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BUSINESS POSTURE

  • Business priorities and goals:
  • Provide a flexible and user-friendly open-source Content Management System (CMS).
  • Enable users to build and manage websites and online applications of various types and sizes.
  • Maintain a large and active community of users and developers.
  • Ensure the platform is extensible and adaptable to evolving web technologies and user needs.
  • Offer a stable, reliable, and secure platform for website operation.
  • Most important business risks:
  • Security vulnerabilities in the CMS core or extensions leading to website compromise, data breaches, or reputational damage.
  • Availability issues due to software bugs, infrastructure problems, or security attacks, impacting website accessibility and business operations.
  • Data integrity concerns arising from software defects, unauthorized access, or malicious activities, potentially leading to data loss or corruption.
  • Community fragmentation or decline in contributions, hindering the project's long-term viability and innovation.
  • Compatibility issues with new technologies or changing web standards, making the CMS outdated or less competitive.

SECURITY POSTURE

  • Existing security controls:
  • security control: Regular security releases and patches for the CMS core. (Described in Joomla Security Center and release notes)
  • security control: Extension security checks and vulnerability reporting mechanisms. (Joomla Extensions Directory and community forums)
  • security control: Input validation and sanitization within the CMS core to prevent common web vulnerabilities. (Codebase and security guidelines)
  • security control: Access control mechanisms for user roles and permissions within the CMS administration panel. (Joomla documentation and codebase)
  • security control: Use of prepared statements and database abstraction layers to mitigate SQL injection risks. (Codebase and development best practices)
  • security control: Security-focused development practices within the core development team. (Implied by the project's maturity and security record)
  • accepted risk: Reliance on community-developed extensions, which may have varying levels of security. (Acknowledged in Joomla documentation and extension ecosystem)
  • accepted risk: Potential for misconfiguration by users leading to security vulnerabilities. (Addressed through documentation and best practices guides)
  • accepted risk: Vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and components used by Joomla. (Addressed through dependency management and updates)
  • Recommended security controls:
  • security control: Automated security scanning (SAST/DAST) integrated into the development and release pipeline.
  • security control: Regular penetration testing by external security experts.
  • security control: Security awareness training for core developers and extension developers.
  • security control: Implement a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system for monitoring and alerting on security events in deployed Joomla instances (for joomla.org infrastructure).
  • security control: Enhance input validation and output encoding across the entire CMS, including extensions API.
  • Security requirements:
  • Authentication:
  • Requirement: Secure authentication mechanism for administrative users to prevent unauthorized access to CMS backend.
  • Requirement: Option for multi-factor authentication for administrative users.
  • Requirement: Secure password storage using strong hashing algorithms.
  • Authorization:
  • Requirement: Role-based access control (RBAC) to manage user permissions and restrict access to CMS functionalities based on roles.
  • Requirement: Granular permission management for different areas of the CMS and extensions.
  • Requirement: Principle of least privilege applied to user roles and system processes.
  • Input validation:
  • Requirement: Comprehensive input validation for all user-supplied data to prevent injection attacks (SQL injection, XSS, etc.).
  • Requirement: Server-side validation as primary defense, with client-side validation for user experience.
  • Requirement: Validation applied at all layers of the application, including API endpoints and database interactions.
  • Cryptography:
  • Requirement: Use of strong encryption algorithms for sensitive data at rest and in transit (e.g., passwords, user data, session tokens).
  • Requirement: Secure key management practices for cryptographic keys.
  • Requirement: HTTPS enforced for all communication between users and the CMS.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Joomla Ecosystem"
        center "Joomla CMS"
    end
    u["Website Visitors"]:::user -- "View Website Content" --> center
    a["Administrators"]:::user -- "Manage Website Content & Configuration" --> center
    d["Developers"]:::user -- "Extend & Customize Joomla" --> center
    e["Extension Repository"] -- "Download & Install Extensions" --> center
    db["Database Server"] -- "Store Website Data" --> center
    ws["Web Server"] -- "Serve Website Content" --> center

    classDef user fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Context Diagram Elements:
    • Name: Joomla CMS
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: The Joomla Content Management System, an open-source platform for building and managing websites and online applications.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Content management and publishing.
    • User management and access control.
    • Website presentation and templating.
    • Extension management and integration.
    • Core system functionality and security.
    • Security controls:
    • Input validation and sanitization.
    • Authentication and authorization mechanisms.
    • Security updates and patching process.
    • Secure coding practices in core development.
    • Name: Website Visitors
    • Type: User
    • Description: End-users who access and interact with websites built using Joomla.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Consume website content.
    • Interact with website features (e.g., forms, comments).
    • Security controls:
    • Browser security features.
    • HTTPS connection to the website.
    • Name: Administrators
    • Type: User
    • Description: Users who manage and configure Joomla websites through the administrative backend.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Content creation and management.
    • User and access control management.
    • System configuration and maintenance.
    • Extension installation and management.
    • Security controls:
    • Strong password policy.
    • Multi-factor authentication (optional).
    • Role-based access control within Joomla.
    • Name: Developers
    • Type: User
    • Description: Software developers who create extensions, templates, and customize Joomla installations.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Develop and maintain Joomla extensions and templates.
    • Contribute to Joomla core development.
    • Customize Joomla websites for specific needs.
    • Security controls:
    • Secure coding practices.
    • Code review processes (for core contributions and extensions).
    • Name: Extension Repository
    • Type: Software System
    • Description: A central repository for Joomla extensions, providing a platform for users to discover, download, and install extensions.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Hosting and distributing Joomla extensions.
    • Providing information and ratings for extensions.
    • Security controls:
    • Extension vetting process (to some extent).
    • User reviews and community feedback.
    • Name: Database Server
    • Type: Infrastructure System
    • Description: A database server (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) used by Joomla to store website data, including content, user information, and configuration settings.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Data storage and retrieval.
    • Data integrity and consistency.
    • Database security and access control.
    • Security controls:
    • Database access control lists (ACLs).
    • Database hardening and security configurations.
    • Data encryption at rest (optional, depending on infrastructure).
    • Name: Web Server
    • Type: Infrastructure System
    • Description: A web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) that hosts the Joomla application and serves website content to users.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Handling HTTP requests and responses.
    • Serving static and dynamic website content.
    • Web server security and performance.
    • Security controls:
    • Web server security configurations (e.g., disabling unnecessary modules, setting proper permissions).
    • HTTPS configuration and certificate management.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF) (optional, depending on deployment).

