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BUSINESS POSTURE

  • Business Priorities and Goals:

    • Goal: To provide a fast, flexible, and easy-to-use content management system (CMS) that is based on flat-files, eliminating the need for a database.
    • Priority: User experience for both content creators and website visitors, ease of installation and maintenance, extensibility through plugins and themes, performance and speed.
    • Priority: Community growth and adoption of Grav CMS as a preferred flat-file CMS solution.

  • Business Risks:

    • Risk: Data loss due to improper file system permissions or backups, as Grav relies on the file system for data storage.
    • Risk: Security vulnerabilities in plugins or themes developed by the community, potentially leading to website compromise.
    • Risk: Performance issues if not properly configured or if hosting infrastructure is inadequate, impacting user experience and SEO.
    • Risk: Difficulty in scaling for very large websites or high traffic volumes compared to database-driven CMS solutions.
    • Risk: Competition from other CMS platforms, both flat-file and database-driven, potentially limiting market share and adoption.

SECURITY POSTURE

  • Existing Security Controls:

    • security control: Regular security updates for the Grav core and official plugins, described in Grav documentation and release notes.
    • security control: User authentication and authorization for accessing the Grav Admin Panel, implemented within the Grav core.
    • security control: Input validation and sanitization to prevent common web vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL injection (although SQL injection is less relevant for a flat-file CMS), implemented within the Grav core and expected in plugins.
    • security control: Password hashing for user credentials, implemented within the Grav core.
    • security control: File system permissions recommendations in the Grav documentation to secure file storage.
    • security control: HTTPS support for secure communication between users and the website, dependent on server configuration.
    • accepted risk: Reliance on community-developed plugins and themes, which may have varying levels of security.
    • accepted risk: Flat-file nature might be perceived as less robust against certain types of attacks compared to database-backed systems, although this is not inherently true.

  • Recommended Security Controls:

    • security control: Implement automated security scanning (SAST/DAST) in the development and release pipeline for Grav core and official plugins.
    • security control: Provide security guidelines and best practices for plugin and theme developers to minimize vulnerabilities.
    • security control: Encourage and facilitate security audits of Grav core and popular plugins by independent security researchers.
    • security control: Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate XSS risks.
    • security control: Regularly review and update file system permission recommendations based on evolving security best practices.
    • security control: Implement rate limiting and brute-force protection for login attempts to the Admin Panel.

  • Security Requirements:

    • Authentication:
      • requirement: Secure authentication mechanism for Admin Panel access, using strong password policies and potentially multi-factor authentication.
      • requirement: Role-based access control (RBAC) to manage user permissions within the Admin Panel.
      • requirement: Secure session management to prevent session hijacking.
    • Authorization:
      • requirement: Granular authorization controls to manage access to different functionalities and content within the Admin Panel.
      • requirement: Principle of least privilege should be applied to user roles and permissions.
    • Input Validation:
      • requirement: Comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all user inputs, both in the Admin Panel and frontend forms.
      • requirement: Protection against common web vulnerabilities such as XSS, CSRF, and injection attacks.
    • Cryptography:
      • requirement: Secure storage of sensitive data, such as user passwords, using strong hashing algorithms.
      • requirement: Use of HTTPS for all communication to protect data in transit.
      • requirement: Consider encryption for sensitive data at rest if required by specific use cases or regulations.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Grav CMS Project"
        A["Grav CMS Website"]
    end
    B["Website Visitor"] -- "View Website Content (HTTP/HTTPS)" --> A
    C["Content Creator"] -- "Administer Website Content (HTTPS)" --> A
    D["Plugin/Theme Developer"] -- "Extend Functionality (File System, CLI)" --> A
    E["Web Server"] -- "Hosts & Serves Website (HTTP/HTTPS)" --> A
    F["File System"] -- "Stores Website Content & Configuration" --> A
    G["Email Server"] -- "Sends Notifications & Emails (SMTP)" --> A
    H["External Services (e.g., CDN, Analytics)"] -- "Integrations (HTTP/HTTPS)" --> A

