mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for magicalpanda/magicalrecord

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Robust Access Control within Core Data Entities (using MagicalRecord Predicates)

• Description:

  1. Define User Roles and Permissions: Clearly define user roles and their data access permissions.
  2. Utilize Predicates with MagicalRecord Fetch Methods: When fetching data using magicalrecord methods like MR_findAllWithPredicate, MR_findFirstWithPredicate, always incorporate predicates that filter results based on the current user's role and permissions.
     • Example: [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"createdByUserID == %@ AND accessLevel <= %@", currentUser.userID, currentUser.accessLevel]
     • Apply these predicates consistently in your data access layer when using magicalrecord to retrieve data.
  3. Application-Level Authorization Checks (Post-Fetch): After fetching data using magicalrecord, implement application-level checks to further verify user authorization before displaying or modifying the data. This adds a second layer of defense.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Unauthorized Data Access (High Severity): Prevents users from accessing data they are not permitted to view or modify, by leveraging predicates within magicalrecord fetch requests.
  • Data Breach (High Severity): Reduces the risk of data exposure by limiting the data accessible even if magicalrecord is used to query the database.
  • Privilege Escalation (Medium Severity): Makes it harder for malicious users to access data beyond their intended scope by enforcing access control within data retrieval using magicalrecord.

• Impact:

  • Unauthorized Data Access: High Impact: Significantly reduces risk by enforcing access control during data retrieval with magicalrecord.
  • Data Breach: Medium Impact: Reduces potential breach scope by limiting accessible data through magicalrecord queries.
  • Privilege Escalation: Medium Impact: Adds defense against privilege escalation by controlling data access via magicalrecord.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Basic user roles are defined.
  • Backend API enforces role-based access control.
  • Location: Backend API, User authentication services.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Predicates based on user roles are not consistently applied in iOS app fetch requests using magicalrecord.
  • Application-level authorization checks are not consistently implemented after fetching data with magicalrecord.
  • Location: iOS app codebase, data access layers, View Controllers.

Mitigation Strategy: Securely Store Sensitive Data (Encryption for Core Data used by MagicalRecord)

• Description:

  1. Enable iOS Data Protection for Core Data Store: Ensure iOS Data Protection is enabled for your application. This encrypts the underlying SQLite database used by Core Data (and thus magicalrecord) when the device is locked. Verify in project settings under "Capabilities" -> "Data Protection".
  2. Attribute-Level Encryption (Pre-MagicalRecord Save): For highly sensitive attributes in Core Data entities managed by magicalrecord, encrypt these attributes before saving them using magicalrecord's save methods (e.g., MR_saveToPersistentStoreAndWait).
     • Encrypt data in your application logic before calling magicalrecord save methods.
     • Decrypt data after fetching with magicalrecord before using it.
     • Use libraries like CryptoKit or RNCryptor for encryption.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Data Breach from Physical Device Access (High Severity): Protects sensitive data managed by magicalrecord and Core Data if a device is lost or stolen.
  • Data Exposure in Device Backups (Medium Severity): Encrypted Core Data store (used by magicalrecord) will be encrypted in backups.

• Impact:

  • Data Breach from Physical Device Access: High Impact: Significantly reduces risk of data exposure from physical device compromise affecting magicalrecord data.
  • Data Exposure in Device Backups: Medium Impact: Reduces risk in backups of magicalrecord data.

• Currently Implemented:

  • iOS Data Protection is enabled (default).
  • Location: Project Capabilities settings.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Attribute-level encryption is not implemented for sensitive Core Data attributes managed by magicalrecord.
  • Location: Data model, data access layers, wherever sensitive data is handled before magicalrecord save operations.

Mitigation Strategy: Minimize Data Exposure in MagicalRecord Logging

• Description:

  1. Disable MagicalRecord Logging in Production: Disable or significantly reduce magicalrecord's logging output in production builds. Configure logging levels based on build configurations (e.g., using #if DEBUG).
  2. Redact Sensitive Data in Custom Logging (if using MagicalRecord logging): If you are using magicalrecord's logging features and need to log data operations, implement redaction or masking of sensitive data before it is logged by magicalrecord or your custom logging around magicalrecord calls.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Data Leakage through Logs (Medium Severity): Prevents accidental exposure of sensitive data in magicalrecord logs or logs around magicalrecord operations.
  • Information Disclosure (Medium Severity): Reduces unintentional revelation of sensitive information via magicalrecord related logs.

