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BUSINESS POSTURE

This project, Apollo Android, provides a GraphQL client library for Android and Kotlin Multiplatform applications. It aims to simplify the process of interacting with GraphQL APIs from mobile applications, improving developer productivity and application performance by enabling efficient data fetching.

Business Priorities:

  • Developer Productivity: Streamline the development of Android and Kotlin Multiplatform applications that consume GraphQL APIs.
  • Application Performance: Optimize data fetching from GraphQL APIs to improve the responsiveness and efficiency of mobile applications.
  • Platform Adoption: Encourage the adoption of GraphQL in mobile development by providing a robust and easy-to-use client library.
  • Community Growth: Foster a strong community around Apollo Android to ensure its continued development and support.

Business Risks:

  • Data Breaches: Vulnerabilities in the Apollo Android library or its usage could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data exposed through GraphQL APIs.
  • Service Disruption: Bugs or performance issues in the library could negatively impact the reliability and availability of applications using Apollo Android.
  • Supply Chain Attacks: Compromise of dependencies or the build process of Apollo Android could introduce malicious code into applications using the library.
  • Security Misconfiguration: Incorrect usage of the library by developers could lead to security vulnerabilities in applications.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:

  • security control: Code Reviews - The project is hosted on GitHub and encourages community contributions, implying code reviews are part of the development process. (Location: GitHub Pull Request process)
  • security control: Dependency Management - Gradle is used for dependency management, allowing for control over included libraries. (Location: build.gradle files)
  • security control: HTTPS - Communication with GraphQL APIs is expected to be over HTTPS. (Location: Best practice in mobile development and GraphQL usage)
  • security control: Input Validation - GraphQL itself has a schema and type system that provides some level of input validation on the server side. (Location: GraphQL specification)

Accepted Risks:

  • accepted risk: Third-party Dependencies - Reliance on open-source dependencies introduces potential vulnerabilities from those dependencies.
  • accepted risk: Client-Side Security - Mobile applications are inherently less secure than server-side applications due to the client-controlled environment.

Recommended Security Controls:

  • security control: Static Application Security Testing (SAST) - Implement SAST tools in the build pipeline to automatically detect potential vulnerabilities in the Apollo Android codebase.
  • security control: Dependency Scanning - Integrate dependency scanning tools to identify and manage vulnerabilities in third-party libraries used by Apollo Android.
  • security control: Software Composition Analysis (SCA) - Regularly perform SCA to gain visibility into the open source components and their associated risks within the project.
  • security control: Secure Build Pipeline - Harden the build pipeline to prevent tampering and ensure the integrity of the released artifacts.

Security Requirements:

  • Authentication:
    • Requirement: Apollo Android should support various authentication mechanisms commonly used with GraphQL APIs, such as API keys, JWTs, and OAuth 2.0.
    • Requirement: The library should provide clear documentation and examples on how to securely integrate authentication headers or tokens into GraphQL requests.
  • Authorization:
    • Requirement: Apollo Android should correctly handle authorization responses from GraphQL APIs and allow developers to implement authorization logic in their applications based on the API responses.
    • Requirement: The library should not introduce any mechanisms that bypass or weaken the authorization enforced by the GraphQL API.
  • Input Validation:
    • Requirement: While server-side input validation is primary, Apollo Android should encourage and facilitate client-side input validation where appropriate to improve user experience and reduce unnecessary API calls.
    • Requirement: The library should handle potential errors and invalid responses from the GraphQL API gracefully and prevent application crashes or unexpected behavior.
  • Cryptography:
    • Requirement: Apollo Android should ensure all network communication with GraphQL APIs is encrypted using HTTPS.
    • Requirement: If the library handles any sensitive data locally (e.g., caching), it should provide options for secure storage and encryption of that data. (Although caching sensitive data on the client should be minimized).

