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BUSINESS POSTURE

Business Priorities and Goals:

The elasticsearch-php project aims to provide a community-driven, officially supported PHP client for Elasticsearch. This enables PHP developers to easily integrate with Elasticsearch for search and analytics capabilities within their applications. Key priorities include:

  • Providing a stable, reliable, and well-maintained client library.
  • Ensuring compatibility with various Elasticsearch versions.
  • Offering a user-friendly API that simplifies interaction with Elasticsearch.
  • Fostering a strong community around the client library.
  • Enabling efficient data indexing, searching, and analysis for PHP applications.

Business Risks:

  • Incompatibility with future Elasticsearch releases, breaking existing integrations.
  • Security vulnerabilities in the client library that could expose sensitive data or compromise applications.
  • Performance bottlenecks that limit the scalability of applications using the client.
  • Lack of community support and maintenance, leading to an outdated and unreliable client.
  • Bugs or errors in the client library that cause data loss or corruption.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:

  • security control: The project uses GitHub for version control and issue tracking, which provides some level of access control and auditability. (Described in GitHub repository)
  • security control: The project is open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, which can help identify and address security vulnerabilities. (Described in GitHub repository)
  • security control: The project includes unit and integration tests, which can help detect bugs and regressions that could lead to security issues. (Described in /tests directory)
  • security control: Composer is used for dependency management, allowing for tracking and updating of external libraries. (Described in composer.json)
  • security control: The client communicates with Elasticsearch, which itself has security features like authentication, authorization, and encryption. (Relies on Elasticsearch deployment configuration)

Accepted Risks:

  • accepted risk: The client library relies on the security configuration of the Elasticsearch cluster it connects to. Misconfiguration of Elasticsearch could expose data.
  • accepted risk: The client library may have undiscovered vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
  • accepted risk: Dependencies on external libraries could introduce vulnerabilities.

Recommended Security Controls:

  • security control: Implement static code analysis (SAST) to identify potential vulnerabilities during development.
  • security control: Implement dynamic application security testing (DAST) to test the running client for vulnerabilities.
  • security control: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing.
  • security control: Establish a clear vulnerability disclosure and response process.
  • security control: Provide security documentation and guidance for users of the client library.
  • security control: Implement Software Composition Analysis (SCA) to identify and manage vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies.

Security Requirements:

  • Authentication:

    • The client should support various authentication mechanisms provided by Elasticsearch, such as API keys, basic authentication, and token-based authentication.
    • Sensitive credentials should be handled securely and not exposed in logs or error messages.

  • Authorization:

    • The client should respect the authorization rules configured in Elasticsearch.
    • The client should not attempt to bypass or circumvent Elasticsearch's security mechanisms.

  • Input Validation:

    • The client should validate all user-provided input to prevent injection attacks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or Elasticsearch query injection.
    • The client should sanitize data before sending it to Elasticsearch.

  • Cryptography:

    • The client should use secure communication protocols (HTTPS) to encrypt data in transit.
    • The client should support encryption at rest if required by the Elasticsearch cluster configuration.
    • Cryptographic keys and certificates should be managed securely.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

graph LR
    User["PHP Application"] -- "Uses" --> ElasticsearchPHPClient["Elasticsearch PHP Client"]
    ElasticsearchPHPClient -- "Communicates with" --> ElasticsearchCluster["Elasticsearch Cluster"]
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Element Descriptions:

  • Element 1:

    • Name: PHP Application
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A PHP application that utilizes the Elasticsearch PHP Client to interact with Elasticsearch.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Sending requests to Elasticsearch via the client library.
      • Processing responses from Elasticsearch.
      • Handling user interactions and data.
    • Security controls:
      • Input validation.
      • Output encoding.
      • Authentication and authorization mechanisms.

  • Element 2:

    • Name: Elasticsearch PHP Client
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The official PHP client library for Elasticsearch.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Providing an API for interacting with Elasticsearch.
      • Handling communication with the Elasticsearch cluster.
      • Serializing and deserializing data.
    • Security controls:
      • Secure communication (HTTPS).
      • Support for Elasticsearch authentication mechanisms.

  • Element 3:

    • Name: Elasticsearch Cluster
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A cluster of Elasticsearch nodes that store and manage data.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Storing and indexing data.
      • Handling search and aggregation requests.
      • Providing data management and analysis capabilities.
    • Security controls:
      • Authentication and authorization.
      • Encryption in transit and at rest.
      • Access control and auditing.

C4 CONTAINER

graph LR
    User["PHP Application"] -- "Uses" --> Client["Client"]
    Client -- "Uses" --> Transport["Transport"]
    Transport -- "Uses" --> ConnectionPool["Connection Pool"]
    ConnectionPool -- "Uses" --> Connection["Connection"]
    Connection -- "HTTP Requests" --> ElasticsearchCluster["Elasticsearch Cluster"]
    Client -- "Uses" --> Serializer["Serializer"]
    Client -- "Uses" --> Endpoint["Endpoint"]
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Element Descriptions:

  • Element 1:

    • Name: Client
    • Type: Container
    • Description: The main entry point for interacting with Elasticsearch. Provides a high-level API for common operations.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Managing the connection to Elasticsearch.
      • Providing methods for indexing, searching, and managing data.
      • Handling errors and retries.
    • Security controls:
      • Uses secure transport.
      • Supports authentication mechanisms.

  • Element 2:

    • Name: Transport
    • Type: Container
    • Description: Handles the communication with the Elasticsearch cluster.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Sending requests to Elasticsearch.
      • Receiving responses from Elasticsearch.
      • Managing connections and retries.
    • Security controls:
      • Uses secure communication protocols (HTTPS).

  • Element 3:

    • Name: Connection Pool
    • Type: Container
    • Description: Manages a pool of connections to Elasticsearch nodes.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Selecting the appropriate connection for a request.
      • Handling connection failures and retries.
    • Security controls:
      • Monitors connection health.

  • Element 4:

    • Name: Connection
    • Type: Container
    • Description: Represents a single connection to an Elasticsearch node.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Sending HTTP requests to Elasticsearch.
      • Receiving HTTP responses from Elasticsearch.
    • Security controls:
      • Uses secure communication protocols (HTTPS).

  • Element 5:

    • Name: Elasticsearch Cluster
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A cluster of Elasticsearch nodes.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Storing and indexing data.
      • Handling search and aggregation requests.
    • Security controls:
      • Authentication and authorization.
      • Encryption in transit and at rest.

  • Element 6:

    • Name: Serializer
    • Type: Container
    • Description: Handles the serialization and deserialization of data between PHP objects and JSON.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Converting PHP objects to JSON for sending to Elasticsearch.
      • Converting JSON responses from Elasticsearch to PHP objects.
    • Security controls:
      • Uses a secure JSON library.

  • Element 7:

    • Name: Endpoint
    • Type: Container
    • Description: Represents a specific Elasticsearch API endpoint.
    • Responsibilities:
      • Defining the request format for a specific API endpoint.
      • Validating request parameters.
    • Security controls:
      • Input validation.

DEPLOYMENT

Possible deployment solutions:

  1. Traditional LAMP/LEMP stack: PHP application and Elasticsearch client deployed on a server running Apache/Nginx, MySQL, and PHP.
  2. Dockerized deployment: PHP application, Elasticsearch client, and Elasticsearch cluster deployed as Docker containers.
  3. Cloud-based deployment: PHP application and Elasticsearch client deployed on a cloud platform like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, using managed services for Elasticsearch (e.g., Amazon OpenSearch Service).

Chosen deployment solution (Dockerized deployment):

graph LR
    Developer["Developer"] -- "Commits code" --> Git["Git Repository"]
    Git -- "Triggers build" --> CI["CI/CD Pipeline"]
    CI -- "Builds Docker image" --> DockerImage["Docker Image"]
    DockerImage -- "Pushed to" --> Registry["Docker Registry"]
    Registry -- "Pulled by" --> Orchestrator["Orchestrator (e.g., Kubernetes)"]
    Orchestrator -- "Deploys" --> PHPAppContainer["PHP Application Container"]
    Orchestrator -- "Deploys" --> ESContainer["Elasticsearch Container"]
    PHPAppContainer -- "Connects to" --> ESContainer
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Element Descriptions:

  • Element 1:

    • Name: Developer
    • Type: Person
    • Description: A developer working on the PHP application or the Elasticsearch client.
    • Responsibilities: Writing code, committing changes, and testing.
    • Security controls: Access controls to the Git repository.

  • Element 2:

    • Name: Git Repository
    • Type: System
    • Description: A version control system storing the code for the PHP application and the Elasticsearch client.
    • Responsibilities: Storing code, tracking changes, and managing versions.
    • Security controls: Access controls, audit logs.

  • Element 3:

    • Name: CI/CD Pipeline
    • Type: System
    • Description: An automated pipeline for building, testing, and deploying the application.
    • Responsibilities: Running tests, building Docker images, and pushing images to a registry.
    • Security controls: Secure access to the pipeline, vulnerability scanning.

  • Element 4:

    • Name: Docker Image
    • Type: Artifact
    • Description: A packaged version of the PHP application and the Elasticsearch client.
    • Responsibilities: Containing all necessary dependencies and configurations.
    • Security controls: Image signing, vulnerability scanning.

  • Element 5:

    • Name: Docker Registry
    • Type: System
    • Description: A repository for storing Docker images.
    • Responsibilities: Storing and distributing Docker images.
    • Security controls: Access controls, vulnerability scanning.

  • Element 6:

    • Name: Orchestrator (e.g., Kubernetes)
    • Type: System
    • Description: A system for managing and orchestrating containers.
    • Responsibilities: Deploying, scaling, and managing containers.
    • Security controls: Network policies, access controls, resource quotas.

  • Element 7:

    • Name: PHP Application Container
    • Type: Container
    • Description: A running instance of the PHP application and the Elasticsearch client.
    • Responsibilities: Handling requests, interacting with Elasticsearch.
    • Security controls: Network isolation, resource limits.

  • Element 8:

    • Name: Elasticsearch Container
    • Type: Container
    • Description: A running instance of Elasticsearch.
    • Responsibilities: Storing and managing data, handling search requests.
    • Security controls: Authentication, authorization, encryption.

BUILD

graph LR
    Developer["Developer"] -- "Commits code" --> Git["Git Repository"]
    Git -- "Webhook trigger" --> CI_Server["CI Server (e.g., GitHub Actions)"]
    CI_Server -- "Clone repository" --> Workspace["Workspace"]
    Workspace -- "Install dependencies (Composer)" --> Dependencies["Dependencies"]
    Dependencies -- "Run tests (PHPUnit)" --> TestResults["Test Results"]
    TestResults -- "If passed" --> BuildArtifact["Build Artifact (Composer Package)"]
    BuildArtifact -- "Publish to" --> PackageRepository["Package Repository (Packagist)"]
    PackageRepository -- "Available for" --> Application["Application Deployment"]
    Workspace -- "Run SAST" --> SAST_Results["SAST Results"]
    SAST_Results -- "Report" --> Security_Dashboard["Security Dashboard"]
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Build Process Description:

  1. A developer commits code changes to the Git repository.
  2. A webhook triggers the CI server (e.g., GitHub Actions).
  3. The CI server clones the repository into a workspace.
  4. Composer is used to install project dependencies.
  5. PHPUnit is used to run unit and integration tests.
  6. If the tests pass, a build artifact (Composer package) is created.
  7. The build artifact is published to a package repository (Packagist).
  8. SAST tools are executed to scan code for security vulnerabilities.
  9. SAST results are reported to a security dashboard.

Security Controls:

  • security control: Composer.lock file ensures consistent and reproducible builds, reducing the risk of dependency-related vulnerabilities.
  • security control: Automated testing (PHPUnit) helps identify bugs and regressions that could lead to security issues.
  • security control: SAST tools (e.g., Psalm, Phan) are integrated into the build process to detect potential vulnerabilities.
  • security control: The build process is automated, reducing the risk of manual errors and ensuring consistency.
  • security control: Build artifacts are published to a trusted package repository (Packagist).

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:

  • Data indexing: Ensuring that data is correctly and efficiently indexed in Elasticsearch.
  • Data searching: Providing accurate and fast search results to users.
  • Data analysis: Enabling users to perform complex analysis and aggregations on their data.
  • Application availability: Maintaining the uptime and responsiveness of applications that rely on Elasticsearch.

Data Sensitivity:

The sensitivity of the data handled by the Elasticsearch PHP client depends on the specific application and the data it stores in Elasticsearch. The data could range from:

  • Publicly available information (low sensitivity).
  • Internal business data (medium sensitivity).
  • Personally identifiable information (PII) or sensitive personal information (SPI) (high sensitivity).
  • Financial data or other highly regulated data (very high sensitivity).

The client itself doesn't inherently define data sensitivity; it's a conduit. The connected Elasticsearch cluster and the application using the client determine the sensitivity.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

Questions:

  • What specific versions of Elasticsearch are targeted for support?
  • What are the performance requirements for the client library?
  • What are the expected usage patterns (e.g., high-volume indexing, complex queries)?
  • Are there any specific security certifications or compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)?
  • What is the process for handling security vulnerabilities reported by the community?
  • What level of logging and monitoring is required for the client library?
  • Are there any plans to support asynchronous operations?

Assumptions:

  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The project prioritizes stability, reliability, and community support over rapid feature development.
  • BUSINESS POSTURE: The project aims to be compatible with a wide range of Elasticsearch versions.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: The Elasticsearch cluster is properly secured and configured.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: Developers using the client library are aware of basic security best practices.
  • DESIGN: The client library will be used in a variety of PHP applications and environments.
  • DESIGN: The primary use case is for synchronous operations.
  • DESIGN: The client will rely on Elasticsearch's built-in features for data security (encryption, access control).