    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Context Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Grav CMS Website
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: The Grav CMS application itself, responsible for managing and serving website content.
      • Responsibilities: Content management, website rendering, user authentication and authorization, plugin and theme management, configuration management.
      • Security controls: Input validation, authentication, authorization, session management, password hashing, security updates, CSP.
    • Element:
      • Name: Website Visitor
      • Type: Person
      • Description: End-users who browse the public-facing website.
      • Responsibilities: Viewing website content.
      • Security controls: None directly, relies on Grav CMS and Web Server security.
    • Element:
      • Name: Content Creator
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Users who create, edit, and manage website content through the Grav Admin Panel.
      • Responsibilities: Content creation and management, website administration.
      • Security controls: Authentication, authorization, access control to Admin Panel.
    • Element:
      • Name: Plugin/Theme Developer
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Developers who create plugins and themes to extend Grav CMS functionality and appearance.
      • Responsibilities: Developing and maintaining plugins and themes.
      • Security controls: Code review guidelines, security best practices documentation.
    • Element:
      • Name: Web Server
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) that hosts and serves the Grav CMS website.
      • Responsibilities: Handling HTTP/HTTPS requests, serving static files, executing PHP code.
      • Security controls: HTTPS configuration, web server hardening, access controls, firewall.
    • Element:
      • Name: File System
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: File system where Grav CMS files, content, and configuration are stored.
      • Responsibilities: Persistent storage of website data.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, access controls, backups, encryption at rest (optional).
    • Element:
      • Name: Email Server
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Email server used by Grav CMS to send notifications and emails (e.g., password reset, form submissions).
      • Responsibilities: Sending emails.
      • Security controls: SMTP authentication, secure connection to email server, email content sanitization.
    • Element:
      • Name: External Services (e.g., CDN, Analytics)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: External services integrated with Grav CMS for functionalities like content delivery network (CDN), website analytics, etc.
      • Responsibilities: Providing additional website functionalities.
      • Security controls: HTTPS communication, API key management, data privacy considerations for external services.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Grav CMS Website"
        A["Web Server Container (Nginx/Apache)"]
        B["PHP Interpreter Container (PHP-FPM)"]
        C["Grav Application Files"]
        D["Admin Panel (PHP)"]
        E["Website Frontend (PHP/Twig)"]
        F["Plugins & Themes (PHP/Twig/YAML)"]
        G["Configuration Files (YAML)"]
        H["Content Files (Markdown)"]
    end
    I["File System"] -- "Read/Write Files" --> C
    I -- "Read/Write Files" --> G
    I -- "Read/Write Files" --> H
    I -- "Read/Write Files" --> F
    A -- "Serve Static Files & Proxy PHP Requests" --> B
    B -- "Execute PHP Code" --> C
    B -- "Execute PHP Code" --> D
    B -- "Execute PHP Code" --> E
    B -- "Execute PHP Code" --> F
    B -- "Read Configuration" --> G
    B -- "Read Content" --> H
    D -- "Admin Interface (HTTP/HTTPS)" --> A
    E -- "Website Frontend (HTTP/HTTPS)" --> A

    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style F fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style G fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style H fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Container Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Web Server Container (Nginx/Apache)
      • Type: Container
      • Description: Web server software responsible for handling HTTP/HTTPS requests, serving static files, and proxying PHP requests.
      • Responsibilities: Web request handling, static file serving, reverse proxy for PHP.
      • Security controls: HTTPS configuration, web server hardening, access controls, rate limiting, firewall, security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: PHP Interpreter Container (PHP-FPM)
      • Type: Container
      • Description: PHP FastCGI Process Manager (PHP-FPM) responsible for executing PHP code for Grav CMS.
      • Responsibilities: PHP code execution, processing Grav CMS logic.
      • Security controls: PHP configuration hardening (disable dangerous functions, limit resource usage), security updates, process isolation.
    • Element:
      • Name: Grav Application Files
      • Type: Container (File System Directory)
      • Description: Core Grav CMS application files, including PHP scripts, libraries, and assets.
      • Responsibilities: Core CMS functionality.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, regular security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: Admin Panel (PHP)
      • Type: Container (PHP Application)
      • Description: PHP application providing the administrative interface for managing Grav CMS.
      • Responsibilities: Content management, user management, configuration management, plugin/theme management.
      • Security controls: Authentication, authorization, input validation, session management, CSRF protection, security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: Website Frontend (PHP/Twig)
      • Type: Container (PHP Application)
      • Description: PHP application and Twig templates responsible for rendering the public-facing website.
      • Responsibilities: Displaying website content to visitors.
      • Security controls: Input validation (especially for user-generated content), output encoding, CSP, security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: Plugins & Themes (PHP/Twig/YAML)
      • Type: Container (File System Directory)
      • Description: Directory containing plugins and themes that extend Grav CMS functionality and appearance.
      • Responsibilities: Extending CMS features and customizing website design.
      • Security controls: Code review (for custom/internal plugins/themes), security updates for official plugins/themes, security guidelines for developers.
    • Element:
      • Name: Configuration Files (YAML)
      • Type: Container (File System Files)
      • Description: YAML files storing Grav CMS configuration settings.
      • Responsibilities: CMS configuration.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, secure storage of sensitive configuration (e.g., API keys).
    • Element:
      • Name: Content Files (Markdown)
      • Type: Container (File System Files)
      • Description: Markdown files storing website content.
      • Responsibilities: Website content storage.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, backups.
    • Element:
      • Name: File System
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Underlying file system where all Grav CMS files are stored.
      • Responsibilities: Persistent storage.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, access controls, backups, encryption at rest (optional).

DEPLOYMENT

Deployment Solution: Cloud VPS (Virtual Private Server)

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Cloud VPS"
        A["Operating System (Linux)"]
        B["Web Server (Nginx)"]
        C["PHP-FPM"]
        D["Grav CMS Files"]
    end
    E["Internet"] -- "HTTPS Requests" --> B
    B -- "Proxy PHP Requests" --> C
    C -- "Execute PHP Code" --> D
    D -- "Read/Write Files" --> A

    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Deployment Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Operating System (Linux)
      • Type: Infrastructure (Operating System)
      • Description: Linux operating system running on the VPS instance.
      • Responsibilities: Providing base operating system functionalities, resource management.
      • Security controls: OS hardening, security updates, firewall, access controls (SSH keys, user management).
    • Element:
      • Name: Web Server (Nginx)
      • Type: Software (Web Server)
      • Description: Nginx web server software installed on the VPS.
      • Responsibilities: Handling HTTP/HTTPS requests, serving static files, proxying PHP requests to PHP-FPM.
      • Security controls: HTTPS configuration, web server hardening, access controls, rate limiting, firewall, security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: PHP-FPM
      • Type: Software (PHP Processor)
      • Description: PHP-FPM (FastCGI Process Manager) installed on the VPS.
      • Responsibilities: Executing PHP code for Grav CMS.
      • Security controls: PHP configuration hardening, security updates, process isolation.
    • Element:
      • Name: Grav CMS Files
      • Type: Software (Application Files)
      • Description: Grav CMS application files deployed on the VPS file system.
      • Responsibilities: CMS application logic and data.
      • Security controls: File system permissions, regular backups, security updates.
    • Element:
      • Name: Internet
      • Type: Network
      • Description: Public internet network.
      • Responsibilities: Providing network connectivity for users to access the website.
      • Security controls: Rely on web server and network security configurations on the VPS.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    A["Developer"] -- "Code Changes (Git)" --> B["GitHub Repository"]
    B -- "Webhook Trigger" --> C["CI/CD Pipeline (GitHub Actions)"]
    C -- "Checkout Code" --> D["Build Environment"]
    C -- "Run Linters & SAST" --> D
    C -- "Run Composer Install" --> D
    C -- "Build Assets" --> D
    D -- "Create Build Artifacts (ZIP)" --> E["Artifact Storage (GitHub Actions Artifacts)"]
    E -- "Deployment Trigger" --> F["Deployment Process"]
    F -- "Deploy Artifacts" --> G["Target Environment (VPS)"]

    style A fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style F fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style G fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Build Process Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Developer
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Software developer making code changes to Grav CMS or plugins/themes.
      • Responsibilities: Writing and committing code.
      • Security controls: Secure development practices, code review, local development environment security.
    • Element:
      • Name: GitHub Repository
      • Type: Software (Version Control System)
      • Description: GitHub repository hosting the Grav CMS source code.
      • Responsibilities: Version control, code storage, collaboration.
      • Security controls: Access controls, branch protection, audit logs.
    • Element:
      • Name: CI/CD Pipeline (GitHub Actions)
      • Type: Software (Automation System)
      • Description: GitHub Actions workflow automating the build, test, and deployment process.
      • Responsibilities: Automated build, testing, and deployment.
      • Security controls: Secure pipeline configuration, access controls, secret management, vulnerability scanning of dependencies.
    • Element:
      • Name: Build Environment
      • Type: Infrastructure (Virtual Environment)
      • Description: Isolated environment where the build process is executed.
      • Responsibilities: Providing a consistent and secure build environment.
      • Security controls: Secure environment configuration, minimal tools installed, isolated from production.
    • Element:
      • Name: Run Linters & SAST
      • Type: Software (Security Tools)
      • Description: Static analysis security testing (SAST) tools and linters used to automatically check code for security vulnerabilities and code quality issues.
      • Responsibilities: Automated security and quality checks.
      • Security controls: Regularly updated tools, configured with relevant security rules.
    • Element:
      • Name: Run Composer Install
      • Type: Software (Dependency Management)
      • Description: Composer dependency manager used to install PHP dependencies.
      • Responsibilities: Dependency management.
      • Security controls: Dependency vulnerability scanning, using verified package sources, dependency lock files.
    • Element:
      • Name: Build Assets
      • Type: Software (Build Process)
      • Description: Process of compiling assets (e.g., CSS, JavaScript), optimizing images, etc.
      • Responsibilities: Asset optimization and preparation for deployment.
      • Security controls: Secure build tools, input validation for asset processing.
    • Element:
      • Name: Create Build Artifacts (ZIP)
      • Type: Software (Build Process)
      • Description: Packaging the built application into deployable artifacts (e.g., ZIP archive).
      • Responsibilities: Artifact creation for deployment.
      • Security controls: Integrity checks of artifacts, secure artifact storage.
    • Element:
      • Name: Artifact Storage (GitHub Actions Artifacts)
      • Type: Software (Storage System)
      • Description: Storage location for build artifacts within GitHub Actions.
      • Responsibilities: Secure storage of build artifacts.
      • Security controls: Access controls, secure storage configuration.
    • Element:
      • Name: Deployment Process
      • Type: Software (Automation System)
      • Description: Automated deployment process triggered by new artifacts.
      • Responsibilities: Automated deployment to target environments.
      • Security controls: Secure deployment scripts, access controls to target environments, deployment process auditing.
    • Element:
      • Name: Target Environment (VPS)
      • Type: Infrastructure (Server)
      • Description: Target VPS server where Grav CMS is deployed.
      • Responsibilities: Hosting the live Grav CMS website.
      • Security controls: OS hardening, web server hardening, application security controls (as described in other sections).

RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Critical Business Processes:

    • Process: Content creation and publishing - essential for website functionality and providing information to users.
    • Process: Website availability and performance - critical for user experience and SEO.
    • Process: User management and access control to the Admin Panel - necessary for maintaining website security and integrity.

  • Data to Protect and Sensitivity:

    • Data: Website content (Markdown files) - Sensitivity: Publicly available, but integrity and availability are important.
    • Data: Configuration files (YAML) - Sensitivity: Medium, may contain sensitive settings, but generally not highly confidential.
    • Data: User credentials (hashed passwords) - Sensitivity: High, confidentiality and integrity are critical.
    • Data: Plugin and theme code - Sensitivity: Medium, potential for vulnerabilities if compromised.
    • Data: System logs - Sensitivity: Low to Medium, can contain information useful for security monitoring and incident response.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

  • Questions:

    • What is the intended audience and purpose of the website built with Grav CMS? (e.g., blog, corporate website, e-commerce). This would help to refine business priorities and risk assessment.
    • What are the specific compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) if any? This would influence security requirements and controls.
    • What is the expected traffic volume and scalability requirements for the website? This would impact infrastructure and performance considerations.
    • Are there any specific integrations with other systems or services beyond those mentioned? This would expand the context diagram and security considerations.
    • What is the organization's risk appetite? This would help prioritize security controls and accepted risks.

  • Assumptions:

    • BUSINESS POSTURE: Assumed focus is on general website content management, not specific high-risk applications. Assumed priority is on ease of use and flexibility, with security as a secondary but important consideration.
    • SECURITY POSTURE: Assumed standard web security best practices are desired. Assumed reliance on community plugins and themes is a known and accepted risk. Assumed basic security controls are already in place or planned.
    • DESIGN: Assumed typical web hosting environment (VPS or similar). Assumed standard web server (Nginx/Apache) and PHP-FPM setup. Assumed basic CI/CD pipeline for build and deployment.