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

graph LR
    subgraph "Company System"
        ApolloAndroid["Apollo Android"]
    end
    MobileDeveloper["Mobile Developer"]
    GraphQLAPI["GraphQL API"]
    DependencyRepository["Dependency Repository (Maven Central)"]

    MobileDeveloper --> ApolloAndroid: Uses
    ApolloAndroid --> GraphQLAPI: Queries and Mutations
    ApolloAndroid --> DependencyRepository: Fetches Dependencies
    MobileDeveloper --> DependencyRepository: Fetches Library

    style ApolloAndroid fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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Context Diagram Elements:

  • Name: Mobile Developer

    • Type: Person
    • Description: Developers who build Android and Kotlin Multiplatform mobile applications.
    • Responsibilities: Develop mobile applications using Apollo Android to interact with GraphQL APIs.
    • Security controls: Code reviews, secure development practices in application code.

  • Name: Apollo Android

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: GraphQL client library for Android and Kotlin Multiplatform.
    • Responsibilities: Provides functionality to execute GraphQL queries and mutations, manage caching, and handle network communication with GraphQL APIs.
    • Security controls: Input validation (query construction), secure network communication (HTTPS), dependency management, build process security.

  • Name: GraphQL API

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: Backend GraphQL server providing data and functionality to mobile applications.
    • Responsibilities: Process GraphQL queries and mutations, manage data access, enforce authorization and authentication.
    • Security controls: Authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, API security best practices.

  • Name: Dependency Repository (Maven Central)

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: Public repository for Java and Android libraries, used to distribute Apollo Android and its dependencies.
    • Responsibilities: Host and distribute Apollo Android library and its dependencies.
    • Security controls: Repository security measures, artifact signing (if applicable), vulnerability scanning.

C4 CONTAINER

graph LR
    subgraph "Apollo Android"
        subgraph "Core Library"
            GraphQLClient["GraphQL Client"]
            QueryEngine["Query Engine"]
            Cache["Cache"]
            Network["Network Layer"]
            CodeGen["Code Generation"]
        end
    end

    GraphQLClient --> QueryEngine: Uses
    QueryEngine --> Cache: Uses for Caching
    QueryEngine --> Network: Uses for Network Requests
    GraphQLClient --> CodeGen: Uses for Generating Code
    Network --> GraphQLAPI: Sends GraphQL Requests/Receives Responses

    style GraphQLClient fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style QueryEngine fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style Cache fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style Network fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style CodeGen fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
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Container Diagram Elements:

  • Name: GraphQL Client

    • Type: Container - Library
    • Description: The main API entry point for developers to interact with Apollo Android. Provides a high-level interface for executing GraphQL operations.
    • Responsibilities: Expose API for query and mutation execution, manage operation lifecycle, coordinate with other containers.
    • Security controls: Input validation (GraphQL query construction), API design to prevent misuse.

  • Name: Query Engine

    • Type: Container - Library Component
    • Description: Responsible for parsing GraphQL queries, managing query execution plans, and interacting with the cache and network layers.
    • Responsibilities: Query parsing, execution planning, data orchestration.
    • Security controls: Query parsing validation, prevention of injection attacks (though GraphQL inherently mitigates SQL injection, other injection types might be relevant).

  • Name: Cache

    • Type: Container - Library Component
    • Description: Provides caching mechanisms to store and retrieve GraphQL responses, improving performance and reducing network requests.
    • Responsibilities: Store and retrieve GraphQL data, manage cache invalidation, provide cache API.
    • Security controls: Secure cache storage (in memory or on disk - consider encryption if persistent and sensitive data is cached), cache eviction policies to prevent excessive data retention.

  • Name: Network Layer

    • Type: Container - Library Component
    • Description: Handles network communication with the GraphQL API, including request construction, execution, and response handling.
    • Responsibilities: HTTP request/response handling, header management, error handling, potentially supports different network clients.
    • Security controls: HTTPS enforcement, secure handling of authentication headers, error handling to prevent information leakage.

