BUSINESS POSTURE

CodeIgniter is a PHP framework designed to provide a simple, lightweight, and fast environment for building web applications. It aims to empower developers to create web applications rapidly with less code compared to writing from scratch or using more complex frameworks.

Business Priorities:
- Rapid web application development.
- Ease of use and developer-friendliness.
- High performance and efficiency of web applications.
- Broad compatibility with various hosting environments.
- Strong community support and extensive documentation.
Business Goals:
- Enable developers to quickly prototype and deploy web applications.
- Reduce development time and costs for web projects.
- Provide a stable and reliable framework for building robust web applications.
- Foster a large and active community of users and contributors.
- Maintain a lightweight footprint and minimal dependencies.
Business Risks:
- Security vulnerabilities in web applications built using CodeIgniter, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or reputational damage.
- Lack of adherence to secure coding practices by developers using the framework, resulting in exploitable weaknesses.
- Dependency on community support for security updates and patches, which might have delays or gaps.
- Potential for misconfiguration of the framework or underlying server environment, leading to security issues.
- Risk of supply chain attacks targeting dependencies or the framework itself.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:
- security control CSRF Protection: Built-in protection against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks, configurable in the framework settings. Described in CodeIgniter documentation under "Security".
- security control XSS Filtering: Built-in input filtering to prevent Cross-Site Scripting attacks, applied to input data. Described in CodeIgniter documentation under "Security".
- security control Database Input Escaping: Database abstraction layer provides mechanisms to escape input data to prevent SQL injection attacks. Described in CodeIgniter documentation under "Database".
- security control Password Hashing: Utilizes PHP's password hashing functions for secure storage of user passwords. Described in CodeIgniter documentation under "Security" and "Authentication".
- security control Input Validation: Framework provides input validation library to validate user inputs based on defined rules. Described in CodeIgniter documentation under "Input Validation".
Accepted Risks:
- accepted risk Vulnerabilities in user-developed application code: Security of applications built with CodeIgniter heavily relies on developers following secure coding practices. Vulnerabilities in application logic, custom modules, or third-party libraries are an accepted risk.
- accepted risk Misconfiguration of server environment: Incorrectly configured web servers, databases, or PHP settings can introduce security vulnerabilities. Proper server hardening and configuration are assumed to be the responsibility of the deployment environment.
- accepted risk Outdated dependencies: Usage of outdated versions of CodeIgniter or its dependencies can expose applications to known vulnerabilities. Maintaining up-to-date dependencies is considered a shared responsibility.
- accepted risk Social engineering attacks targeting application users: Phishing, credential theft, and other social engineering attacks are outside the scope of the framework itself and are considered an accepted risk at the application level.
Recommended Security Controls:
- security control Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Implement SAST tools to automatically scan application code for potential security vulnerabilities during development and build processes.
- security control Dependency Scanning: Utilize dependency scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and components used by CodeIgniter applications.
- security control Penetration Testing: Conduct regular penetration testing by security professionals to identify and address security weaknesses in deployed applications.
- security control Security Audits: Perform periodic security audits of application code, configuration, and infrastructure to ensure adherence to security best practices.
- security control Security Training for Developers: Provide security training to developers to promote secure coding practices and awareness of common web application vulnerabilities.
- security control Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF in front of web applications to provide an additional layer of security against common web attacks.
Security Requirements:
- Authentication:
  - Requirement: Implement secure user authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of users accessing the application.
  - Details: CodeIgniter provides session management and helpers for authentication. Applications should use strong password policies, multi-factor authentication where appropriate, and protect against brute-force attacks.
- Authorization:
  - Requirement: Implement robust authorization controls to manage user access to different parts of the application and data based on roles and permissions.
  - Details: Applications should define clear roles and permissions, enforce the principle of least privilege, and validate user authorization before granting access to resources or functionalities.
- Input Validation:
  - Requirement: Thoroughly validate all user inputs to prevent injection attacks (SQL injection, XSS, command injection, etc.) and ensure data integrity.
  - Details: Utilize CodeIgniter's input validation library and implement server-side validation for all user-provided data. Sanitize and escape outputs appropriately based on context.
- Cryptography:
  - Requirement: Use cryptography appropriately to protect sensitive data in transit and at rest.
  - Details: Employ HTTPS for all communication, use strong encryption algorithms for data storage when necessary, and manage cryptographic keys securely. Utilize password hashing for storing user credentials.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Organization System"
        center_system("CodeIgniter Web Application")
    end

    web_user("Web User")
    developer("Developer")
    database_system("Database System")

    web_user -- "Uses" --> center_system
    developer -- "Develops & Deploys" --> center_system
    center_system -- "Stores Data" --> database_system
    center_system -- "Interacts with" --> web_browser("Web Browser")
    web_user -- "Interacts with" --> web_browser

    classDef element stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef system fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef person fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333

    class center_system system
    class web_user,developer person
    class database_system system
    class web_browser element

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Context Diagram Elements:
- - Name: CodeIgniter Web Application
  - Type: System
  - Description: Web application built using the CodeIgniter framework. It provides functionalities and services to web users.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Process user requests and generate responses.
    - Implement business logic and application functionalities.
    - Manage data persistence and retrieval from the database system.
    - Handle user authentication and authorization.
    - Protect against common web application vulnerabilities.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Input validation and sanitization.
    - security control Output encoding.
    - security control Session management.
    - security control Authentication and authorization mechanisms.
    - security control CSRF protection.
    - security control XSS filtering.
    - security control Database input escaping.
- - Name: Web User
  - Type: Person
  - Description: End-user who interacts with the CodeIgniter web application through a web browser to access its functionalities and services.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Accessing the web application through a web browser.
    - Providing input data to the application.
    - Consuming the output and services provided by the application.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Web browser security features (e.g., XSS protection, Content Security Policy).
    - security control User awareness training to avoid phishing and social engineering attacks.
- - Name: Developer
  - Type: Person
  - Description: Software developer who builds, maintains, and deploys the CodeIgniter web application.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Writing application code using the CodeIgniter framework.
    - Configuring and deploying the application to a server environment.
    - Implementing security controls within the application code.
    - Maintaining and updating the application.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Secure coding practices.
    - security control Code reviews.
    - security control Static and dynamic code analysis tools.
    - security control Access control to development and deployment environments.
- - Name: Database System
  - Type: System
  - Description: Database server (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) used by the CodeIgniter web application to store and retrieve data.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Storing application data persistently.
    - Providing data access and retrieval services to the web application.
    - Ensuring data integrity and availability.
    - Managing database security.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Database access controls and authentication.
    - security control Database encryption at rest and in transit.
    - security control Regular database backups.
    - security control Database activity monitoring and auditing.
- - Name: Web Browser
  - Type: Element
  - Description: Software application used by web users to access and interact with the CodeIgniter web application.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Rendering web pages and executing client-side scripts.
    - Sending user requests to the web application.
    - Displaying responses from the web application.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Browser security features (e.g., sandboxing, Content Security Policy enforcement).
    - security control Regular browser updates and security patches.
    - security control Browser extensions and plugins security management.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "CodeIgniter Web Application"
        web_server("Web Server")
        php_runtime("PHP Runtime")
        codeigniter_framework("CodeIgniter Framework")
        application_code("Application Code")
    end

    database_server("Database Server")

    web_browser("Web Browser")

    web_browser -- "HTTPS Requests" --> web_server
    web_server -- "Executes" --> php_runtime
    php_runtime -- "Runs" --> codeigniter_framework
    codeigniter_framework -- "Runs" --> application_code
    application_code -- "Database Queries" --> database_server

    web_server -- "HTTPS Responses" --> web_browser

    classDef container fill:#fdd,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef element stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef system fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333

    class web_server,php_runtime,codeigniter_framework,application_code container
    class database_server system
    class web_browser element

