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BUSINESS POSTURE

This project, doctrine/instantiator, is a PHP library designed to instantiate classes without invoking their constructors. This is primarily useful in scenarios such as:

  • Object-relational mappers (ORMs) needing to hydrate objects from databases without triggering constructor logic.
  • Dependency injection containers needing to create instances without specific constructor arguments.
  • Testing frameworks needing to create mock objects or instances for testing purposes without side effects from constructors.
  • Deserialization processes where objects need to be created from serialized data structures.

The primary business priority this library addresses is to provide a utility for controlled object instantiation in PHP, enabling more flexible and efficient software development in the contexts mentioned above.

Key business risks associated with this project include:

  • Risk of unexpected object states: Instantiating objects without constructors might bypass initialization logic, leading to objects in invalid or unexpected states if not handled carefully by the consuming application.
  • Risk of dependency vulnerability: If this library contains vulnerabilities, applications depending on it could be affected. This is especially relevant if the library is used in critical business applications.
  • Risk of misuse: Developers might misuse this library in contexts where constructor invocation is actually necessary, leading to application errors or unexpected behavior.
  • Risk of supply chain compromise: If the library's distribution channel (e.g., Packagist) or build process is compromised, malicious code could be injected, affecting all applications that depend on it.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing security controls for this project are primarily focused on standard open-source development practices:

  • security control: Public code repository on GitHub, allowing for community review and scrutiny. Implemented: GitHub repository.
  • security control: Use of GitHub Actions for continuous integration, potentially including basic static analysis or testing. Implemented: .github/workflows directory in the repository.
  • security control: Distribution via Packagist, a widely used PHP package repository, which has its own security measures. Implemented: Packagist.

Accepted risks for this project, based on the information available, might include:

  • accepted risk: Reliance on community contributions for security vulnerability identification and patching.
  • accepted risk: Limited dedicated security team actively monitoring and securing the project.
  • accepted risk: Potential vulnerabilities in dependencies used by the library itself (though it aims to be dependency-free).

Recommended security controls to enhance the security posture:

  • recommended security control: Implement automated dependency scanning to detect vulnerabilities in any development-time dependencies.
  • recommended security control: Integrate static application security testing (SAST) tools into the CI/CD pipeline to automatically detect potential code-level vulnerabilities.
  • recommended security control: Consider code signing the released packages to ensure integrity and authenticity of the distributed library.
  • recommended security control: Establish a clear security vulnerability reporting process to allow users to report potential issues responsibly.

Security requirements for this project:

  • Authentication: Not directly applicable as this is a library. Authentication is relevant for the systems that use this library, but not the library itself.
  • Authorization: Not directly applicable as this is a library. Authorization is relevant for the systems that use this library.
  • Input Validation: Input validation is important. The library takes class names as input. While not directly user-provided input in most cases, validating that the input is a valid class name and handling potential errors gracefully is necessary to prevent unexpected behavior or potential abuse if class names are dynamically determined based on external factors.
  • Cryptography: Cryptography is not a core requirement for this library as it does not handle sensitive data directly. However, if code signing is implemented for distribution, cryptographic keys and processes will be involved.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "PHP Ecosystem"
        direction TB
        User[/"PHP Developer"/]
        PHPApp[/"PHP Application"/]
        Packagist[/"Packagist"/]
    end
    Instantiator[/"doctrine/instantiator Library"/]

    User -->|Uses| Instantiator
    PHPApp -->|Integrates/Uses| Instantiator
    Packagist -->|Distributes| Instantiator
    User -->|Downloads/Installs| Packagist
    PHPApp -->|Downloads/Installs| Packagist
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C4 Context Elements

  • Name: PHP Developer

    • Type: Person
    • Description: Software developers who use PHP and might utilize the doctrine/instantiator library in their projects.
    • Responsibilities: Develops and maintains PHP applications, integrates and uses the doctrine/instantiator library, reports issues and contributes to the library.
    • Security controls: Follows secure coding practices when using the library, keeps dependencies updated, reports potential security vulnerabilities.

