself.
  • security control: The package uses the Dart type system to enforce type safety during serialization and deserialization.
    • Implemented in: Generated code and Dart's type system.
  • security control: The package is tested.
    • Implemented in: Test suite in the repository.
  • security control: The package is actively maintained by the Dart team.
    • Implemented in: Dart team processes.

Accepted Risks:

  • accepted risk: The package relies on the correctness of the build_runner and related build tools. Issues in these tools could affect the generated code.
  • accepted risk: Custom fromJson and toJson methods provided by users are not validated by the package and could introduce vulnerabilities.
  • accepted risk: The package does not provide built-in protection against common web vulnerabilities like XSS or CSRF. These must be handled separately in the application using the package.

Recommended Security Controls:

  • security control: Implement a fuzzer to test the generated serialization and deserialization logic with a wide range of inputs.
  • security control: Integrate static analysis tools (e.g., linters, SAST) into the build process to identify potential vulnerabilities in the package code and generated code.
  • security control: Provide clear documentation and guidelines on how to securely use the package, including best practices for handling user-provided data and avoiding common vulnerabilities.
  • security control: Regularly review and update dependencies to address any known security issues.
  • security control: Consider adding support for content security policies (CSP) or other security headers if the generated code is used in web applications.

Security Requirements:

  • Authentication: Not directly applicable to this package, as it deals with data serialization, not authentication.
  • Authorization: Not directly applicable to this package.
  • Input Validation:
    • The package should handle invalid JSON input gracefully, without crashing or throwing unexpected exceptions.
    • The generated code should validate that the input data conforms to the expected types and structure.
    • Users should be encouraged to validate data before passing it to the fromJson methods, especially if the data comes from external sources.
  • Cryptography: Not directly applicable, unless the serialized data itself requires encryption. In such cases, users should encrypt/decrypt the data before/after serialization.
  • Output validation:
    • The package should handle invalid input for toJson methods gracefully.
    • Users should be encouraged to validate data before passing it to the toJson methods, especially if the data comes from external sources.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

graph LR
    A[User/Developer] --> B(json_serializable Package);
    B --> C(Dart Application);
    B --> D[build_runner];
    C --> E(JSON Data);
    B --> F(Dart SDK);
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Context Diagram Element Description:

  • User/Developer
    • Name: User/Developer
    • Type: Person
    • Description: The developer who uses the json_serializable package in their Dart application.
    • Responsibilities: Writes Dart code, defines classes, uses annotations, runs build commands.
    • Security controls: Follows secure coding practices.
  • json_serializable Package
    • Name: json_serializable Package
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The Dart package that provides JSON serialization functionality.
    • Responsibilities: Generates serialization code, provides annotations, handles serialization and deserialization.
    • Security controls: Code generation, type safety, testing.
  • Dart Application
    • Name: Dart Application
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The application that uses the json_serializable package.
    • Responsibilities: Uses the generated code to serialize and deserialize objects.
    • Security controls: Application-specific security measures.
  • build_runner
    • Name: build_runner
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The Dart build tool that runs the code generator.
    • Responsibilities: Executes the code generation process.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the build environment.
  • JSON Data
    • Name: JSON Data
    • Type: Data
    • Description: The JSON data that is being serialized or deserialized.
    • Responsibilities: Represents the data in a standard format.
    • Security controls: Data validation, potentially encryption.
  • Dart SDK
    • Name: Dart SDK
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: Dart software development kit.
    • Responsibilities: Provides core libraries and tools for Dart development.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the Dart SDK.

C4 CONTAINER

graph LR
    A[User/Developer] --> B(json_serializable Package);
    B --> C(Annotation Processor);
    C --> D[Generated Code];
    B --> E[build_runner];
    D --> F(Dart Application);
    F --> G(JSON Data);
    B --> H(Dart SDK);
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Container Diagram Element Description:

  • User/Developer
    • Name: User/Developer
    • Type: Person
    • Description: The developer who uses the json_serializable package.
    • Responsibilities: Writes Dart code, defines classes, uses annotations, runs build commands.
    • Security controls: Follows secure coding practices.
  • json_serializable Package
    • Name: json_serializable Package
    • Type: Library
    • Description: The Dart package that provides JSON serialization functionality.
    • Responsibilities: Provides annotations and logic for code generation.
    • Security controls: Code generation, type safety, testing.
  • Annotation Processor
    • Name: Annotation Processor
    • Type: Code Generator
    • Description: The component within the package that processes annotations and generates code.
    • Responsibilities: Analyzes annotations, generates serialization logic.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the build_runner and Dart SDK.
  • Generated Code
    • Name: Generated Code
    • Type: Dart Code
    • Description: The Dart code generated by the annotation processor.
    • Responsibilities: Provides toJson and fromJson methods for classes.
    • Security controls: Type safety, relies on the correctness of the generator.
  • build_runner
    • Name: build_runner
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The Dart build tool that runs the code generator.
    • Responsibilities: Executes the code generation process.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the build environment.
  • Dart Application
    • Name: Dart Application
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The application that uses the json_serializable package.
    • Responsibilities: Uses the generated code to serialize and deserialize objects.
    • Security controls: Application-specific security measures.
  • JSON Data
    • Name: JSON Data
    • Type: Data
    • Description: The JSON data that is being serialized or deserialized.
    • Responsibilities: Represents the data in a standard format.
    • Security controls: Data validation, potentially encryption.
  • Dart SDK
    • Name: Dart SDK
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: Dart software development kit.
    • Responsibilities: Provides core libraries and tools for Dart development.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the Dart SDK.

DEPLOYMENT

Deployment of the json_serializable package itself is handled through pub.dev. However, applications using it can have various deployment scenarios.

Possible Deployment Solutions:

  1. Web Application (Dart compiled to JavaScript): Deployed to a web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx, Firebase Hosting).
  2. Server-side Application (Dart VM): Deployed to a server (physical or virtual) or a containerized environment (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
  3. Mobile Application (Flutter): Packaged and deployed through app stores (Google Play Store, Apple App Store).
  4. Desktop Application (Flutter): Packaged and distributed as an executable for the target platform.

Chosen Deployment Solution (Server-side Application - Docker):

graph LR
    A[Docker Host] --> B(Docker Container);
    B --> C(Dart VM);
    C --> D[Dart Application];
    D --> E(Generated Code);
    D --> F[External Services];
    A --> G[Build Server];
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Deployment Diagram Element Description:

  • Docker Host
    • Name: Docker Host
    • Type: Server
    • Description: The physical or virtual machine that hosts the Docker engine.
    • Responsibilities: Runs the Docker daemon, manages containers.
    • Security controls: Operating system security, network security, Docker daemon security configuration.
  • Docker Container
    • Name: Docker Container
    • Type: Container
    • Description: The isolated environment running the Dart application.
    • Responsibilities: Provides a consistent runtime environment for the application.
    • Security controls: Container isolation, image security, resource limits.
  • Dart VM
    • Name: Dart VM
    • Type: Runtime Environment
    • Description: The Dart Virtual Machine that executes the application code.
    • Responsibilities: Executes Dart code.
    • Security controls: Dart VM security features.
  • Dart Application
    • Name: Dart Application
    • Type: Application
    • Description: The application that uses the json_serializable package.
    • Responsibilities: Performs application logic, uses generated code for serialization.
    • Security controls: Application-specific security measures.
  • Generated Code
    • Name: Generated Code
    • Type: Code
    • Description: The code generated by json_serializable.
    • Responsibilities: Handles JSON serialization and deserialization.
    • Security controls: Relies on the security of the generator and Dart type system.
  • External Services
    • Name: External Services
    • Type: External Systems
    • Description: Any external services the application interacts with (databases, APIs, etc.).
    • Responsibilities: Varies depending on the service.
    • Security controls: Depends on the specific service and its security configuration.
  • Build Server
    • Name: Build Server
    • Type: Server
    • Description: Server that builds application and creates docker image.
    • Responsibilities: Build application, create docker image, push docker image to repository.
    • Security controls: Access control, secure build environment.

BUILD

The build process for applications using json_serializable typically involves the following steps:

  1. Developer writes Dart code, including classes annotated with @JsonSerializable().
  2. Developer runs build_runner (either build or watch command).
  3. build_runner invokes the json_serializable code generator.
  4. The code generator analyzes the annotated classes and generates the corresponding toJson and fromJson methods in .g.dart files.
  5. The Dart compiler compiles the application code, including the generated code.
  6. The compiled application is packaged for deployment (e.g., as a Docker image, a JavaScript bundle, or a mobile app package).

Build Process Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Developer] --> B(Dart Code with Annotations);
    B --> C(build_runner);
    C --> D(json_serializable Code Generator);
    D --> E[Generated .g.dart Files];
    B --> F(Dart Compiler);
    E --> F;
    F --> G[Compiled Application];
    G --> H(Deployment Package);
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Security Controls in the Build Process:

  • security control: Code generation: Automates serialization logic, reducing manual errors.
  • security control: Dart type system: Enforces type safety during compilation.
  • security control: Dependency management (pub): Ensures that the correct versions of packages are used.
  • security control: (Recommended) Static analysis (SAST, linters): Can be integrated into the build process to detect potential vulnerabilities.
  • security control: (Recommended) Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Can be used to identify vulnerabilities in dependencies.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:

  • Data serialization and deserialization: This is the core functionality provided by the package and is essential for any application that uses it to handle JSON data.
  • Application functionality relying on serialized data: Any business logic that depends on the correct serialization and deserialization of data is critical.

Data Sensitivity:

  • The sensitivity of the data being serialized depends entirely on the application using the json_serializable package. The package itself does not handle any specific data.
  • If the application handles sensitive data (e.g., PII, financial data, credentials), then the serialized JSON data will also be sensitive and must be protected accordingly.
  • If the application handles non-sensitive data, the serialized JSON data will also be non-sensitive.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:

  • Are there any specific performance requirements for serialization/deserialization?
  • Are there any specific JSON formats or structures that need to be supported beyond the standard ones?
  • Are there any existing security policies or guidelines that need to be followed?
  • What is the expected lifespan of applications using this package? This impacts the importance of long-term maintainability.
  • What level of error handling and reporting is required for serialization failures?

Assumptions:

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The primary goal is to simplify JSON serialization in Dart, with a focus on developer productivity and maintainability.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: The Dart team and the package maintainers are responsible for addressing security vulnerabilities in the package itself. Application developers are responsible for securing their applications and the data they handle.
  • DESIGN: The build_runner system and the Dart SDK are reliable and secure. The generated code will be used in a variety of applications, with varying security requirements.