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Container Diagram Elements:
- - Name: Web Server
  - Type: Container
  - Description: Web server software (e.g., Apache, Nginx) that handles HTTP requests and responses, and serves the CodeIgniter application.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Receiving HTTP requests from web browsers.
    - Serving static files (if any).
    - Forwarding dynamic requests to the PHP runtime.
    - Handling HTTPS connections and SSL/TLS termination.
    - Implementing web server security configurations.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Web server hardening and security configuration.
    - security control HTTPS/TLS configuration.
    - security control Access control to web server configuration files.
    - security control Web server logs and monitoring.
    - security control Web Application Firewall (WAF) integration (optional).
- - Name: PHP Runtime
  - Type: Container
  - Description: PHP runtime environment that executes the CodeIgniter framework and application code.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Interpreting and executing PHP code.
    - Providing necessary PHP extensions and libraries.
    - Managing PHP sessions.
    - Handling file uploads and processing.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control PHP runtime security configuration (e.g., disable dangerous functions, enable security extensions).
    - security control Regular PHP runtime updates and security patches.
    - security control File system permissions and access controls.
- - Name: CodeIgniter Framework
  - Type: Container
  - Description: CodeIgniter PHP framework providing core functionalities, libraries, and helpers for web application development.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Providing routing and request handling.
    - Database abstraction and interaction.
    - Input validation and sanitization.
    - Session management.
    - Security features (CSRF protection, XSS filtering).
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Framework security features enabled and configured correctly.
    - security control Regular framework updates and security patches.
    - security control Secure framework configuration.
- - Name: Application Code
  - Type: Container
  - Description: Custom PHP code developed for the specific web application, utilizing the CodeIgniter framework.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Implementing business logic and application functionalities.
    - Handling user authentication and authorization.
    - Interacting with the database system.
    - Generating dynamic web pages and responses.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Secure coding practices applied in application development.
    - security control Input validation and output encoding implemented in application code.
    - security control Authorization checks implemented in application code.
    - security control Code reviews and security testing of application code.
- - Name: Database Server
  - Type: Container
  - Description: Database management system (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) used to store and manage application data.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Storing and retrieving application data.
    - Enforcing data integrity and consistency.
    - Managing database user accounts and permissions.
    - Providing database security features.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Database access controls and authentication.
    - security control Database encryption at rest and in transit.
    - security control Regular database backups and recovery procedures.
    - security control Database activity monitoring and auditing.
    - security control Principle of least privilege for database access.

DEPLOYMENT

Deployment Solution: Cloud-based Deployment using Containerization

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Cloud Environment"
        load_balancer("Load Balancer")
        subgraph "Application Instances"
            container_instance_1("Container Instance 1")
            container_instance_2("Container Instance 2")
            container_instance_n("Container Instance N")
        end
        database_cluster("Database Cluster")
    end

    web_browser("Web Browser")

    web_browser -- "HTTPS Requests" --> load_balancer
    load_balancer -- "Distributes Requests" --> container_instance_1
    load_balancer -- "Distributes Requests" --> container_instance_2
    load_balancer -- "Distributes Requests" --> container_instance_n
    container_instance_1 -- "Database Queries" --> database_cluster
    container_instance_2 -- "Database Queries" --> database_cluster
    container_instance_n -- "Database Queries" --> database_cluster

    subgraph "Container Instance 1"
        web_server_1("Web Server")
        php_runtime_1("PHP Runtime")
        codeigniter_app_1("CodeIgniter Application")
    end
    subgraph "Container Instance 2"
        web_server_2("Web Server")
        php_runtime_2("PHP Runtime")
        codeigniter_app_2("CodeIgniter Application")
    end
    subgraph "Container Instance N"
        web_server_n("Web Server")
        php_runtime_n("PHP Runtime")
        codeigniter_app_n("CodeIgniter Application")
    end

    container_instance_1 -- web_server_1
    container_instance_1 -- php_runtime_1
    container_instance_1 -- codeigniter_app_1

    container_instance_2 -- web_server_2
    container_instance_2 -- php_runtime_2
    container_instance_2 -- codeigniter_app_2

    container_instance_n -- web_server_n
    container_instance_n -- php_runtime_n
    container_instance_n -- codeigniter_app_n


    classDef deployment fill:#eee,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef element stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef container fill:#fdd,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef system fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333

    class load_balancer,database_cluster deployment
    class container_instance_1,container_instance_2,container_instance_n deployment
    class web_server_1,php_runtime_1,codeigniter_app_1 container
    class web_server_2,php_runtime_2,codeigniter_app_2 container
    class web_server_n,php_runtime_n,codeigniter_app_n container
    class web_browser element

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Deployment Diagram Elements:
- - Name: Load Balancer
  - Type: Deployment Node
  - Description: Distributes incoming HTTPS traffic across multiple container instances of the CodeIgniter application for high availability and scalability.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Load balancing incoming requests.
    - SSL/TLS termination.
    - Health checks for application instances.
    - Routing requests to healthy instances.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Load balancer security configuration.
    - security control DDoS protection.
    - security control Access control to load balancer management interface.
    - security control SSL/TLS certificate management.
- - Name: Container Instance 1, 2, N
  - Type: Deployment Node
  - Description: Virtual machines or containers running instances of the CodeIgniter web application. Each instance includes a web server, PHP runtime, and the CodeIgniter application code.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Hosting and running the CodeIgniter web application.
    - Processing user requests.
    - Interacting with the database cluster.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Container/VM hardening.
    - security control Security updates and patching of OS and runtime environment.
    - security control Network segmentation and firewall rules.
    - security control Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
    - security control Container image security scanning.
- - Name: Web Server (within Container Instance)
  - Type: Container
  - Description: Web server software running inside each container instance.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Serving HTTP requests within the container.
    - Forwarding requests to PHP runtime.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Web server security configuration within container.
    - security control Minimal software installation within container image.
- - Name: PHP Runtime (within Container Instance)
  - Type: Container
  - Description: PHP runtime environment running inside each container instance.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Executing PHP code within the container.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control PHP runtime security configuration within container.
    - security control Minimal PHP extensions enabled within container image.
- - Name: CodeIgniter Application (within Container Instance)
  - Type: Container
  - Description: CodeIgniter application code deployed within each container instance.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Application logic execution.
    - Data processing.
    - Database interaction.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Application security controls as described in previous sections.
    - security control Secure application configuration within container.
- - Name: Database Cluster
  - Type: Deployment Node
  - Description: Clustered database system providing high availability and scalability for data storage.
  - Responsibilities:
    - Persistent data storage.
    - Data replication and failover.
    - Database management and administration.
  - Security Controls:
    - security control Database cluster security configuration.
    - security control Database access controls and encryption.
    - security control Database backups and disaster recovery.
    - security control Database monitoring and auditing.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    developer("Developer") --> code_repository("Code Repository (e.g., GitHub)")
    code_repository --> ci_server("CI Server (e.g., GitHub Actions)")
    ci_server --> build_environment("Build Environment")
    build_environment --> build_artifacts("Build Artifacts (e.g., Docker Image)")
    build_artifacts --> container_registry("Container Registry")

    subgraph "Build Environment"
        dependency_manager("Dependency Manager (e.g., Composer)")
        sast_scanner("SAST Scanner")
        linter("Linter")
        unit_tests("Unit Tests")
    end
    build_environment -- dependency_manager
    build_environment -- sast_scanner
    build_environment -- linter
    build_environment -- unit_tests

    ci_server -- build_environment

    classDef build fill:#eee,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef element stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef container fill:#fdd,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333
    classDef system fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#333

    class ci_server,build_environment,container_registry build
    class dependency_manager,sast_scanner,linter,unit_tests build
    class code_repository system
    class build_artifacts container
    class developer element

