mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for gogf/gf

Mitigation Strategy: Input Validation using gvalid

• Description:
  • Step 1: Identify all user input points in your application that are processed using GoFrame's request handling mechanisms (e.g., controllers, handlers).
  • Step 2: For each input point, define validation rules using GoFrame's gvalid package. Rules should be specific to the expected data type, format, length, and any business logic constraints, leveraging gvalid's rule syntax and features.
  • Step 3: Integrate validation rules into your request handling logic within GoFrame controllers or handlers. Use gvalid.CheckStruct or gvalid.CheckMap to validate incoming request data against defined rules before processing it further in your GoFrame application logic.
  • Step 4: Handle validation errors gracefully within your GoFrame application. Utilize GoFrame's error handling mechanisms to return informative error responses to the user indicating invalid input, without exposing sensitive system details, and potentially using GoFrame's response structures.
  • Step 5: Regularly review and update gvalid validation rules as your GoFrame application evolves and new input points are added or existing ones change.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • SQL Injection (Severity: High) - indirectly, by preventing invalid input that could be used in SQL injection.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (Severity: Medium) - indirectly, by preventing invalid input that could be used in XSS attacks.
  • Command Injection (Severity: High) - indirectly, by preventing invalid input that could be used in command injection.
  • Path Traversal (Severity: Medium) - indirectly, by preventing invalid input that could be used in path traversal attacks.
  • Data Integrity Issues (Severity: Medium)
  • Denial of Service (DoS) through malformed input (Severity: Medium)
• Impact:
  • SQL Injection: Medium Reduction (validation is a layer of defense, parameterized queries are the primary defense)
  • XSS: Low to Medium Reduction (validation is a layer of defense, contextual output sanitization is crucial)
  • Command Injection: Medium Reduction (validation is a layer of defense, avoid executing external commands with user input)
  • Path Traversal: Medium Reduction (validation is a layer of defense, secure file handling is crucial)
  • Data Integrity Issues: High Reduction
  • DoS through malformed input: Medium Reduction
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: API endpoints for user registration and login. Basic validation rules using gvalid are defined for username, password, and email format within GoFrame controllers.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: All other API endpoints handling data updates, resource creation, and file uploads within GoFrame controllers. gvalid validation rules need to be defined and implemented for these endpoints. Form input validation in web pages handled by GoFrame is also missing comprehensive gvalid usage.

Mitigation Strategy: Parameterized Queries with GoFrame ORM

• Description:
  • Step 1: When interacting with the database within your GoFrame application, always use GoFrame's ORM methods (e.g., Model.Where, Model.Data, Model.Save, Model.Find, Model.Update, Model.Delete) instead of constructing raw SQL queries by string concatenation within your Go code.
  • Step 2: Utilize placeholders and parameter binding implicitly provided by the GoFrame ORM when filtering or updating data based on user input. GoFrame ORM handles this automatically when using its methods correctly, ensuring safe parameterization.
  • Step 3: Avoid using GoFrame's db.Exec or db.Query with user-supplied data directly in the SQL string unless absolutely necessary and after extremely careful sanitization and validation (which is generally discouraged within GoFrame applications). Prefer using ORM methods.
  • Step 4: Review existing database interaction code in your GoFrame application and refactor any instances of raw SQL queries to use GoFrame ORM methods to benefit from built-in parameterization.
  • Step 5: Educate developers on secure GoFrame ORM usage and conduct code reviews to ensure parameterized queries are consistently used throughout the GoFrame project.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • SQL Injection (Severity: High)
• Impact:
  • SQL Injection: High Reduction - Effectively eliminates SQL injection risk when GoFrame ORM is used correctly.
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: Most data retrieval operations in the backend services of the GoFrame application. ORM is generally used for fetching and listing data using GoFrame's model features.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: Some older modules within the GoFrame application still use raw SQL queries for complex data updates and reports. These need to be refactored to use GoFrame ORM or parameterized queries through ORM methods.

Mitigation Strategy: Contextual Output Sanitization in GoFrame Templates

• Description:
  • Step 1: Identify all data that is dynamically rendered within GoFrame templates (HTML, JavaScript, etc.) used in your application.
  • Step 2: Understand the output context for each piece of dynamic data (HTML, JavaScript, URL, CSS, etc.) within your GoFrame templates.
  • Step 3: Apply appropriate sanitization functions based on the output context before passing data to the GoFrame template engine. For HTML context, use HTML escaping functions (GoFrame's template engine provides some auto-escaping, understand its scope). For JavaScript context, use JavaScript escaping functions. For URLs, use URL encoding.
  • Step 4: Be aware of GoFrame's template engine's auto-escaping capabilities, but do not rely solely on them for all contexts. Explicitly sanitize data, especially when dealing with user-generated content or complex data structures rendered in GoFrame templates.
  • Step 5: Regularly review GoFrame templates and update sanitization logic as needed, especially when template logic or data sources change within your GoFrame application.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (Severity: Medium)
  • Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) (Severity: High if GoFrame template engine is misused to allow code execution)
• Impact:
  • XSS: Medium to High Reduction (depending on the thoroughness of sanitization in GoFrame templates)
  • SSTI: Low to Medium Reduction (sanitization can help prevent some SSTI vectors in GoFrame templates, but secure template design is also crucial)
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: Basic HTML escaping is used in some GoFrame templates for user-provided text fields displayed on web pages.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: JavaScript context sanitization is not consistently applied in GoFrame templates. Templates rendering data within JavaScript blocks or attributes are vulnerable. More comprehensive HTML sanitization is needed, especially for rich text content rendered by GoFrame templates. SSTI prevention measures in GoFrame template usage need to be reviewed and strengthened.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Session Management Configuration in GoFrame

• Description:
  • Step 1: Configure GoFrame's session management features to use secure session cookies. Utilize GoFrame's session configuration options to set the HttpOnly flag to prevent client-side JavaScript access to session cookies and the Secure flag to ensure cookies are only transmitted over HTTPS, through GoFrame's session management settings.
  • Step 2: Implement appropriate session timeouts using GoFrame's session configuration. Set a reasonable session lifetime to limit the window of opportunity for session hijacking, configurable within GoFrame's session management.
  • Step 3: Implement session renewal mechanisms within your GoFrame application. When a session is about to expire, renew it securely instead of relying on indefinitely long sessions, potentially using GoFrame's session management features for renewal.
  • Step 4: Choose a secure session storage backend supported by GoFrame. For production environments, consider using database-backed or Redis-backed sessions instead of file-based sessions for better security and scalability, configurable through GoFrame's session settings.
  • Step 5: If storing sensitive data in GoFrame sessions, consider encrypting the session data at rest and in transit, if supported by the chosen GoFrame session storage backend or by implementing custom encryption within your GoFrame application.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Session Hijacking (Severity: High)
  • Session Fixation (Severity: Medium)
  • Unauthorized Access (Severity: High)
• Impact:
  • Session Hijacking: Medium to High Reduction (depending on timeout and renewal implementation in GoFrame)
  • Session Fixation: High Reduction (using secure session management practices in GoFrame)
  • Unauthorized Access: Medium Reduction (session security is a component of overall access control in GoFrame applications)
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: Basic session management is enabled using file-based storage in GoFrame. Session cookies are set, but HttpOnly and Secure flags are not explicitly configured using GoFrame's session settings. Default session timeout is used.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: Explicitly setting HttpOnly and Secure flags for session cookies using GoFrame's session configuration. Implementing session timeouts and renewal within GoFrame's session management. Migrating to a more secure session storage backend (database or Redis) supported by GoFrame. Encryption of sensitive session data within GoFrame sessions is not implemented.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Error Handling and Logging in GoFrame

• Description:
  • Step 1: Configure GoFrame's error handling middleware or custom error handlers to prevent exposing sensitive information in error messages displayed to users. Utilize GoFrame's error handling mechanisms to return generic error messages to users through responses.
  • Step 2: Implement detailed error logging using GoFrame's logging features. Log comprehensive error information, including error messages, stack traces (if appropriate and secure), request details, and timestamps using GoFrame's logger.
  • Step 3: Configure secure logging practices using GoFrame's logging configuration. Store logs in a secure location with restricted access, configurable through GoFrame's logging settings. Rotate logs regularly, potentially using GoFrame's log rotation features.
  • Step 4: Avoid logging sensitive data directly in logs generated by GoFrame's logger (e.g., user passwords, API keys). If sensitive data must be logged for debugging, redact or mask it appropriately before logging using GoFrame's logging functionalities or custom processing.
  • Step 5: Implement centralized logging and monitoring for GoFrame application logs. Use a logging system that integrates with GoFrame's logging output and allows for efficient log analysis and security monitoring. Set up alerts for critical errors and security-related events based on GoFrame logs.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Information Disclosure via error messages (Severity: Medium)
  • Security Monitoring and Incident Response Gaps (Severity: Medium)
  • Unauthorized Access to Logs (Severity: Medium)
• Impact:
  • Information Disclosure via error messages: High Reduction
  • Security Monitoring and Incident Response Gaps: High Reduction (with proper monitoring and alerting of GoFrame logs)
  • Unauthorized Access to Logs: High Reduction (with secure log storage and access control for GoFrame logs)
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: Basic error logging is enabled to file using GoFrame's default logger. Generic error messages are displayed to users in some areas of the GoFrame application.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: Detailed error logging with request context and stack traces is not consistently implemented using GoFrame's logger. Log rotation and secure log storage are not fully configured within GoFrame's logging settings. Centralized logging and monitoring of GoFrame logs are not in place. Sensitive data is potentially logged in some areas using GoFrame's logger.

Mitigation Strategy: Review and Secure Custom GoFrame Middleware

• Description:
  • Step 1: Identify all custom middleware implemented in your GoFrame application.
  • Step 2: Conduct thorough security reviews and code audits of all custom middleware within your GoFrame application. Pay close attention to middleware that handles authentication, authorization, input processing, or session management within the GoFrame request lifecycle.
  • Step 3: Ensure custom middleware is implemented securely and does not introduce new vulnerabilities (e.g., authentication bypass, authorization flaws, information leaks) within the GoFrame application context.
  • Step 4: Follow secure coding practices when developing new middleware for your GoFrame application. Test middleware thoroughly for security vulnerabilities within the GoFrame environment.
  • Step 5: Document the purpose and security considerations of each custom middleware used in your GoFrame application.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Authentication Bypass (Severity: Critical)
  • Authorization Flaws (Severity: High)
  • Information Disclosure (Severity: Medium)
  • Other vulnerabilities introduced by custom GoFrame code (Severity: Variable)
• Impact:
  • Authentication Bypass: High Reduction (if GoFrame middleware is secured)
  • Authorization Flaws: High Reduction (if GoFrame middleware is secured)
  • Information Disclosure: Medium to High Reduction (depending on GoFrame middleware functionality)
  • Other vulnerabilities introduced by custom GoFrame code: Variable Reduction (depends on the nature of vulnerabilities found and fixed in GoFrame middleware)
• Currently Implemented:
  • Implemented in: Custom middleware for request logging and basic authentication is implemented within the GoFrame application.
• Missing Implementation:
  • Missing in: Security review and code audit of existing custom GoFrame middleware has not been performed. Formal secure coding practices for GoFrame middleware development are not consistently followed. Documentation of GoFrame middleware security considerations is lacking.