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BUSINESS POSTURE

  • Business Priorities and Goals:
    • Provide a lightweight and rapid development PHP framework for building web applications.
    • Offer a simple and easy-to-learn framework for developers of all skill levels.
    • Maintain a strong community and provide comprehensive documentation.
    • Enable developers to quickly prototype and deploy web applications.
  • Business Risks:
    • Security vulnerabilities within the CodeIgniter framework could be exploited in applications built using it, leading to data breaches or service disruption.
    • Insecure coding practices by developers using CodeIgniter, due to lack of security awareness or framework misuse, can introduce vulnerabilities into applications.
    • Lack of timely security updates and patches for the framework could leave applications vulnerable to known exploits.
    • Dependency on community contributions for security fixes might lead to delays in addressing critical vulnerabilities.

SECURITY POSTURE

  • Existing Security Controls:
    • security control: Input validation libraries and helpers are provided within the framework to assist developers in sanitizing user inputs. (Implemented within the CodeIgniter framework code - see documentation and code examples).
    • security control: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) protection helpers are available to encode output and prevent XSS attacks. (Implemented within the CodeIgniter framework code - see documentation and code examples).
    • security control: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection is offered as a feature that can be enabled in the framework configuration. (Implemented within the CodeIgniter framework code - see configuration files and documentation).
    • security control: Database abstraction layer with query binding helps prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities. (Implemented within the CodeIgniter framework code - see database library and documentation).
    • accepted risk: Security of applications built using CodeIgniter is ultimately the responsibility of the developers creating those applications.
    • accepted risk: The framework itself might contain undiscovered vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
  • Recommended Security Controls:
    • security control: Implement automated Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans on the CodeIgniter framework codebase during development to identify potential vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle.
    • security control: Conduct regular penetration testing and security audits of the CodeIgniter framework by external security experts to identify and address security weaknesses.
    • security control: Establish a clear and well-documented process for reporting and handling security vulnerabilities in the framework, including a responsible disclosure policy.
    • security control: Provide security training and educational resources for developers using CodeIgniter to promote secure coding practices and framework security features.
  • Security Requirements:
    • Authentication:
      • Applications built with CodeIgniter should implement robust authentication mechanisms to verify user identities.
      • Consider supporting multi-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security.
      • Securely manage user credentials and avoid storing passwords in plain text.
    • Authorization:
      • Implement fine-grained authorization controls to restrict user access to resources and functionalities based on their roles and permissions.
      • Follow the principle of least privilege when granting access rights.
      • Regularly review and update authorization policies.
    • Input Validation:
      • All user inputs must be validated and sanitized to prevent injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection, XSS, command injection).
      • Use framework-provided input validation libraries and helpers.
      • Implement both client-side and server-side validation for comprehensive input validation.
    • Cryptography:
      • Use strong encryption algorithms and libraries for protecting sensitive data at rest and in transit.
      • Properly manage encryption keys and ensure their secure storage.
      • Implement HTTPS for all communication to protect data in transit.
      • Utilize cryptography for secure session management and token generation.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Organization"
    U[Web Developer]
    end
    SystemBoundary(S) -- CodeIgniter Framework
    S
    direction LR
    S --- U
    S --- PHP[PHP Runtime]
    S --- DB[Database System]
    S --- WEB[Web Server]
    S --- COM[Composer]
    style SystemBoundary fill:transparent,stroke-dasharray: 5 5
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  • Context Diagram Elements:
      • Name: Web Developer
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Developers who use the CodeIgniter framework to build web applications.
      • Responsibilities: Develop, deploy, and maintain web applications using CodeIgniter.
      • Security controls: Secure coding practices, input validation in applications, authentication and authorization implementation in applications.
      • Name: CodeIgniter Framework
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: A lightweight PHP framework for building web applications.
      • Responsibilities: Provide core functionalities for web application development, including routing, database interaction, templating, and security features.
      • Security controls: Input validation helpers, XSS protection, CSRF protection, database abstraction layer, security vulnerability patching and updates.
      • Name: PHP Runtime
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: The PHP runtime environment required to execute CodeIgniter applications.
      • Responsibilities: Execute PHP code, manage server-side scripting, and interact with the web server.
      • Security controls: PHP security configurations (e.g., disable dangerous functions), regular PHP updates, security extensions (e.g., Suhosin).
      • Name: Database System
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Database system (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) used by CodeIgniter applications to store and retrieve data.
      • Responsibilities: Data persistence, data management, and data retrieval for applications.
      • Security controls: Database access controls, database hardening, regular security patching of the database system, data encryption at rest.
      • Name: Web Server
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) that hosts and serves CodeIgniter applications.
      • Responsibilities: Handle HTTP requests, serve static files, and forward requests to the PHP runtime.
      • Security controls: Web server hardening, access controls, HTTPS configuration, regular security patching of the web server.
      • Name: Composer
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Dependency manager for PHP, used to manage CodeIgniter framework and application dependencies.
      • Responsibilities: Manage project dependencies, download and install libraries, and update packages.
      • Security controls: Dependency vulnerability scanning, using trusted package repositories, verifying package integrity.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Web Server (Nginx/Apache)"
    WS[Web Server Container]
    PHP_FPM[PHP-FPM Container]
    end
    subgraph "Database Server"
    DB_C[Database Container]
    end
    DEV[Web Developer] --> WS
    WS --> PHP_FPM
    PHP_FPM --> CI_APP[CodeIgniter Application Container]
    CI_APP --> CI_FW[CodeIgniter Framework Container]
    CI_APP --> DB_C
    COM_CLI[Composer CLI] --> CI_FW
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  • Container Diagram Elements:
      • Name: Web Server Container
      • Type: Container
      • Description: Web server software (e.g., Nginx or Apache) responsible for handling HTTP requests and serving static content.
      • Responsibilities: Accept incoming HTTP requests, route requests to PHP-FPM, serve static files, and manage SSL/TLS connections.
      • Security controls: Web server hardening, access control lists, HTTPS configuration, rate limiting, web application firewall (WAF).
      • Name: PHP-FPM Container
      • Type: Container
      • Description: FastCGI Process Manager (PHP-FPM) that executes PHP code for CodeIgniter applications.
      • Responsibilities: Execute PHP scripts, manage PHP processes, and communicate with the database.
      • Security controls: PHP-FPM configuration hardening, process isolation, resource limits, regular PHP updates.
      • Name: CodeIgniter Application Container
      • Type: Container
      • Description: The deployed CodeIgniter application code, including controllers, models, views, and configuration files.
      • Responsibilities: Implement application logic, handle user requests, interact with the database, and render web pages.
      • Security controls: Application-level input validation, authorization checks, secure session management, protection against application-specific vulnerabilities.
      • Name: CodeIgniter Framework Container
      • Type: Container
      • Description: The core CodeIgniter framework files, libraries, and helpers.
      • Responsibilities: Provide framework functionalities, handle routing, database abstraction, and security features.
      • Security controls: Framework security features (XSS, CSRF protection), regular framework updates, security audits of the framework code.
      • Name: Database Container
      • Type: Container
      • Description: Database management system (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) responsible for storing application data.
      • Responsibilities: Store and manage application data, handle database queries, and ensure data integrity.
      • Security controls: Database access controls, database hardening, encryption at rest, regular database security patching, database activity monitoring.
      • Name: Composer CLI
      • Type: Container
      • Description: Command-line interface for Composer, used to manage framework and application dependencies during development.
      • Responsibilities: Install, update, and manage PHP dependencies for the project.
      • Security controls: Using trusted package repositories, dependency vulnerability scanning, verifying package integrity.