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Build Process Description:
1. Developer writes code and commits changes to a Code Repository (e.g., GitHub).
2. Changes to the code repository trigger a Continuous Integration (CI) Server (e.g., GitHub Actions).
3. CI Server orchestrates the Build Environment.
4. Build Environment performs the following steps:
  - Fetches code from the Code Repository.
  - Uses a Dependency Manager (e.g., Composer) to download and manage project dependencies.
  - Runs SAST Scanner to identify potential security vulnerabilities in the code.
  - Executes Linter to enforce code quality and style guidelines.
  - Runs Unit Tests to ensure code functionality and stability.
  - Builds Build Artifacts, such as a Docker image containing the application.
5. Build Artifacts are pushed to a Container Registry.
Build Process Security Controls:
- security control Code Repository Access Control: Restrict access to the code repository to authorized developers. Use branch protection and code review processes.
- security control CI/CD Pipeline Security: Secure the CI/CD pipeline infrastructure and configurations. Implement access controls and audit logging.
- security control Dependency Management: Use a dependency manager to track and manage project dependencies. Implement dependency scanning to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in dependencies. Use dependency lock files to ensure consistent builds.
- security control Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Integrate SAST tools into the build pipeline to automatically scan code for vulnerabilities. Fail builds on critical findings.
- security control Code Linting: Enforce code quality and security best practices using linters.
- security control Unit Testing: Implement comprehensive unit tests to ensure code functionality and reduce the likelihood of bugs and vulnerabilities.
- security control Container Image Scanning: Scan container images for vulnerabilities before pushing to the container registry.
- security control Artifact Signing: Sign build artifacts to ensure integrity and authenticity.
- security control Secure Build Environment: Harden the build environment and minimize its attack surface. Regularly update build tools and dependencies.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:
- The critical business processes depend on the specific web application built using CodeIgniter. Examples include:
  - E-commerce transactions processing.
  - User account management and authentication.
  - Content management and delivery.
  - Data collection and analysis.
  - Communication and collaboration platforms.
- The security of these processes is paramount to ensure business continuity, data protection, and customer trust.
Data Sensitivity:
- The sensitivity of data handled by CodeIgniter applications varies depending on the application's purpose. Data categories may include:
  - Personally Identifiable Information (PII): User names, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, etc. Sensitivity: High.
  - Authentication Credentials: Passwords, API keys, session tokens. Sensitivity: Critical.
  - Financial Data: Credit card numbers, bank account details, transaction history. Sensitivity: Critical.
  - Business Confidential Data: Proprietary information, trade secrets, internal documents. Sensitivity: Medium to High.
  - Application Data: User-generated content, application settings, logs. Sensitivity: Low to Medium.
- Data sensitivity classification should be performed based on the specific application and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS).

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:
- What type of web applications will be built using CodeIgniter? (e.g., e-commerce, CMS, APIs, internal tools).
- What is the expected scale and performance requirements for the applications?
- What are the specific regulatory compliance requirements (if any) for the applications?
- What is the organization's risk appetite regarding security vulnerabilities?
- What existing security infrastructure and tools are already in place?
- What is the team's experience with secure coding practices and web application security?
Assumptions:
- Assumption: CodeIgniter will be used to build typical web applications that handle user data and require standard web application security measures.
- Assumption: Applications will be deployed in a cloud environment using containerization for scalability and resilience.
- Assumption: Developers using CodeIgniter have a basic understanding of web application security principles but may require further training and guidance.
- Assumption: The organization is concerned about security risks and is willing to invest in implementing recommended security controls.
- Assumption: The development team will follow secure coding practices and utilize the security features provided by the CodeIgniter framework.

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sec-design.md

sec-design.md

BUSINESS POSTURE

SECURITY POSTURE

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

C4 CONTAINER

DEPLOYMENT

BUILD

RISK ASSESSMENT

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

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sec-design.md

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BUSINESS POSTURE

SECURITY POSTURE

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

C4 CONTAINER

DEPLOYMENT

BUILD

RISK ASSESSMENT

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS