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BUSINESS POSTURE

This project, based on the provided GitHub repository for "element," appears to be a web-based Matrix client. Matrix is an open protocol for decentralized communication, focusing on secure and private messaging.

Business Priorities and Goals

  • Provide a user-friendly web interface for accessing the Matrix communication network.
  • Enable secure and private communication for users through the Matrix protocol.
  • Offer a reliable and performant Matrix client experience in a web browser.
  • Potentially cater to users who prefer web-based access over desktop or mobile applications.
  • Support the Matrix ecosystem and promote the adoption of decentralized communication.

Business Risks

  • Data breaches and unauthorized access to user messages and personal information.
  • Privacy violations due to insecure handling of user data or metadata.
  • Service disruptions or unavailability of the client, impacting user communication.
  • Reputational damage if security vulnerabilities are exploited or user privacy is compromised.
  • Compliance risks related to data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) if applicable.
  • Supply chain risks associated with dependencies and third-party libraries used in the project.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls

  • security control: HTTPS is enforced for web access to protect data in transit between the user's browser and the web server hosting the client. (Assumed based on standard web application practices).
  • security control: Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) practices are likely followed, including code reviews and testing, although specific details are not provided in the input. (Assumed as a general good practice).
  • security control: Input validation is likely implemented on the client-side to prevent basic client-side attacks. (Assumed based on standard web application practices).
  • security control: Cryptography is used for end-to-end encryption of messages as part of the Matrix protocol itself. (Inherited from the Matrix protocol).

Accepted Risks

  • accepted risk: Client-side vulnerabilities are inherent in web applications. Risks associated with browser vulnerabilities and browser extensions are generally accepted.
  • accepted risk: Reliance on the security of the Matrix homeserver infrastructure. The client depends on the security of the homeservers it connects to, which are outside of the client's direct control.
  • accepted risk: Potential for vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and dependencies used by the project.

Recommended Security Controls

  • recommended security control: Implement automated Static Application Security Testing (SAST) in the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential security vulnerabilities in the codebase early in the development lifecycle.
  • recommended security control: Implement automated Dependency Scanning to identify and manage vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and dependencies.
  • recommended security control: Conduct regular security code reviews, focusing on identifying and mitigating potential security flaws.
  • recommended security control: Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate the risk of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
  • recommended security control: Implement Subresource Integrity (SRI) to ensure that resources fetched from CDNs or external sources have not been tampered with.
  • recommended security control: Perform regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify and address security weaknesses in the application.

Security Requirements

  • Authentication:
    • requirement: The client must securely authenticate users to their Matrix accounts.
    • requirement: Support for standard Matrix authentication mechanisms should be implemented.
    • requirement: Consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) options if supported by the Matrix homeserver.
  • Authorization:
    • requirement: The client must correctly implement Matrix authorization rules to ensure users can only access rooms and data they are authorized to access.
    • requirement: Authorization decisions are primarily enforced by the Matrix homeserver, the client must correctly interpret and enforce these decisions.
  • Input Validation:
    • requirement: All user inputs, both from the UI and from the Matrix protocol, must be properly validated to prevent injection attacks (e.g., XSS, command injection).
    • requirement: Input validation should be performed both on the client-side and, ideally, reinforced on the server-side if any server-side components are involved.
  • Cryptography:
    • requirement: Utilize strong cryptography for all sensitive operations, including message encryption and decryption as per the Matrix protocol.
    • requirement: Ensure proper key management and secure storage of cryptographic keys within the browser's secure storage mechanisms.
    • requirement: Leverage the cryptographic capabilities provided by the Matrix protocol and avoid implementing custom cryptography unless absolutely necessary and after expert review.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Matrix Communication Network"
        HS1("Homeserver 1")
        HS2("Homeserver 2")
        ID("Identity Server")
    end
    U("User") --> EL("Element Web Client")
    EL --> HS1
    EL --> HS2
    EL --> ID
    HS1 --> HS2
    style EL fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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Context Diagram Elements

  • Name: User

    • Type: Person
    • Description: An individual who uses the Element Web Client to communicate via the Matrix network.
    • Responsibilities: Sends and receives messages, manages contacts, participates in rooms, and configures client settings.
    • Security controls: Strong passwords, browser security settings, awareness of phishing and social engineering attacks.

  • Name: Element Web Client

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A web-based application that provides a user interface for interacting with the Matrix communication network. It allows users to send and receive messages, manage rooms, and interact with other Matrix users.
    • Responsibilities: User interface, message composition and display, communication with Matrix homeservers, client-side message encryption/decryption, user authentication.
    • Security controls: HTTPS, Content Security Policy (CSP), Subresource Integrity (SRI), input validation, secure storage of user data in the browser, security code reviews, SAST, dependency scanning.

  • Name: Homeserver 1, Homeserver 2 (and other Homeservers)

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: Matrix homeservers are servers that store user accounts, room data, and message history. They handle message routing and federation with other homeservers in the Matrix network.
    • Responsibilities: User account management, room management, message storage and routing, federation with other homeservers, access control, message encryption key management.
    • Security controls: Server-side access controls, encryption of data at rest and in transit, intrusion detection systems, regular security updates, secure server configuration.

  • Name: Identity Server

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A Matrix Identity Server is used for discovering users by their email addresses or phone numbers and for managing third-party identifiers.
    • Responsibilities: Mapping third-party identifiers (email, phone numbers) to Matrix user IDs, user discovery, identity verification.
    • Security controls: Secure storage of identifier mappings, access controls, protection against enumeration attacks, secure communication with homeservers.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "User's Browser"
        WebApp("Web Application")
        LocalStorage("Local Storage")
    end
    WebApp -- "HTTPS (Matrix Client-Server API)" --> HS("Matrix Homeserver")
    WebApp -- "Access" --> LocalStorage
    U("User") -- "Uses" --> WebApp
    style WebApp fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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Container Diagram Elements

  • Name: Web Application

    • Type: Container - Web Application (JavaScript/HTML/CSS)
    • Description: The client-side web application, written in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, that runs in the user's web browser. It provides the user interface and handles client-side logic for the Matrix client.
    • Responsibilities: Rendering the user interface, handling user interactions, composing and displaying messages, encrypting and decrypting messages, communicating with the Matrix Homeserver via the Matrix Client-Server API, managing user sessions, storing temporary data in browser memory.
    • Security controls: Client-side input validation, Content Security Policy (CSP), Subresource Integrity (SRI), secure coding practices, security code reviews, SAST, dependency scanning.

  • Name: Local Storage

    • Type: Container - Browser Local Storage
    • Description: Browser local storage is used to persist user settings, session data, and potentially cached data within the user's browser.
    • Responsibilities: Persistent storage of user preferences, session tokens, cached data to improve performance and user experience.
    • Security controls: Encryption of sensitive data stored in local storage (if applicable and necessary), limiting the amount of sensitive data stored, browser security features to protect local storage data.

  • Name: Matrix Homeserver

    • Type: External System
    • Description: An external Matrix homeserver that the web application connects to for Matrix network functionality.
    • Responsibilities: User authentication, room management, message storage and routing, access control, message encryption key management, federation.
    • Security controls: Server-side access controls, encryption of data at rest and in transit, intrusion detection systems, regular security updates, secure server configuration (as described in Context Diagram).

DEPLOYMENT

For a web-based application like Element Web Client, a typical deployment architecture involves serving static files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) from a web server.

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Deployment Environment"
        Internet("Internet") -- "HTTPS" --> LB("Load Balancer")
        LB -- "HTTPS" --> WS1("Web Server 1")
        LB -- "HTTPS" --> WS2("Web Server 2")
        WS1 -- "Serves Static Files" --> StaticFiles("Static Files Storage")
        WS2 -- "Serves Static Files" --> StaticFiles
    end
    U("User") -- "Web Browser" --> Internet
    style WS1 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style WS2 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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Deployment Diagram Elements

  • Name: User

    • Type: Person
    • Description: End-user accessing the Element Web Client.
    • Responsibilities: Accessing the application through a web browser.
    • Security controls: Browser security settings, user awareness.

  • Name: Internet

    • Type: Network
    • Description: The public internet network.
    • Responsibilities: Providing connectivity between users and the deployment environment.
    • Security controls: General internet security protocols.

  • Name: Load Balancer

    • Type: Infrastructure - Load Balancer
    • Description: Distributes incoming HTTPS traffic across multiple web servers for scalability and availability.
    • Responsibilities: Traffic distribution, SSL termination, health checks.
    • Security controls: HTTPS termination, DDoS protection, access control lists.

  • Name: Web Server 1, Web Server 2 (and more)

    • Type: Infrastructure - Web Server (e.g., Nginx, Apache)
    • Description: Web servers that host and serve the static files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) of the Element Web Client application.
    • Responsibilities: Serving static files, handling HTTPS requests, potentially caching static content.
    • Security controls: HTTPS configuration, access controls, regular security updates, secure server configuration, web application firewall (WAF) if needed.

  • Name: Static Files Storage

    • Type: Infrastructure - File Storage
    • Description: Storage for the static files of the Element Web Client application. This could be local storage on the web servers or a dedicated storage service (e.g., cloud storage).
    • Responsibilities: Storing and providing access to static files.
    • Security controls: Access controls, secure storage configuration.

BUILD

The build process for a web application like Element Web Client typically involves compiling code, running tests, and packaging static assets. Security should be integrated into each stage of the build process.

flowchart LR
    Developer("Developer") -- "Code Changes" --> VCS("Version Control System (e.g., GitHub)")
    VCS -- "Webhook/Trigger" --> CI("CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)")
    subgraph CI Pipeline
        CodeCheckout("Code Checkout") --> Build("Build & Compile")
        Build --> Test("Unit & Integration Tests")
        Test --> SAST("Static Application Security Testing")
        SAST --> DependencyScan("Dependency Scanning")
        DependencyScan --> Package("Package Artifacts")
        Package --> ArtifactStorage("Artifact Storage")
    end
    ArtifactStorage -- "Deployment" --> DeploymentEnv("Deployment Environment")
    style CI fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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Build Diagram Elements

  • Name: Developer

    • Type: Person
    • Description: Software developer working on the Element Web Client project.
    • Responsibilities: Writing code, committing changes to the version control system.
    • Security controls: Secure development practices, code reviews, local development environment security.

  • Name: Version Control System (VCS)

    • Type: Tool - Software Repository (e.g., GitHub)
    • Description: A system for managing and tracking changes to the source code.
    • Responsibilities: Storing source code, managing versions, tracking changes, facilitating collaboration.
    • Security controls: Access controls, branch protection, audit logs, secure repository configuration.

  • Name: CI/CD System

    • Type: Tool - Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery System (e.g., GitHub Actions)
    • Description: An automated system for building, testing, and deploying the application.
    • Responsibilities: Automating the build process, running tests, performing security scans, packaging artifacts, deploying the application.
    • Security controls: Secure pipeline configuration, access controls, secret management, audit logs, secure build environment.

  • Name: Code Checkout

    • Type: Build Step
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that retrieves the latest code from the VCS.
    • Responsibilities: Obtaining the source code for the build process.
    • Security controls: Access control to the VCS, secure communication with VCS.

  • Name: Build & Compile

    • Type: Build Step
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that compiles the source code and builds the application artifacts.
    • Responsibilities: Compiling code, generating build artifacts.
    • Security controls: Secure build environment, use of trusted build tools and dependencies.

  • Name: Test

    • Type: Build Step
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that runs automated unit and integration tests.
    • Responsibilities: Verifying the functionality and stability of the code.
    • Security controls: Secure test environment, comprehensive test coverage.

  • Name: SAST (Static Application Security Testing)

    • Type: Build Step - Security Check
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that performs static analysis of the source code to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
    • Responsibilities: Identifying potential security flaws in the code.
    • Security controls: Regularly updated SAST tools, configuration to detect relevant vulnerability types.

  • Name: Dependency Scan

    • Type: Build Step - Security Check
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that scans project dependencies for known vulnerabilities.
    • Responsibilities: Identifying vulnerable dependencies.
    • Security controls: Regularly updated dependency scanning tools, vulnerability database updates.

  • Name: Package

    • Type: Build Step
    • Description: Step in the CI/CD pipeline that packages the build artifacts for deployment.
    • Responsibilities: Creating deployable packages.
    • Security controls: Secure packaging process, integrity checks of packages.

  • Name: Artifact Storage

    • Type: Tool - Artifact Repository
    • Description: Storage for the build artifacts produced by the CI/CD pipeline.
    • Responsibilities: Storing and managing build artifacts.
    • Security controls: Access controls, secure storage configuration, versioning of artifacts.

  • Name: Deployment Environment

    • Type: Environment
    • Description: The target environment where the application is deployed (as described in the Deployment section).
    • Responsibilities: Running the deployed application.
    • Security controls: Environment-specific security controls (as described in the Deployment section).

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes

  • Secure and private messaging between users.
  • User authentication and authorization to access the Matrix network.
  • Reliable and continuous availability of the communication service.
  • Protection of user privacy and data confidentiality.

Data Sensitivity

  • User Messages: Highly sensitive. Contain personal and potentially confidential communications. Require strong confidentiality and integrity protection.
  • User Credentials (passwords, access tokens): Highly sensitive. Must be protected to prevent unauthorized access to user accounts. Require strong confidentiality and integrity protection.
  • User Profile Information (display name, etc.): Moderately sensitive. Should be protected to maintain user privacy.
  • Metadata (room names, user IDs, timestamps): Moderately sensitive. Can reveal communication patterns and user activity. Should be protected to maintain user privacy.
  • Session Data: Moderately sensitive. Used for maintaining user sessions and should be protected to prevent session hijacking.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions

  • What is the intended deployment environment for the Element Web Client (e.g., public internet, private network)?
  • Are there any specific compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) that the project needs to adhere to?
  • What is the process for managing and updating third-party dependencies?
  • Are there any specific security tools or technologies already in use within the organization that should be integrated with this project?
  • What is the expected user base and their risk tolerance?

Assumptions

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The primary business goal is to provide a secure and private web-based Matrix client for general users. Security and privacy are high priorities.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: Standard web application security practices are expected to be in place. The project aims to achieve a reasonable level of security appropriate for a messaging application.
  • DESIGN: The application is primarily a client-side web application interacting directly with Matrix homeservers. Deployment will be on standard web server infrastructure. The build process will utilize a CI/CD pipeline with basic security checks.