  • Name: PHP Application

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: PHP applications that integrate and use the doctrine/instantiator library to instantiate objects without constructors. These applications can range from simple scripts to complex web applications, ORMs, and frameworks.
    • Responsibilities: Utilizes the library for object instantiation, manages dependencies, handles potential exceptions from the library, ensures secure usage of instantiated objects.
    • Security controls: Input validation of data used to determine which classes to instantiate (if dynamically determined), secure configuration and deployment, regular security audits and updates of dependencies.

  • Name: Packagist

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The primary package repository for PHP. It hosts and distributes the doctrine/instantiator library as a Composer package.
    • Responsibilities: Hosts and distributes the library, manages package versions, provides download statistics, ensures package integrity.
    • Security controls: Package signing, malware scanning, access controls for package maintainers, infrastructure security.

  • Name: doctrine/instantiator Library

    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A PHP library that provides functionality to instantiate PHP classes without invoking their constructors.
    • Responsibilities: Provides a reliable and secure mechanism for constructor-less instantiation, maintains code quality, addresses reported issues, releases new versions, ensures compatibility.
    • Security controls: Secure coding practices, input validation (of class names), static analysis, testing, potentially code signing of releases, vulnerability reporting process.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "PHP Runtime Environment"
        direction TB
        InstantiatorLib[/"Instantiator Library"/]
    end
    BuildSystem[/"Build System"/]
    PackagistRegistry[/"Packagist Package Registry"/]
    DeveloperMachine[/"Developer Machine"/]

    DeveloperMachine -->|Develops Code| InstantiatorLib
    DeveloperMachine -->|Builds & Tests| BuildSystem
    BuildSystem -->|Publishes Package| PackagistRegistry
    PHPAppContainer[/"PHP Application Container"/] -->|Downloads Package| PackagistRegistry
    PHPAppContainer -->|Uses Library| InstantiatorLib
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C4 Container Elements

  • Name: Instantiator Library

    • Type: Container - Library
    • Description: The core PHP library code that provides the functionality to instantiate classes without constructors. It's a set of PHP classes and functions.
    • Responsibilities: Provides the core instantiation logic, handles different PHP versions and instantiation methods, manages potential errors during instantiation.
    • Security controls: Input validation of class names, secure coding practices, static analysis, unit and integration testing.

  • Name: Build System

    • Type: Container - Automation
    • Description: An automated system (e.g., GitHub Actions) that builds, tests, and packages the library. It's responsible for CI/CD processes.
    • Responsibilities: Automates build process, runs tests, performs static analysis, packages the library for distribution, publishes releases to Packagist.
    • Security controls: Secure CI/CD pipeline configuration, access control to pipeline configuration and secrets, dependency scanning, SAST integration, build artifact integrity checks.

  • Name: Packagist Package Registry

    • Type: Container - Package Registry
    • Description: The Packagist package registry where the compiled and packaged library is stored and distributed.
    • Responsibilities: Stores and distributes the library package, manages versions, provides download access.
    • Security controls: Package signing, malware scanning, access controls, infrastructure security.

  • Name: Developer Machine

    • Type: Container - Development Environment
    • Description: The local development environment used by developers to write, test, and build the library.
    • Responsibilities: Code development, local testing, version control, contribution to the project.
    • Security controls: Secure development practices, code review, local security tools, secure access to development environment.

  • Name: PHP Application Container

    • Type: Container - Application Runtime
    • Description: The runtime environment where PHP applications that use the doctrine/instantiator library are executed. This could be a web server, CLI environment, etc.
    • Responsibilities: Executes PHP applications, loads and uses the doctrine/instantiator library, manages application dependencies.
    • Security controls: Secure application deployment, dependency management, runtime environment security, input validation in applications using the library.

DEPLOYMENT

The doctrine/instantiator library itself is not "deployed" in the traditional sense of applications. It's distributed as a package and then integrated into other PHP applications. Therefore, the deployment context is primarily about how applications that use this library are deployed.

For applications using doctrine/instantiator, typical PHP deployment environments include:

  • Shared Hosting: Less common for modern applications, but still exists. Deployment usually involves uploading files via FTP or control panels.
  • Virtual Private Servers (VPS): More control than shared hosting. Deployment often involves manual server configuration and file transfer (e.g., using SSH and rsync).
  • Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure): Highly scalable and automated. Deployment can use various services like EC2, Compute Engine, Azure VMs, container services (ECS, GKE, AKS), and serverless functions.
  • Containerized Environments (Docker, Kubernetes): Increasingly popular for modern applications. Deployment involves building Docker images and orchestrating containers using Kubernetes or similar platforms.

Let's focus on a Containerized Environment (Kubernetes) deployment as a representative modern approach.

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Kubernetes Cluster"
        direction TB
        Service[/"PHP Application Service"/]
        Pod[/"PHP Application Pod"/]
        Container[/"PHP Application Container"/]
    end
    Registry[/"Container Registry"/]
    LoadBalancer[/"Load Balancer"/]
    Internet[/"Internet"/]

    Internet --> LoadBalancer
    LoadBalancer --> Service
    Service --> Pod
    Pod --> Container
    Registry --> Pod
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Deployment Elements

  • Name: Internet

    • Type: Environment - Network
    • Description: The public internet, representing external users accessing the PHP application.
    • Responsibilities: Provides network connectivity for users to access the application.
    • Security controls: General internet security measures, DDoS protection at the infrastructure level.

  • Name: Load Balancer

    • Type: Infrastructure - Network Component
    • Description: Distributes incoming traffic across multiple instances of the PHP application for scalability and availability.
    • Responsibilities: Load balancing, traffic routing, SSL termination, basic security filtering.
    • Security controls: SSL/TLS encryption, rate limiting, web application firewall (WAF) integration, access logs.

  • Name: PHP Application Service

    • Type: Kubernetes - Service
    • Description: A Kubernetes Service that exposes the PHP application pods within the cluster.
    • Responsibilities: Service discovery, load balancing within the cluster, abstracting underlying pods.
    • Security controls: Network policies to control traffic flow, service account management, RBAC for access control.

  • Name: PHP Application Pod

    • Type: Kubernetes - Pod
    • Description: A Kubernetes Pod that encapsulates one or more containers running the PHP application.
    • Responsibilities: Running the application containers, managing container lifecycle within the pod.
    • Security controls: Pod security policies/Pod security admission, resource limits, security context settings, network policies.

  • Name: PHP Application Container

    • Type: Container - Application Runtime
    • Description: A Docker container running the PHP application that uses the doctrine/instantiator library.
    • Responsibilities: Executing the PHP application code, using the doctrine/instantiator library, handling requests.
    • Security controls: Container image security scanning, least privilege user within the container, application-level security controls (authentication, authorization, input validation).

  • Name: Container Registry

    • Type: Infrastructure - Registry
    • Description: A container registry (e.g., Docker Hub, private registry) that stores and distributes Docker images for the PHP application.
    • Responsibilities: Storing container images, providing access control to images, ensuring image integrity.
    • Security controls: Access control to the registry, image scanning for vulnerabilities, content trust/image signing.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    Developer[/"Developer"/] -->|Code Changes, Commit| SourceCodeRepository[/"Source Code Repository (GitHub)"/]
    SourceCodeRepository -->|Webhook Trigger| CI[/"CI System (GitHub Actions)"/]
    CI -->|Build, Test, SAST, Package| BuildArtifacts[/"Build Artifacts (Package)"/]
    BuildArtifacts -->|Publish| PackageRegistry[/"Package Registry (Packagist)"/]
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Build Elements

  • Name: Developer

    • Type: Person
    • Description: A software developer contributing to the doctrine/instantiator project.
    • Responsibilities: Writes code, commits changes, creates pull requests, performs code reviews.
    • Security controls: Secure coding practices, code review process, access control to the source code repository.

  • Name: Source Code Repository (GitHub)

    • Type: System - Version Control
    • Description: GitHub repository hosting the source code of doctrine/instantiator.
    • Responsibilities: Version control, code storage, collaboration platform, pull request management.
    • Security controls: Access control (authentication and authorization), branch protection, audit logs, vulnerability scanning for repository settings.

  • Name: CI System (GitHub Actions)

    • Type: System - CI/CD
    • Description: GitHub Actions workflow configured to automatically build, test, and package the library upon code changes.
    • Responsibilities: Automated build process, running unit tests, performing static analysis, creating distributable packages, publishing releases.
    • Security controls: Secure workflow configuration, secret management, access control to workflow configuration and secrets, dependency scanning, SAST integration, build artifact integrity checks.

  • Name: Build Artifacts (Package)

    • Type: Data - Package
    • Description: The packaged library (e.g., a ZIP or PHAR archive) produced by the build system.
    • Responsibilities: Contains the compiled and packaged library code, ready for distribution.
    • Security controls: Integrity checks (checksums, signatures), secure storage during the build process.

  • Name: Package Registry (Packagist)

    • Type: System - Package Registry
    • Description: Packagist, the PHP package registry, where the built library package is published for distribution.
    • Responsibilities: Hosting and distributing the library package, managing versions, providing download access.
    • Security controls: Package signing, malware scanning, access controls for package maintainers, infrastructure security.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical business processes we are trying to protect indirectly are the functionalities of PHP applications that rely on doctrine/instantiator. If the library is compromised or has vulnerabilities, it could impact the integrity and security of these applications. Directly, we are protecting the integrity and availability of the doctrine/instantiator library itself, ensuring it remains a trustworthy component for the PHP ecosystem.

Data we are trying to protect:

  • Source code of doctrine/instantiator: Sensitivity - Public, but integrity is crucial. Modification by unauthorized parties or injection of malicious code would be a high-impact security incident.
  • Build artifacts (packages): Sensitivity - Public, but integrity is crucial. Compromised packages distributed to users would have a high impact.
  • Secrets used in the build process (e.g., Packagist API keys): Sensitivity - Confidential. Exposure could allow unauthorized package releases.

Sensitivity levels:

  • Source code: Publicly available, but integrity is critical.
  • Build artifacts: Publicly distributed, but integrity is critical.
  • Secrets: Confidential, high sensitivity.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:

  • What is the intended scope of security for this design document? Is it primarily focused on the library itself, or also on the applications that consume it? (Assumption: Primarily focused on the library and its build/distribution, with considerations for consumers).
  • Are there any specific compliance requirements or security standards that the doctrine/instantiator project needs to adhere to? (Assumption: No specific compliance requirements beyond general good security practices for open-source projects).
  • What is the expected threat model for this library? Who are the potential adversaries and what are their motivations? (Assumption: Potential adversaries could be malicious actors attempting to inject vulnerabilities into the library for supply chain attacks, or opportunistic attackers exploiting existing vulnerabilities).
  • Is there a dedicated security team or point of contact for security-related issues for this project? (Assumption: Likely relies on community contributions and maintainers for security).

Assumptions:

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The primary business goal is to provide a utility library for PHP developers. The main business risk is related to supply chain security and potential misuse of the library.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: Current security posture relies on standard open-source practices. Recommended security controls are focused on enhancing automated security checks and distribution integrity.
  • DESIGN: The library is distributed as a Composer package. The build process is automated using GitHub Actions. Deployment context is primarily about applications that use the library, with a focus on containerized deployments as a modern example.