• Impact:

  • Data Leakage through Logs: Medium Impact: Reduces risk of data leaks from magicalrecord logging in production.
  • Information Disclosure: Medium Impact: Minimizes unintentional information disclosure via magicalrecord logs.

• Currently Implemented:

  • magicalrecord's default logging is enabled in debug builds.
  • Location: magicalrecord library configuration (potentially default).

• Missing Implementation:

  • magicalrecord logging is not disabled or reduced in production builds.
  • Sensitive data is not redacted in logs related to magicalrecord operations.
  • Location: Logging configuration, logging utility functions, codebase areas using magicalrecord with logging.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Strict Input Validation Before MagicalRecord Save

• Description:

  1. Define Input Validation Rules: Define validation rules for all data fields that will be saved to Core Data using magicalrecord.
  2. Validate Before MagicalRecord Operations: Implement input validation logic before calling magicalrecord methods to save or update data (e.g., MR_createEntity, MR_importValuesForKeysWithObject).
  3. Sanitize Input Data (Pre-MagicalRecord): Sanitize user inputs before saving with magicalrecord to prevent injection vulnerabilities if data is later used in queries or UI.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Data Corruption (Medium Severity): Prevents invalid data from being saved to Core Data via magicalrecord.
  • Injection Attacks (Medium to High Severity): Mitigates injection risks if unsanitized data saved by magicalrecord is later used insecurely.
  • Application Crashes/Instability (Medium Severity): Prevents issues from processing invalid data saved via magicalrecord.

• Impact:

  • Data Corruption: Medium Impact: Reduces risk of data corruption in Core Data managed by magicalrecord.
  • Injection Attacks: Medium to High Impact: Significantly reduces injection risks related to data saved via magicalrecord.
  • Application Crashes/Instability: Medium Impact: Improves stability by preventing issues from invalid data saved by magicalrecord.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Basic UI input validation in some areas.
  • Location: UI View Controllers.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Comprehensive input validation is not implemented before saving data using magicalrecord.
  • Input sanitization is not consistently applied before magicalrecord saves.
  • Location: Data access layers, business logic, wherever data is processed before magicalrecord save operations.

Mitigation Strategy: Stay Updated with MagicalRecord Library

• Description:

  1. Monitor MagicalRecord GitHub: Regularly check the magicalrecord GitHub repository for any reported vulnerabilities or updates, even though active development is limited.
  2. Update MagicalRecord Version: Use a reasonably up-to-date version of magicalrecord. If security fixes or important updates are released (even community-driven), update your project's magicalrecord dependency.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Vulnerabilities in MagicalRecord (Variable Severity): Mitigates risks from known vulnerabilities within the magicalrecord library itself.
  • Outdated Library Risks (Variable Severity): Reduces risks associated with using an outdated, potentially vulnerable version of magicalrecord.

• Impact:

  • Vulnerabilities in MagicalRecord: Variable Impact: Impact depends on severity of vulnerabilities and availability of updates.
  • Outdated Library Risks: Variable Impact: Reduces risks of using an outdated magicalrecord version.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Dependencies are generally updated periodically.
  • Location: Dependency management process.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Proactive monitoring of magicalrecord GitHub for security updates.
  • Formal process for updating magicalrecord specifically for security reasons.
  • Location: Development process, dependency management workflow.

Mitigation Strategy: Consider Alternatives to MagicalRecord for Long-Term Security

• Description:

  1. Evaluate Native Core Data: Assess the feasibility of migrating to native Core Data APIs, removing the dependency on magicalrecord. Native Core Data is actively maintained by Apple and receives security updates with iOS.
  2. Evaluate Actively Maintained Core Data Wrappers: If you prefer a wrapper library, research and evaluate actively maintained alternatives to magicalrecord that offer similar convenience but with ongoing security support and updates.
  3. Plan Migration if Necessary: If long-term security and maintainability are critical, create a plan to migrate away from magicalrecord to a more actively supported solution.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Long-Term Unmaintained Library Risks (Variable Severity, Increasing over time): Mitigates risks associated with relying on an unmaintained library like magicalrecord in the long run, including lack of security updates and potential incompatibility with future iOS versions.

• Impact:

  • Long-Term Unmaintained Library Risks: Variable Impact (Increasing over time): Reduces long-term security and maintainability risks associated with magicalrecord.

• Currently Implemented:

  • No active migration planning is in place.
  • Location: N/A

• Missing Implementation:

  • Evaluation of native Core Data or alternative wrappers.
  • Migration planning away from magicalrecord.
  • Location: Project planning, technical roadmap.