mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for gogf/gf

Mitigation Strategy: Strict Rule-Based Input Validation (gvalid)

• Mitigation Strategy: Enforce strict and comprehensive input validation using gf's gvalid package.

• Description:

  1. Identify all input points: Determine every point where the application receives data from external sources, focusing on points where gf handles input (e.g., ghttp.Request parameters, ghttp.UploadFile).
  2. Define validation rules: For each input field, define specific validation rules using gvalid's built-in rules (e.g., required, email, integer, min, max, length, regex, etc.). Use the most restrictive rules possible.
  3. Implement custom rules (if needed): For complex validation logic, create custom validation rules using gvalid.RegisterRule. Thoroughly test these custom rules.
  4. Chain rules: Use rule chaining to combine multiple validation checks (e.g., email|length:6,64). Order rules logically.
  5. Struct validation: Use struct tags to define validation rules directly within data structures, leveraging gf's integration with gvalid.
  6. Check validation results: Always check the return value of gvalid.Check* functions (or the result of struct validation). Handle validation errors appropriately.
  7. Return user-friendly errors: Provide clear and concise error messages to the user, using gf's error handling mechanisms, but never reveal sensitive information.
  8. Log detailed errors: Log detailed validation errors internally for debugging, using glog.
  9. Bail Early (Optional): Consider using the bail rule to stop on the first error.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • SQL Injection (Critical): By validating input types and formats before they reach gdb, you prevent malicious SQL code.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (High): Validating input and preventing malicious scripts mitigates XSS, especially when combined with gview's output encoding.
  • Command Injection (Critical): Validating input to prevent execution of arbitrary commands, particularly relevant if using gf to interact with system processes.
  • Data Type Mismatches (Medium): Ensuring data conforms to expected types prevents unexpected behavior within gf components.
  • Business Logic Errors (Variable): Custom validation rules can enforce application-specific business logic constraints within the gf framework.

• Impact:

  • SQL Injection: Risk significantly reduced (near elimination if combined with gdb's parameterized queries).
  • XSS: Risk significantly reduced (effectiveness depends on gview's output encoding as well).
  • Command Injection: Risk significantly reduced.
  • Data Type Mismatches: Risk eliminated for validated fields within gf.
  • Business Logic Errors: Risk reduced depending on the comprehensiveness of custom rules within gf.

• Currently Implemented:

  • /api/user/register: Basic validation rules (required, email, password) are implemented using struct tags and gf's integration.
  • /api/product/create: Validation rules for product name, description, and price are implemented using gvalid.CheckMap within a gf handler.

• Missing Implementation:

  • /api/user/profile: No validation is currently implemented for user profile updates (e.g., address, phone number) handled by gf. High Priority
  • /api/search: The search query parameter, processed by gf, is not validated. Medium Priority
  • Custom validation rules are not used anywhere. Medium Priority (Assess if needed based on business logic within gf handlers).

Mitigation Strategy: Parameterized Queries (gdb - Always)

• Mitigation Strategy: Exclusively use parameterized queries (prepared statements) for all database interactions using gf's gdb ORM.

• Description:

  1. Identify all gdb interactions: Locate all instances where the application uses gf's gdb to interact with the database.
  2. Use ORM methods: Prefer using gdb's ORM methods (e.g., Model, Data, Where, Insert, Update, Delete) over raw SQL. These methods are designed to use parameterized queries.
  3. Avoid string concatenation: Never construct SQL queries by concatenating strings with user-supplied data within gdb calls.
  4. Use placeholders: Use placeholders (e.g., ?) in your Where clauses and other query parts within gdb methods.
  5. Pass data separately: Pass user-supplied data as separate arguments to the gdb methods (e.g., Where("id = ?", userID)).
  6. Avoid Raw: Minimize the use of gdb.Raw. If unavoidable, ensure the SQL is static and contains no user input. Even then, be extremely cautious.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • SQL Injection (Critical): Parameterized queries within gdb are the primary defense against SQL injection.

• Impact:

  • SQL Injection: Risk virtually eliminated if implemented correctly and consistently within all gdb interactions.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Most database interactions in /api/product use parameterized queries via gdb's ORM.

• Missing Implementation:

  • /api/report: A custom report generation feature uses string concatenation within a gdb call to build a dynamic SQL query. Critical Priority (Immediate remediation required).
  • Review all uses of db.Raw to ensure they are safe. High Priority

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Session Management (gsession)

• Mitigation Strategy: Configure and use gf's gsession package with secure settings and practices.

• Description:

  1. Choose secure storage: Use a secure session storage backend supported by gsession (e.g., Redis, database) instead of in-memory storage for production.
  2. Configure session ID length: Ensure the session ID length is sufficiently long (check gf's gsession default).
  3. Set timeouts: Configure appropriate session idle and absolute timeouts using gsession's configuration options.
  4. Enable HTTPOnly: Verify that the HTTPOnly flag is set for session cookies (should be the default in gsession, but verify).
  5. Enable Secure: Verify that the Secure flag is set for session cookies (should be automatic with HTTPS and gsession, but verify).
  6. Set SameSite: Set the SameSite attribute to Strict or Lax using gsession's configuration.
  7. Regenerate ID: Regenerate the session ID after a successful login using gsession.SetId.
  8. Validate session: On each request handled by gf, verify the session's validity (e.g., check for expiration, user ID) using gsession's methods.
  9. Implement logout: Provide a logout function that destroys the session using gsession.Destroy.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Session Hijacking (High): Secure flags and proper gsession management reduce the risk.
  • Session Fixation (High): Session ID regeneration after login prevents fixation.
  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (High): The SameSite attribute, set via gsession, helps mitigate CSRF.
  • Session Prediction (Medium): A sufficiently long and random session ID, managed by gsession, makes prediction difficult.

• Impact:

  • Session Hijacking: Risk significantly reduced.
  • Session Fixation: Risk virtually eliminated.
  • CSRF: Risk significantly reduced (especially with SameSite=Strict).
  • Session Prediction: Risk significantly reduced.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Basic session management is implemented using gsession with default settings.
  • Redis is used as the session storage backend, configured through gf.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Session ID regeneration after login (using gsession.SetId) is not implemented. High Priority
  • SameSite attribute is not explicitly set via gsession's configuration. Medium Priority
  • Session validation on each request is basic (only checks for existence using gsession). Medium Priority (Enhance to check user ID and other attributes).

Mitigation Strategy: Secure File Uploads (ghttp.UploadFile)

• Mitigation Strategy: Implement strict file upload validation and secure storage practices, leveraging gf's ghttp.UploadFile features.

• Description:

  1. Content-Based Type Validation: Validate the file type based on its content (magic numbers), not just the extension or MIME type provided by the client. Use a library like filetype in conjunction with ghttp.UploadFile.Content.
  2. Size Limits: Enforce strict file size limits using ghttp.Request.SetMaxMemory.
  3. Filename Sanitization: Sanitize filenames to remove dangerous characters, using gstr functions or generating unique filenames (UUIDs) within your gf handler.
  4. Storage Outside Web Root: Store uploaded files outside of the web root directory, ensuring the path is configured correctly within your gf application.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • File Upload Vulnerabilities (Critical): Uploading and executing malicious files (e.g., shells) via gf's upload handling.
  • Directory Traversal (High): Uploading files to unintended locations through manipulation of ghttp.UploadFile.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (High): Uploading malicious HTML or JavaScript files that could be served by gf.

• Impact:

  • File Upload Vulnerabilities: Risk significantly reduced.
  • Directory Traversal: Risk significantly reduced.
  • XSS: Risk reduced (effectiveness depends on other factors).

• Currently Implemented:

  • File size limits are enforced using ghttp.Request.SetMaxMemory.
  • Uploaded files are stored in a separate directory, configured within the gf application.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Content-based file type validation is not implemented. Critical Priority (Must be done in conjunction with ghttp.UploadFile).
  • Filename sanitization is basic (only removes spaces). High Priority (Implement more robust sanitization or UUID generation within the gf handler).

Mitigation Strategy: Safe Logging Practices (glog)

• Mitigation Strategy: Prevent sensitive data leakage in logs by using gf's glog package with appropriate logging levels, masking sensitive data, and securing log storage.

• Description:

  1. Identify Sensitive Data: Determine all types of sensitive data handled by the application.
  2. Avoid Logging Sensitive Data: Never log sensitive data directly using glog.
  3. Masking/Redaction: Use glog's formatting capabilities or a dedicated library to mask or redact sensitive data before logging.
  4. Log Level Control: Use appropriate log levels (Debug, Info, Warning, Error, Critical) provided by glog. Use a higher level (Info or Warning) in production.
  5. Log Rotation: Configure log rotation using glog's built-in features to prevent files from growing indefinitely.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Information Leakage (High): Exposure of sensitive data in logs generated by glog.

• Impact:

  • Information Leakage: Risk significantly reduced if sensitive data is never logged or is properly masked using glog's features.

• Currently Implemented:

  • glog is used for logging throughout the application.
  • Log rotation is configured using glog's settings.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Sensitive data masking is not implemented within glog calls. Critical Priority (Review all glog usage and implement masking).
  • Log level is set to Debug in production. High Priority (Change to Info or Warning using glog's configuration).

Mitigation Strategy: Generic Error Handling (gerror)

• Mitigation Strategy: Prevent information leakage through error messages by returning generic messages to users and logging detailed errors internally using gf's gerror package.

• Description:

  1. Identify Error Points: Locate all places where errors can occur, particularly within gf components (e.g., gdb, ghttp handlers).
  2. Catch Errors: Use try...catch blocks (or equivalent error handling) to catch potential errors, especially those returned by gf functions.
  3. Generic User Messages: Return generic error messages to the user (e.g., "An error occurred. Please try again later.") within your gf handlers.
  4. Detailed Internal Logging: Log detailed error information (including stack traces using gerror.Stack()) internally for debugging, using glog.
  5. Custom Error Handling: Implement custom error handling logic using gerror to manage and wrap errors within your gf application.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Information Leakage (Medium): Exposure of internal application details (including gf internals) through error messages.

• Impact:

  • Information Leakage: Risk significantly reduced.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Basic error handling is implemented in some areas using gerror.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Consistent use of generic error messages within gf handlers is not enforced. Medium Priority (Review all error handling and ensure generic messages are returned).
  • Detailed internal logging with stack traces (using gerror.Stack()) is inconsistent. Medium Priority

Mitigation Strategy: Secure HTTP Request Handling (ghttp)

• Mitigation Strategy: Use gf's ghttp middleware, validate request components, restrict HTTP methods, and configure CORS properly, all within the gf framework.

• Description:

  1. Middleware: Create ghttp middleware to:
     • Validate request headers.
     • Enforce rate limiting.
     • Implement CSRF protection.
     • Check authentication/authorization.
  2. Input Validation (Again): Validate all request parameters, headers, and the body using gvalid within your ghttp handlers.
  3. HTTP Methods: Explicitly define allowed HTTP methods for each route using ghttp.Server.BindHandlerMethod.
  4. CORS Configuration: Configure CORS using ghttp.Server.SetCors with appropriate restrictions (avoid AllowAllOrigins: true).

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (High): ghttp middleware and gsession's SameSite cookies can mitigate CSRF.
  • Request Smuggling (Medium): Proper header validation within ghttp handlers can help.
  • Header Injection (Medium): Validating headers within ghttp prevents injection attacks.
  • Unauthorized Access (High): Authentication/authorization middleware within ghttp prevents unauthorized access.
  • CORS Misconfiguration (Medium): Proper CORS settings using ghttp.Server.SetCors prevent unauthorized cross-origin requests.

• Impact:

  • CSRF: Risk significantly reduced with proper ghttp middleware and gsession cookie settings.
  • Request Smuggling/Header Injection: Risk reduced with header validation within ghttp.
  • Unauthorized Access: Risk significantly reduced with authentication/authorization middleware in ghttp.
  • CORS Misconfiguration: Risk eliminated with correct CORS configuration using ghttp.Server.SetCors.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Basic authentication middleware is implemented using ghttp.

• Missing Implementation:

  • CSRF protection middleware is not implemented within ghttp. High Priority
  • Rate limiting middleware is not implemented within ghttp. Medium Priority
  • CORS is not explicitly configured using ghttp.Server.SetCors. Medium Priority
  • HTTP methods are not explicitly restricted for all routes using ghttp.Server.BindHandlerMethod. Low Priority