Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
281 lines (241 loc) · 28.5 KB

sec-design-deep-analysis.md

File metadata and controls

281 lines (241 loc) · 28.5 KB

Deep Security Analysis of Drupal Application

1. Objective, Scope, and Methodology

Objective:

The objective of this deep security analysis is to thoroughly evaluate the security posture of a Drupal-based web application as outlined in the provided Security Design Review. This analysis aims to identify potential security vulnerabilities and risks associated with the Drupal platform, its architecture, deployment, and development lifecycle. The focus is on providing specific, actionable, and Drupal-tailored security recommendations to mitigate identified threats and enhance the overall security of the application.

Scope:

This analysis encompasses the following aspects of the Drupal application, as detailed in the Security Design Review:

  • Business Posture: Understanding business goals, priorities, and risks related to using Drupal.
  • Security Posture: Reviewing existing and recommended security controls, accepted risks, and security requirements.
  • Design (C4 Model): Analyzing the Context, Container, Deployment, and Build diagrams to understand the application architecture, components, and data flow.
  • Risk Assessment: Evaluating critical business processes and data sensitivity to prioritize security efforts.
  • Inferred Architecture and Components: Based on the provided diagrams and Drupal's nature, inferring key components like Drupal core, modules, themes, database, web server, and file storage.
  • Data Flow: Analyzing the flow of data between different components and external services.

This analysis will specifically focus on security considerations relevant to Drupal and will not extend to general web application security principles unless directly applicable to the Drupal context.

Methodology:

This deep security analysis will be conducted using the following methodology:

  1. Document Review: Thoroughly review the provided Security Design Review document, including business posture, security posture, design diagrams, and risk assessment.
  2. Architecture Inference: Based on the C4 diagrams and knowledge of Drupal architecture, infer the detailed architecture, components, and data flow of the application.
  3. Threat Modeling: Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities associated with each component and data flow, considering common Drupal security risks and general web application vulnerabilities.
  4. Security Implication Analysis: Analyze the security implications of each identified threat, considering the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
  5. Drupal-Specific Mitigation Strategy Development: For each identified security implication, develop actionable and Drupal-tailored mitigation strategies. These strategies will leverage Drupal's built-in security features, recommended modules, configuration best practices, and secure development practices.
  6. Prioritization: Prioritize mitigation strategies based on the severity of the risk and the business impact.
  7. Documentation: Document the findings, security implications, and mitigation strategies in a clear and structured manner.

2. Security Implications of Key Components

Based on the Security Design Review and understanding of Drupal architecture, the key components and their security implications are analyzed below:

A. Business Posture:

  • Content Creation and Management:
    • Security Implication: If content creation workflows are not properly secured, unauthorized users could create or modify content, leading to website defacement, misinformation, or injection of malicious scripts.
    • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's flexible permission system needs careful configuration. Overly permissive roles can grant unintended access.
  • Digital Experience Delivery:
    • Security Implication: Personalized experiences relying on user data require robust data protection measures. Compromised user data can lead to privacy breaches and reputational damage.
    • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's user profile system and modules handling personal data need to be secured against unauthorized access and data leaks.
  • Scalability and Performance:
    • Security Implication: Performance optimizations should not compromise security. Caching mechanisms, if not configured correctly, can expose sensitive data.
    • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's caching system (internal and external like CDN) needs to be configured to avoid caching sensitive user-specific content.
  • Extensibility and Flexibility (Modules and Integrations):
    • Security Implication: Third-party modules and integrations can introduce vulnerabilities if not properly vetted and maintained. Supply chain vulnerabilities are a significant risk.
    • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's module ecosystem, while powerful, requires careful module selection and regular security updates. Contributed modules may have varying security quality.
  • Community and Ecosystem:
    • Security Implication: Reliance on community security updates can introduce a delay in patching vulnerabilities.
    • Drupal Specific Implication: While Drupal's community is a strength, organizations must have a process to monitor Drupal security advisories and apply patches promptly.

B. Security Posture:

  • Existing Security Controls:

    • Drupal Core and Module Updates:
      • Security Implication: Failure to apply security updates promptly is a major vulnerability.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's update process needs to be streamlined and automated as much as possible. Organizations must subscribe to Drupal security advisories.
    • Robust Permission System:
      • Security Implication: Misconfigured permissions can lead to unauthorized access and privilege escalation.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal's RBAC system requires careful planning and implementation. Regular audits of user roles and permissions are necessary.
    • Secure Password Hashing and Storage:
      • Security Implication: Weak password hashing algorithms or improper storage can lead to password compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Drupal core provides secure password hashing. Ensure default settings are maintained and consider additional measures like password complexity policies.
    • Protection against XSS and SQL Injection:
      • Security Implication: Bypassing built-in protections can lead to these common web vulnerabilities.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: While Drupal core offers protection, developers must still follow secure coding practices, especially when writing custom modules or themes, and properly utilize Drupal's APIs for database queries and output rendering.
    • Security Advisories and Best Practices:
      • Security Implication: Ignoring security advisories and best practices increases vulnerability.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Organizations must actively monitor Drupal.org/security and implement recommended best practices.
    • Hosting Provider Security Controls:
      • Security Implication: Reliance solely on hosting provider security is insufficient. Application-level security is crucial.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Hosting provider controls are a baseline. Drupal-specific security measures (WAF, SIEM, etc.) are still required.

  • Accepted Risks:

    • Delay in Community Patches:
      • Security Implication: Window of vulnerability exists between vulnerability disclosure and patch application.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement proactive security measures like WAF and regular security scanning to mitigate risks during this window.
    • Security of Contributed Modules:
      • Security Implication: Vulnerabilities in contributed modules can compromise the entire site.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Thoroughly vet contributed modules before use, prioritize modules with active maintainers and security track records, and regularly update them. Consider using Drupal's Project Application Security Team (PAST) reviewed modules.
    • Misconfiguration:
      • Security Implication: Incorrect configuration can introduce vulnerabilities.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement configuration management, use security checklists, and conduct regular security audits to identify and rectify misconfigurations.
    • Third-Party Integrations:
      • Security Implication: Vulnerabilities in integrations or insecure integration practices can introduce risks.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Securely configure integrations, use HTTPS, validate data exchanged with external services, and regularly review and update integrations.

  • Recommended Security Controls:

    • WAF:
      • Security Implication: Lack of WAF increases exposure to common web attacks.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: WAF is highly recommended for Drupal sites to protect against attacks like SQL injection, XSS, and DDoS. Configure WAF rules tailored to Drupal's specific vulnerabilities.
    • Security Audits and Penetration Testing:
      • Security Implication: Without regular testing, vulnerabilities may remain undetected.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Regular security audits and penetration testing are crucial for Drupal sites, especially after major updates or module installations. Focus testing on Drupal-specific vulnerabilities and configurations.
    • SIEM:
      • Security Implication: Lack of security monitoring hinders incident detection and response.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: SIEM is important for monitoring Drupal logs, user activity, and security events. Configure SIEM to detect Drupal-specific attack patterns.
    • Strong Password Policies and MFA:
      • Security Implication: Weak passwords and lack of MFA increase the risk of account compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Enforce strong password policies and MFA, especially for administrative accounts. Drupal has modules to enhance password policies and implement MFA.
    • Backup and Disaster Recovery:
      • Security Implication: Data loss and prolonged downtime in case of security incidents or disasters.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement robust backup and DR plan for Drupal database, files, and configuration. Regularly test the recovery process.
    • Automated Security Scanning (SAST/DAST):
      • Security Implication: Manual code reviews alone may miss vulnerabilities.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Integrate SAST/DAST tools into the Drupal development pipeline to automatically detect vulnerabilities in code and during runtime. Tools should be configured to understand Drupal's architecture and common vulnerabilities.
    • CSP:
      • Security Implication: Increased risk of XSS attacks.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement CSP to mitigate XSS attacks. Drupal has modules to help configure and implement CSP headers.
    • Regular Module and Theme Updates:
      • Security Implication: Outdated modules and themes are a major source of vulnerabilities.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Establish a process for regularly reviewing and updating contributed modules and themes. Utilize Drupal's update manager and consider automated update tools.

  • Security Requirements:

    • Authentication, Authorization, Input Validation, Cryptography: These are fundamental security requirements for any web application, and Drupal is no exception. The security implications are standard web application security concerns (unauthorized access, data breaches, injection attacks, data exposure). Drupal provides mechanisms to address these requirements, but proper implementation and configuration are crucial.

C. Design (C4 Model):

  • Context Diagram:

    • Content Editors:
      • Security Implication: Compromised content editor accounts can lead to content manipulation and website defacement.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure authentication and authorization for content editors are paramount. MFA and strong password policies are essential.
    • Website Visitors:
      • Security Implication: Attacks targeting website visitors (e.g., XSS, drive-by downloads) can harm users and damage reputation.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Input validation, output encoding, CSP, and HTTPS are crucial to protect website visitors.
    • Drupal Website:
      • Security Implication: The core system is the central point of attack. Vulnerabilities here can have widespread impact.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Regular Drupal core updates, secure configuration, and robust security controls are vital.
    • Database Server:
      • Security Implication: Database compromise leads to data breaches and complete system compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure database configuration, access control, and encryption are essential. Follow Drupal's database security best practices.
    • External Services:
      • Security Implication: Compromised integrations or insecure communication can expose data or functionalities.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure API communication (HTTPS, API keys), input validation for data from external services, and regular review of integration security are necessary.

  • Container Diagram:

    • Web Server (Apache/Nginx):
      • Security Implication: Vulnerabilities in the web server can be exploited for system access.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Harden the web server, disable unnecessary modules, and keep it updated. Follow Drupal's recommended web server configurations.
    • Drupal Application (PHP):
      • Security Implication: Vulnerabilities in Drupal code are the primary target for attackers.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure Drupal coding practices, regular core and module updates, and vulnerability scanning are crucial.
    • Database (MySQL/PostgreSQL):
      • Security Implication: Database vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Harden the database server, restrict access, and use strong authentication. Follow Drupal's database security guidelines.
    • Files Storage:
      • Security Implication: Unauthorized access or malicious file uploads can compromise the system.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure file permissions, malware scanning for uploads, and proper configuration of file storage are important.

  • Deployment Diagram (Cloud IaaS):

    • Load Balancer:
      • Security Implication: Misconfigured load balancer can become a point of failure or attack.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure load balancer configuration, DDoS protection, and TLS termination are important.
    • Web Server Instances:
      • Security Implication: Compromised web servers can lead to application compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Harden OS and web server, implement IDS/IPS, and ensure regular security patching.
    • Application Server Instances:
      • Security Implication: Compromised application servers can lead to data breaches and system compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Harden OS and application server, implement IDS/IPS, application-level firewalls, and ensure regular security patching.
    • Database Instance (Managed Service):
      • Security Implication: Misconfigured database service can expose data.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Utilize cloud provider's security features, configure access control, and enable encryption at rest and in transit.
    • File Storage Service (Managed Service):
      • Security Implication: Insecure file storage can lead to data leaks or unauthorized access.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Utilize cloud provider's security features, configure access control lists, and enable encryption at rest.
    • CDN (Cloud Provider CDN):
      • Security Implication: Misconfigured CDN can expose cached sensitive data or be exploited for attacks.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure CDN configuration, HTTPS delivery, and proper cache control are important.

  • Build Diagram:

    • Version Control System (VCS - GitHub):
      • Security Implication: Compromised VCS can lead to code tampering and malicious code injection.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure VCS access control, branch protection, and audit logging are crucial.
    • CI/CD System (GitHub Actions/Jenkins):
      • Security Implication: Compromised CI/CD system can lead to supply chain attacks and deployment of vulnerable code.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure CI/CD pipeline configuration, secret management, and access control are vital.
    • Build Environment:
      • Security Implication: Vulnerabilities in build tools or environment can be exploited.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure build environment, vulnerability scanning of build tools, and access control are necessary.
    • SAST Scanner, Code Linter, Tests:
      • Security Implication: Ineffective security checks during build can allow vulnerabilities to reach production.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Integrate Drupal-aware SAST tools, enforce coding standards, and write comprehensive security-focused tests.
    • Artifact Repository:
      • Security Implication: Compromised artifact repository can lead to deployment of malicious artifacts.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure artifact repository access control, encryption at rest, and vulnerability scanning are important.

D. Risk Assessment:

  • Critical Business Processes:

    • Content Publishing and Management:
      • Security Implication: Disruption can impact marketing, communication, and website effectiveness.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Ensure high availability of Drupal CMS and secure content workflows.
    • Website Availability:
      • Security Implication: Downtime leads to revenue loss, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational damage.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement redundant infrastructure, DDoS protection, and robust incident response plan.
    • User Account Management:
      • Security Implication: Unauthorized access can compromise website integrity and data.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Secure user authentication and authorization, especially for administrative accounts.
    • Data Collection and Processing:
      • Security Implication: Data breaches can lead to legal liabilities, fines, and reputational damage.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement data protection measures, comply with relevant regulations (GDPR, etc.), and secure data storage and processing within Drupal.

  • Data Sensitivity:

    • Content Data: Sensitivity varies. Internal documentation is high sensitivity.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Implement access control based on content sensitivity.
    • User Data: Sensitive data requiring strong protection.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Encrypt user data at rest and in transit, comply with privacy regulations.
    • Configuration Data: Highly sensitive, compromise leads to full system compromise.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Securely store and manage configuration data, restrict access.
    • Log Data: Can contain sensitive information, important for security monitoring.
      • Drupal Specific Implication: Securely store and manage logs, implement log monitoring and analysis.

3. Actionable and Tailored Mitigation Strategies for Drupal

Based on the identified security implications, here are actionable and Drupal-tailored mitigation strategies:

A. Drupal Core and Module Management:

  • Mitigation Strategy 1: Implement Automated Drupal Core and Module Updates.
    • Action: Utilize tools like Drush or Drupal Console with cron jobs, or platform-as-a-service features that offer automated updates for Drupal core and contributed modules.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal's update system is well-defined. Automating this process reduces the window of vulnerability.
  • Mitigation Strategy 2: Subscribe to Drupal Security Advisories and Establish Patching Process.
    • Action: Subscribe to the Drupal Security Team's mailing list and monitor Drupal.org/security regularly. Establish a documented process for reviewing, testing, and applying security patches promptly (within days of release for critical vulnerabilities).
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal Security Team is proactive in disclosing and patching vulnerabilities. Staying informed is crucial.
  • Mitigation Strategy 3: Regularly Audit and Vet Contributed Modules.
    • Action: Before installing any contributed module, check its security history, maintainer activity, and community reviews. Prioritize modules reviewed by Drupal's Project Application Security Team (PAST). Regularly review installed modules and remove or replace those that are no longer maintained or have known vulnerabilities.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal's module ecosystem is vast. Careful module selection is essential.

B. Access Control and Authentication:

  • Mitigation Strategy 4: Enforce Strong Password Policies and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Administrative Accounts.
    • Action: Utilize Drupal modules like password_policy to enforce password complexity, expiration, and history. Implement MFA using modules like Two-factor Authentication (TFA) or integrate with external identity providers supporting MFA (e.g., using SAML or OAuth modules).
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal's user system is flexible. Modules enhance password security and MFA capabilities.
  • Mitigation Strategy 5: Implement Granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Principle of Least Privilege.
    • Action: Carefully define Drupal roles and permissions based on job functions. Grant users only the necessary permissions to perform their tasks. Regularly review and audit user roles and permissions. Utilize Drupal's built-in permission system and consider modules like Content Access for more granular content access control.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal's RBAC is powerful but requires careful configuration to be effective.
  • Mitigation Strategy 6: Secure Authentication Methods and Session Management.
    • Action: Enforce HTTPS for all administrative and user sessions. Configure secure session settings in Drupal (e.g., session timeout, secure and HTTP-only cookies). Consider integrating with external identity providers (LDAP, SAML, OAuth) for centralized authentication and stronger security.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal supports various authentication methods. Secure session management is crucial for preventing session hijacking.

C. Input Validation and Output Encoding:

  • Mitigation Strategy 7: Implement Robust Input Validation and Sanitization.
    • Action: Validate all user inputs on both client-side and server-side. Use Drupal's Form API for form handling, which provides built-in validation mechanisms. Sanitize user-generated content before storing it in the database and displaying it on the website using Drupal's rendering and sanitization APIs (e.g., \Drupal\Component\Utility\Xss::filterAdmin, \Drupal\Component\Utility\Html::escape).
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal's Form API and rendering system provide tools for input validation and output encoding. Developers must utilize these correctly.
  • Mitigation Strategy 8: Implement Content Security Policy (CSP).
    • Action: Configure and implement CSP headers to mitigate XSS attacks. Utilize Drupal modules like Security Kit or Content Security Policy (CSP) to simplify CSP header management. Start with a restrictive CSP policy and gradually refine it based on application needs.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal modules facilitate CSP implementation. CSP is a strong defense against XSS.

D. Infrastructure and Deployment Security:

  • Mitigation Strategy 9: Harden Web Server and Application Server Instances.
    • Action: Follow security hardening guidelines for the chosen operating system (Linux) and web server (Apache/Nginx). Disable unnecessary services, configure firewalls, and regularly apply OS and web server security patches.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal runs on standard web server infrastructure. General server hardening practices apply.
  • Mitigation Strategy 10: Secure Database Server and File Storage.
    • Action: Harden the database server, restrict access to the database, use strong database user authentication, and enable encryption at rest and in transit for database connections. Secure file system permissions for Drupal's files directory and implement malware scanning for uploaded files. Utilize cloud provider's managed database and file storage security features.
    • Drupal Specific: Drupal relies on a database and file storage. Securing these backend components is critical.
  • Mitigation Strategy 11: Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF).
    • Action: Deploy a WAF in front of the Drupal website to protect against common web attacks like SQL injection, XSS, and DDoS. Configure WAF rules tailored to Drupal's specific vulnerabilities and attack patterns. Regularly update WAF rules.
    • Drupal Specific: WAF provides an extra layer of defense for Drupal sites.
  • Mitigation Strategy 12: Implement Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Monitoring.
    • Action: Deploy a SIEM system to collect and analyze security logs from Drupal, web servers, databases, and other infrastructure components. Configure alerts for suspicious activities and security events. Implement regular security monitoring and incident response procedures.
    • Drupal Specific: SIEM helps detect and respond to security incidents in Drupal environments.

E. Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Build Process:

  • Mitigation Strategy 13: Integrate Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) into CI/CD Pipeline.
    • Action: Integrate SAST tools to scan Drupal code for vulnerabilities during the build process. Integrate DAST tools to scan the running Drupal application for vulnerabilities in staging and production environments. Configure these tools to understand Drupal's architecture and common vulnerabilities.
    • Drupal Specific: SAST/DAST tools help identify vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle.
  • Mitigation Strategy 14: Conduct Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing.
    • Action: Conduct periodic security audits and penetration testing by qualified security professionals to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the Drupal application and infrastructure. Focus testing on Drupal-specific vulnerabilities and configurations. Remediate identified vulnerabilities promptly.
    • Drupal Specific: Professional security assessments are crucial for Drupal sites, especially before major releases or after significant changes.
  • Mitigation Strategy 15: Secure Code Repository and CI/CD Pipeline.
    • Action: Secure access to the code repository (VCS) and CI/CD system using strong authentication and authorization. Implement branch protection in VCS. Securely manage secrets (API keys, database credentials) used in the CI/CD pipeline using dedicated secret management tools. Regularly audit CI/CD pipeline configurations.
    • Drupal Specific: Securing the development pipeline prevents supply chain attacks and ensures code integrity.

By implementing these Drupal-specific mitigation strategies, the organization can significantly enhance the security posture of their Drupal application and mitigate the identified threats and risks. These recommendations are tailored to the Drupal platform and aim to leverage its built-in security features and best practices. Remember to prioritize these strategies based on risk assessment and business impact.