  • Name: Code Generation

    • Type: Container - Tool (part of library)
    • Description: Generates Kotlin code from GraphQL schema and operations, providing type-safe data access and reducing boilerplate code.
    • Responsibilities: Schema parsing, code generation, integration with build process.
    • Security controls: Secure code generation process, prevention of code injection vulnerabilities in generated code.

DEPLOYMENT

Deployment Architecture: Mobile Application Deployment

graph LR
    subgraph "Mobile Device"
        AndroidApp["Android Application"]
        ApolloAndroidLib["Apollo Android Library"]
    end
    GraphQLServer["GraphQL Server"]

    AndroidApp --> ApolloAndroidLib: Uses Library
    ApolloAndroidLib --> GraphQLServer: HTTPS Requests

    style AndroidApp fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style ApolloAndroidLib fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style GraphQLServer fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
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Deployment Diagram Elements:

  • Name: Android Application

    • Type: Software System - Mobile Application
    • Description: The mobile application built by developers, using Apollo Android to interact with a GraphQL API.
    • Responsibilities: Application logic, user interface, data presentation, utilizing Apollo Android for data fetching.
    • Security controls: Application-level security controls (authentication, authorization logic, data handling), secure storage, input validation.

  • Name: Apollo Android Library

    • Type: Software Component - Library
    • Description: The Apollo Android library embedded within the Android application.
    • Responsibilities: GraphQL client functionality within the application, as described in the Container Diagram.
    • Security controls: Security controls implemented within the library itself (HTTPS, input validation in query construction, etc.).

  • Name: GraphQL Server

    • Type: Software System - Backend Server
    • Description: The backend GraphQL server that the mobile application communicates with.
    • Responsibilities: Serve GraphQL API, process queries and mutations, manage data, enforce backend security.
    • Security controls: Backend security controls (authentication, authorization, input validation, API security best practices).

BUILD

graph LR
    Developer["Developer"] --> SourceCode["Source Code (GitHub)"]: Code Changes
    SourceCode --> BuildSystem["Build System (GitHub Actions/CI)"]: Trigger Build
    BuildSystem --> DependencyCheck["Dependency Check"]: Dependency Scan
    BuildSystem --> SAST["SAST Scanner"]: Static Analysis
    BuildSystem --> Compiler["Compiler"]: Compilation
    BuildSystem --> TestSuite["Test Suite"]: Unit & Integration Tests
    BuildSystem --> ArtifactRepository["Artifact Repository (Maven Central)"]: Publish Artifacts

    style Developer fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style BuildSystem fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style DependencyCheck fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style SAST fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style Compiler fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style TestSuite fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style ArtifactRepository fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
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Build Process Description:

The build process for Apollo Android is likely automated using a CI/CD system like GitHub Actions.

  1. Developer commits code changes to the GitHub repository.
  2. The build system (e.g., GitHub Actions workflows) is triggered by code changes.
  3. Dependency Check: The build system performs dependency scanning to identify known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries.
  4. SAST Scanner: Static Application Security Testing tools are used to analyze the codebase for potential security vulnerabilities.
  5. Compiler: The code is compiled using the Kotlin compiler.
  6. Test Suite: Unit and integration tests are executed to ensure code quality and functionality.
  7. Artifact Repository: If all checks pass, the build artifacts (JAR/AAR files) are published to an artifact repository like Maven Central.

Build Diagram Elements:

  • Name: Developer

    • Type: Person
    • Description: Software developers contributing to the Apollo Android project.
    • Responsibilities: Writing code, fixing bugs, implementing features, submitting code changes.
    • Security controls: Secure coding practices, code reviews.

  • Name: Source Code (GitHub)

    • Type: Data Store - Code Repository
    • Description: GitHub repository hosting the Apollo Android source code.
    • Responsibilities: Version control, code storage, collaboration platform.
    • Security controls: Access control, branch protection, audit logs.

  • Name: Build System (GitHub Actions/CI)

    • Type: Software System - CI/CD
    • Description: Automated build and CI/CD pipeline for Apollo Android.
    • Responsibilities: Automate build, test, and release processes, execute security checks.
    • Security controls: Secure pipeline configuration, access control, secrets management, build environment security.

  • Name: Dependency Check

    • Type: Software Tool - Security Scanner
    • Description: Tool to scan project dependencies for known vulnerabilities.
    • Responsibilities: Identify vulnerable dependencies, generate reports.
    • Security controls: Up-to-date vulnerability database, accurate scanning.

  • Name: SAST Scanner

    • Type: Software Tool - Security Scanner
    • Description: Static Application Security Testing tool to analyze source code for vulnerabilities.
    • Responsibilities: Identify potential code-level vulnerabilities, generate reports.
    • Security controls: Accurate vulnerability detection, rule updates.

  • Name: Compiler

    • Type: Software Tool - Development Tool
    • Description: Kotlin compiler used to compile the source code.
    • Responsibilities: Code compilation, generate bytecode.
    • Security controls: Compiler security (less relevant in this context, but compiler vulnerabilities are possible in general).

  • Name: Test Suite

    • Type: Software System - Testing Framework
    • Description: Automated test suite for Apollo Android.
    • Responsibilities: Verify code functionality, detect regressions.
    • Security controls: Test coverage for security-relevant functionality, secure test data.

  • Name: Artifact Repository (Maven Central)

    • Type: Software System - Artifact Repository
    • Description: Repository for publishing and distributing build artifacts (JAR/AAR files).
    • Responsibilities: Host and distribute Apollo Android library.
    • Security controls: Repository security, artifact signing, access control.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:

  • Mobile application data fetching: The core business process reliant on Apollo Android is the ability of mobile applications to reliably and efficiently fetch data from GraphQL APIs to provide application functionality and user experience. Disruption or compromise of this process directly impacts application usability and business value.

Data Sensitivity:

  • Data sensitivity depends entirely on the specific GraphQL APIs that applications using Apollo Android interact with.
  • Potential data types could include:
    • Personally Identifiable Information (PII): User profiles, contact details, location data. Sensitivity: High.
    • Authentication Credentials: API keys, tokens. Sensitivity: Critical.
    • Financial Data: Transaction history, payment information. Sensitivity: High.
    • Business Data: Product information, sales data, operational metrics. Sensitivity: Medium to High depending on the business context.
    • Public Data: Publicly available information. Sensitivity: Low.

The sensitivity of data handled by applications using Apollo Android needs to be assessed in the context of each specific application and its connected GraphQL APIs. Apollo Android itself is a library and does not inherently handle sensitive data unless application developers choose to cache sensitive information using the library's caching mechanisms.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:

  • What are the primary use cases and industries targeted by applications using Apollo Android? (e.g., e-commerce, social media, enterprise applications). This would help refine the risk assessment based on industry-specific data sensitivity and regulatory requirements.
  • What are the typical authentication and authorization mechanisms used with GraphQL APIs that Apollo Android clients interact with? (API Keys, JWT, OAuth 2.0, etc.). This will inform the security requirements related to authentication and authorization support in the library.
  • What are the performance and scalability requirements for applications using Apollo Android? This can influence design decisions, especially around caching and network communication strategies, which can have security implications.
  • Are there specific regulatory compliance requirements that applications using Apollo Android need to adhere to (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS)? This will impact the required security controls and features of the library.

Assumptions:

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: We assume the primary business goal is to facilitate efficient and secure development of mobile applications using GraphQL.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: We assume a standard secure software development lifecycle is desired, including code reviews, testing, and dependency management. We assume that applications using Apollo Android will handle data of varying sensitivity levels, requiring robust security measures.
  • DESIGN: We assume Apollo Android is designed as a modular library with clear separation of concerns between different components like network communication, caching, and query processing. We assume the library is intended to be used in typical Android application deployment scenarios communicating over HTTPS with backend GraphQL servers.