DEPLOYMENT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Deployment Environment"
        subgraph "Server Instance"
            OS[Operating System]
            WS_D[Web Server (Nginx/Apache)]
            PHP_FPM_D[PHP-FPM]
            CI_APP_D[CodeIgniter Application]
        end
        DB_D[Database Server]
        LB[Load Balancer (Optional)]
        NET[Network]
    end
    NET -- Internet --> LB
    LB --> WS_D
    WS_D --> PHP_FPM_D
    PHP_FPM_D --> CI_APP_D
    CI_APP_D --> DB_D
    OS --> WS_D
    OS --> PHP_FPM_D
    OS --> CI_APP_D
    OS --> DB_D
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  • Deployment Diagram Elements:
      • Name: Server Instance
      • Type: Infrastructure Node
      • Description: A virtual or physical server instance hosting the web application components.
      • Responsibilities: Provide computing resources for the web server, PHP-FPM, and CodeIgniter application.
      • Security controls: Operating system hardening, security patching, intrusion detection system (IDS), host-based firewall.
      • Name: Operating System
      • Type: Software
      • Description: Operating system (e.g., Linux) running on the server instance.
      • Responsibilities: Manage system resources, provide a platform for running applications, and handle system security.
      • Security controls: OS hardening, security updates and patching, access controls, audit logging.
      • Name: Web Server (Nginx/Apache)
      • Type: Software
      • Description: Web server software deployed on the server instance.
      • Responsibilities: Serve web application content, handle HTTP requests, and manage connections.
      • Security controls: Web server hardening, access controls, HTTPS configuration, rate limiting, web application firewall (WAF).
      • Name: PHP-FPM
      • Type: Software
      • Description: PHP-FPM running on the server instance to process PHP code.
      • Responsibilities: Execute PHP scripts for the CodeIgniter application.
      • Security controls: PHP-FPM configuration hardening, process isolation, resource limits, regular PHP updates.
      • Name: CodeIgniter Application
      • Type: Software
      • Description: Deployed CodeIgniter application files on the server instance.
      • Responsibilities: Handle application logic and serve web pages.
      • Security controls: Application-level security measures, input validation, authorization, secure coding practices.
      • Name: Database Server
      • Type: Infrastructure Node
      • Description: Separate server instance hosting the database system.
      • Responsibilities: Store and manage application data.
      • Security controls: Database server hardening, access controls, network segmentation, database encryption at rest, database activity monitoring.
      • Name: Load Balancer (Optional)
      • Type: Infrastructure Node
      • Description: Load balancer distributing traffic across multiple server instances (for scalability and high availability).
      • Responsibilities: Distribute incoming traffic, improve application availability and performance.
      • Security controls: Load balancer security configuration, DDoS protection, SSL termination.
      • Name: Network
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Network infrastructure connecting different components.
      • Responsibilities: Provide network connectivity between servers and users.
      • Security controls: Network segmentation, firewalls, intrusion prevention system (IPS), network monitoring.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Developer Environment"
        DEV_PC[Developer PC]
        DEV_CODE[Code Changes]
    end
    subgraph "CI/CD Pipeline"
        GH_REPO[GitHub Repository]
        GH_ACTIONS[GitHub Actions]
        BUILD_SERVER[Build Server]
        TESTS[Automated Tests]
        SAST[SAST Scans]
        ARTIFACT_STORE[Artifact Store]
    end
    DEV_PC --> DEV_CODE
    DEV_CODE --> GH_REPO
    GH_REPO --> GH_ACTIONS
    GH_ACTIONS --> BUILD_SERVER
    BUILD_SERVER --> TESTS
    BUILD_SERVER --> SAST
    BUILD_SERVER --> ARTIFACT_STORE
    ARTIFACT_STORE --> DEPLOY_ENV[Deployment Environment]
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  • Build Process Elements:
      • Name: Developer PC
      • Type: Environment
      • Description: Developer's local machine where code is written and tested.
      • Responsibilities: Code development, local testing, and committing code changes.
      • Security controls: Developer workstation security, code review, local security scans.
      • Name: Code Changes
      • Type: Artifact
      • Description: Source code modifications made by developers.
      • Responsibilities: Implement new features, fix bugs, and address security vulnerabilities.
      • Security controls: Version control (Git), code review process, secure coding practices.
      • Name: GitHub Repository
      • Type: System
      • Description: Central repository hosting the CodeIgniter framework source code.
      • Responsibilities: Version control, code storage, collaboration, and trigger CI/CD pipelines.
      • Security controls: Access controls, branch protection, audit logging, vulnerability scanning of repository dependencies.
      • Name: GitHub Actions
      • Type: System
      • Description: CI/CD platform used to automate the build, test, and deployment process.
      • Responsibilities: Orchestrate the build pipeline, run automated tests, perform security scans, and deploy artifacts.
      • Security controls: Secure pipeline configuration, access controls, secret management, audit logging.
      • Name: Build Server
      • Type: System
      • Description: Server responsible for compiling and building the CodeIgniter framework.
      • Responsibilities: Compile code, build packages, run linters and static analysis tools.
      • Security controls: Build server hardening, access controls, secure build environment, regular security patching.
      • Name: Automated Tests
      • Type: Process
      • Description: Automated tests (unit, integration, and security tests) executed during the build process.
      • Responsibilities: Verify code functionality, identify bugs, and ensure code quality.
      • Security controls: Security testing as part of the test suite, regular test updates, test environment security.
      • Name: SAST Scans
      • Type: Process
      • Description: Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans performed on the codebase during the build process.
      • Responsibilities: Identify potential security vulnerabilities in the source code.
      • Security controls: SAST tool configuration, vulnerability reporting, integration with development workflow.
      • Name: Artifact Store
      • Type: System
      • Description: Repository for storing build artifacts (e.g., compiled framework packages).
      • Responsibilities: Securely store and manage build artifacts, provide access for deployment.
      • Security controls: Access controls, artifact integrity checks, vulnerability scanning of artifacts, secure storage.
      • Name: Deployment Environment
      • Type: Environment
      • Description: Target environment where the CodeIgniter framework is deployed (e.g., staging, production).
      • Responsibilities: Host and run the CodeIgniter framework and applications.
      • Security controls: Deployment environment hardening, access controls, network segmentation, runtime security monitoring.

RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Critical Business Processes:
    • Development and maintenance of the CodeIgniter framework itself.
    • Development and deployment of web applications built using CodeIgniter.
    • Maintaining the reputation and trust associated with the CodeIgniter project.
  • Data to Protect and Sensitivity:
    • Source code of the CodeIgniter framework: Highly sensitive - Intellectual property, vulnerabilities could be exploited.
    • User data in applications built with CodeIgniter: Sensitivity varies depending on the application - Could be highly sensitive (PII, financial data, etc.).
    • Configuration data for the framework and applications: Moderately sensitive - Could expose system details or access credentials.
    • Build artifacts and deployment packages: Moderately sensitive - Could be tampered with to introduce malicious code.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

  • Questions:
    • What is the intended scope of security responsibility for the CodeIgniter project team versus developers using the framework?
    • What are the current processes for security vulnerability reporting and patching for the CodeIgniter framework?
    • Are there any specific compliance requirements that applications built with CodeIgniter need to adhere to?
    • What is the expected lifespan and maintenance plan for the CodeIgniter framework?
  • Assumptions:
    • Security is a significant concern for both the CodeIgniter project and applications built using it.
    • Developers using CodeIgniter have varying levels of security awareness and expertise.
    • The CodeIgniter project aims to provide a secure foundation for web application development, but ultimately application security is the responsibility of the developers.
    • The CodeIgniter community plays a vital role in identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities.