Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
267 lines (209 loc) · 14.4 KB

sec-design.md

File metadata and controls

267 lines (209 loc) · 14.4 KB

BUSINESS POSTURE

Business Priorities and Goals:

  • Provide a fast and efficient HTTP library for Go, optimized for high-performance scenarios.
  • Minimize memory allocations and CPU usage to handle a large number of requests per second.
  • Offer a viable alternative to Go's standard net/http library, particularly in situations where performance is critical.
  • Maintain a stable and reliable API for developers to build upon.
  • Provide good documentation and examples to facilitate adoption.

Business Risks:

  • Security vulnerabilities in the library could lead to exploits in applications using it, potentially causing data breaches, denial of service, or other severe consequences.
  • Performance regressions or bugs could undermine the core value proposition of the library, driving users back to net/http or other alternatives.
  • Lack of maintenance or updates could lead to compatibility issues with newer Go versions or evolving HTTP standards.
  • Inadequate documentation or community support could hinder adoption and growth.
  • Competition from other high-performance HTTP libraries could reduce market share.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:

  • security control: The project uses fuzzing (mentioned in misc/ directory and by the use of go-fuzz tool). This helps identify potential crashes and vulnerabilities due to unexpected inputs.
  • security control: Code reviews are likely performed as part of the pull request process on GitHub, although this is not explicitly stated.
  • security control: The library is written in Go, which offers some memory safety features compared to languages like C/C++.
  • security control: The project has tests (as indicated by the presence of _test.go files).

Accepted Risks:

  • accepted risk: The library prioritizes performance, which may lead to design choices that could potentially introduce security risks if not carefully managed. The documentation explicitly mentions potential vulnerabilities if used incorrectly.
  • accepted risk: The library's API is different from net/http, which means developers need to be aware of the specific security implications of fasthttp.
  • accepted risk: The project relies on community contributions, which means the security expertise of contributors may vary.

Recommended Security Controls:

  • security control: Integrate Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools into the build process to automatically identify potential vulnerabilities.
  • security control: Perform regular security audits and penetration testing, especially for new features or significant code changes.
  • security control: Implement a clear security policy and vulnerability disclosure process.
  • security control: Use a dependency management tool and regularly update dependencies to address known vulnerabilities.
  • security control: Provide security-focused documentation and examples to guide developers on best practices when using the library.
  • security control: Consider using a Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tool to identify and manage vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies.

Security Requirements:

  • Authentication: Not directly applicable to the fasthttp library itself, as it's a low-level HTTP implementation. Authentication should be handled by applications built using fasthttp.
  • Authorization: Similar to authentication, authorization is the responsibility of applications built using fasthttp.
  • Input Validation:
    • The library should carefully validate all input parameters, including headers, request bodies, and URI components.
    • It should handle potentially malicious or oversized inputs gracefully, preventing crashes or resource exhaustion.
    • Specific attention should be paid to preventing common web vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and command injection, although these are primarily the responsibility of applications using the library.
  • Cryptography:
    • The library should support TLS/SSL for secure communication (HTTPS).
    • Cryptographic operations should use well-established and secure libraries.
    • Key management and certificate handling should follow best practices.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

graph LR
    User["User/Client Application"] -- "HTTP/HTTPS" --> Fasthttp["fasthttp Library\n(Go Application)"]
    Fasthttp -- "HTTP/HTTPS" --> Backend["Backend Services\n(e.g., Databases, APIs)"]
Loading

Element Descriptions:

  • Element:

    • Name: User/Client Application
    • Type: External Entity (User or another system)
    • Description: Represents any client application or user interacting with a service built using fasthttp.
    • Responsibilities: Initiates HTTP requests, processes HTTP responses.
    • Security controls: Implements appropriate security measures for client-side applications, such as input validation, secure storage of credentials, and protection against common web vulnerabilities.

  • Element:

    • Name: fasthttp Library (Go Application)
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The fasthttp library itself, running within a Go application.
    • Responsibilities: Handles HTTP requests and responses, manages connections, provides an API for application logic.
    • Security controls: Input validation, connection management, TLS/SSL support (if used), error handling.

  • Element:

    • Name: Backend Services (e.g., Databases, APIs)
    • Type: External System
    • Description: Represents any backend services that the fasthttp application interacts with.
    • Responsibilities: Provides data or services to the fasthttp application.
    • Security controls: Implements appropriate security measures for backend systems, such as authentication, authorization, data encryption, and access controls.

C4 CONTAINER

graph LR
    User["User/Client Application"] -- "HTTP/HTTPS" --> FasthttpServer["fasthttp Server\n(Go Process)"]
    FasthttpServer -- "HTTP/HTTPS" --> RequestHandler["Request Handler\n(Go Function/Method)"]
    RequestHandler -- "Data Access" --> Database["Database"]
    RequestHandler -- "API Calls" --> ExternalAPI["External API"]
Loading

Element Descriptions:

  • Element:

    • Name: User/Client Application
    • Type: External Entity
    • Description: Same as in the Context diagram.
    • Responsibilities: Same as in the Context diagram.
    • Security controls: Same as in the Context diagram.

  • Element:

    • Name: fasthttp Server (Go Process)
    • Type: Container (Process)
    • Description: The main server process that utilizes the fasthttp library.
    • Responsibilities: Listens for incoming connections, manages worker pools (if applicable), routes requests to handlers.
    • Security controls: Connection limits, timeouts, TLS/SSL configuration (if applicable).

  • Element:

    • Name: Request Handler (Go Function/Method)
    • Type: Container (Code Component)
    • Description: The application-specific code that handles individual requests.
    • Responsibilities: Processes requests, interacts with backend services, generates responses.
    • Security controls: Input validation, output encoding, authentication, authorization, error handling.

  • Element:

    • Name: Database
    • Type: Container (Database)
    • Description: A database used by the application.
    • Responsibilities: Stores and retrieves data.
    • Security controls: Access controls, data encryption, auditing.

  • Element:

    • Name: External API
    • Type: Container (External System)
    • Description: An external API used by the application.
    • Responsibilities: Provides external services.
    • Security controls: API keys, authentication, rate limiting.

DEPLOYMENT

Possible Deployment Solutions:

  1. Standalone Binary: Compile the Go application using fasthttp into a single executable binary and deploy it directly to a server.
  2. Docker Container: Package the application and its dependencies into a Docker container for easy deployment and portability.
  3. Kubernetes: Deploy the application as a set of pods within a Kubernetes cluster for scalability and resilience.
  4. Cloud Provider Services (e.g., AWS EC2, Google Cloud Run, Azure Container Instances): Utilize cloud-specific services for deploying and managing the application.

Chosen Solution (Docker Container):

graph LR
    Internet["Internet"] -- "HTTPS" --> LoadBalancer["Load Balancer"]
    LoadBalancer -- "HTTPS" --> DockerHost1["Docker Host 1"]
    LoadBalancer -- "HTTPS" --> DockerHost2["Docker Host 2"]
    DockerHost1 -- "Runs" --> FasthttpContainer1["fasthttp Container 1"]
    DockerHost2 -- "Runs" --> FasthttpContainer2["fasthttp Container 2"]
    FasthttpContainer1 -- "Database Connection" --> DatabaseServer["Database Server"]
    FasthttpContainer2 -- "Database Connection" --> DatabaseServer
Loading

Element Descriptions:

  • Element:

    • Name: Internet
    • Type: External Entity
    • Description: The public internet.
    • Responsibilities: Routes traffic to the load balancer.
    • Security controls: Standard internet security protocols.

  • Element:

    • Name: Load Balancer
    • Type: Infrastructure Node
    • Description: Distributes incoming traffic across multiple instances of the application.
    • Responsibilities: Health checks, traffic routing, SSL termination (if applicable).
    • Security controls: DDoS protection, firewall rules, SSL certificate management.

  • Element:

    • Name: Docker Host 1, Docker Host 2
    • Type: Infrastructure Node (Server)
    • Description: Physical or virtual servers running the Docker engine.
    • Responsibilities: Hosts and runs Docker containers.
    • Security controls: Operating system security, Docker daemon security, network security.

  • Element:

    • Name: fasthttp Container 1, fasthttp Container 2
    • Type: Container Instance
    • Description: Instances of the fasthttp application running within Docker containers.
    • Responsibilities: Handles HTTP requests and responses.
    • Security controls: Container isolation, resource limits, minimal base image.

  • Element:

    • Name: Database Server
    • Type: Infrastructure Node (Server)
    • Description: The server hosting the database.
    • Responsibilities: Stores and manages data.
    • Security controls: Database security configuration, access controls, encryption.

BUILD

graph LR
    Developer["Developer"] -- "Writes Code" --> GitRepository["Git Repository\n(e.g., GitHub)"]
    GitRepository -- "Push Event" --> CI_Server["CI Server\n(e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins)"]
    CI_Server -- "Runs Tests" --> TestSuite["Test Suite"]
    CI_Server -- "Runs SAST" --> SAST_Tool["SAST Tool"]
    CI_Server -- "Runs SCA" --> SCA_Tool["SCA Tool"]
    CI_Server -- "Builds Binary" --> GoCompiler["Go Compiler"]
    GoCompiler -- "Produces" --> ApplicationBinary["Application Binary"]
    CI_Server -- "Builds Docker Image" --> DockerBuild["Docker Build"]
    DockerBuild -- "Uses" --> ApplicationBinary
    DockerBuild -- "Produces" --> DockerImage["Docker Image"]
    DockerImage -- "Pushes to" --> ContainerRegistry["Container Registry\n(e.g., Docker Hub, ECR)"]
Loading

Build Process Description:

  1. Developer writes code and pushes changes to a Git repository (e.g., GitHub).
  2. A push event triggers the CI server (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins).
  3. The CI server runs the test suite, including unit tests and integration tests.
  4. The CI server runs a Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tool to analyze the code for potential vulnerabilities.
  5. The CI server runs a Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tool to identify vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies.
  6. If all tests and security checks pass, the CI server uses the Go compiler to build the application binary.
  7. The CI server then uses the docker build command to create a Docker image, incorporating the application binary.
  8. Finally, the Docker image is pushed to a container registry (e.g., Docker Hub, Amazon ECR).

Security Controls:

  • security control: CI/CD pipeline enforces automated testing and security checks before deployment.
  • security control: SAST tool helps identify vulnerabilities in the application code.
  • security control: SCA tool helps identify vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies.
  • security control: Use of a container registry allows for versioning and controlled deployment of application images.
  • security control: Minimal base image for Docker container reduces attack surface.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:

  • Handling HTTP requests and responses efficiently and reliably.
  • Serving web content or API endpoints.
  • Interacting with backend services (databases, APIs).

Data Sensitivity:

  • The fasthttp library itself doesn't directly handle sensitive data. However, applications built using fasthttp may handle various types of data, including:
    • Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
    • Financial data
    • Authentication credentials
    • Session tokens
    • Proprietary business data
  • The sensitivity of this data depends entirely on the specific application using fasthttp.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:

  • What specific types of applications are expected to be built using fasthttp? (This will help determine the types of data likely to be handled and the associated security risks.)
  • What are the performance requirements for these applications? (This will influence the trade-offs between performance and security.)
  • What is the expected deployment environment? (This will affect the deployment diagram and security considerations.)
  • Are there any existing security policies or guidelines that need to be followed?
  • What level of logging and monitoring is required?
  • Are there any specific compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS)?

Assumptions:

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The primary goal is to provide a high-performance HTTP library. Security is a critical concern, but performance is a key differentiator.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: The development team is familiar with basic security principles, but may not have dedicated security experts.
  • DESIGN: The application will likely be deployed as a standalone service or as part of a larger microservices architecture. The use of Docker containers is a reasonable assumption for modern deployments. The database and external API interactions are placeholders and may vary depending on the specific application. The build process assumes a standard CI/CD pipeline with automated testing and security checks.