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Joomla Ecosystem"
        subgraph "Joomla CMS Container"
            webapp["Web Application"]
        end
    end
    u["Website Visitors"]:::user -- "HTTP Requests" --> ws["Web Server"]
    a["Administrators"]:::user -- "HTTP Requests (Admin Panel)" --> ws
    d["Developers"]:::user -- "Develop Extensions/Templates" --> webapp
    e["Extension Repository"] -- "Download Extensions" --> webapp
    ws -- "Serve Web Pages" --> webapp
    webapp -- "Database Queries" --> db["Database Server"]
    ws -- "Static Content, PHP Processing" --> webapp

    classDef user fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Container Diagram Elements:
    • Name: Web Application
    • Type: Software Container
    • Description: The Joomla PHP web application, containing the core CMS logic, extensions, templates, and business logic.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Handling user requests and application logic.
    • Content management and rendering.
    • User authentication and authorization.
    • Extension management and execution.
    • Database interaction.
    • Security controls:
    • Input validation and sanitization within the application code.
    • Secure session management.
    • Access control mechanisms within the application.
    • Vulnerability scanning of application code and dependencies.
    • Name: Web Server
    • Type: Infrastructure Container
    • Description: The web server (e.g., Apache or Nginx) responsible for serving the Joomla web application and handling HTTP requests.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Accepting HTTP requests from users.
    • Serving static files (images, CSS, JavaScript).
    • Forwarding dynamic requests to the Joomla web application (PHP processing).
    • Handling HTTPS connections.
    • Security controls:
    • Web server configuration hardening.
    • HTTPS configuration and TLS/SSL certificate management.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF) integration (optional).
    • Rate limiting and request filtering.
    • Name: Database Server
    • Type: Infrastructure Container
    • Description: The database server (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) used to store Joomla's data.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Storing and managing website data (content, users, configuration).
    • Providing data persistence and retrieval.
    • Ensuring data integrity and availability.
    • Security controls:
    • Database access control and user permissions.
    • Database server hardening and security configurations.
    • Data encryption at rest (optional).
    • Regular database backups.
    • Name: Browser
    • Type: Client Container
    • Description: Web browsers used by website visitors and administrators to access Joomla websites.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Rendering web pages and executing client-side scripts (JavaScript).
    • Handling user interactions.
    • Communicating with the web server via HTTP/HTTPS.
    • Security controls:
    • Browser security features (e.g., Content Security Policy, XSS protection).
    • User awareness of browser security settings and safe browsing practices.
    • HTTPS connection indicators.
    • Name: Extension Repository
    • Type: Software Container
    • Description: The online repository for Joomla extensions.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Hosting and distributing Joomla extensions.
    • Providing metadata and information about extensions.
    • Facilitating extension discovery and download.
    • Security controls:
    • Extension vetting processes (basic checks).
    • User ratings and reviews.
    • HTTPS for download and access.

DEPLOYMENT

  • Deployment Architecture Options:

  • Option 1: Traditional shared hosting environment.

  • Option 2: Virtual Private Server (VPS) or dedicated server.

  • Option 3: Cloud-based infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) using virtual machines or containers.

  • Option 4: Containerized deployment using Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.

  • Detailed Deployment Architecture (Option 3: Cloud-based VPS):

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Cloud Environment (e.g., AWS VPC)"
        subgraph "Availability Zone 1"
            vps1["Virtual Private Server 1"]
        end
        subgraph "Availability Zone 2"
            vps2["Virtual Private Server 2"]
        end
        lb["Load Balancer"]
        db_server["Database Server (RDS/Managed)"]
    end
    internet["Internet"] -- "HTTPS Requests" --> lb
    lb -- "HTTP Requests" --> vps1
    lb -- "HTTP Requests" --> vps2
    vps1 -- "Database Queries" --> db_server
    vps2 -- "Database Queries" --> db_server
    vps1 -- "Joomla Application, Web Server" -->|Runs on| vps1
    vps2 -- "Joomla Application, Web Server" -->|Runs on| vps2
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  • Deployment Diagram Elements:
    • Name: Virtual Private Server 1 & 2 (VPS1, VPS2)
    • Type: Compute Instance
    • Description: Virtual machines in a cloud environment (e.g., AWS EC2 instances) hosting the Joomla application and web server. Deployed in multiple availability zones for redundancy.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Running the Joomla web application and web server.
    • Processing HTTP requests.
    • Interacting with the database server.
    • Security controls:
    • Operating system hardening and security patching.
    • Instance-level firewalls (security groups).
    • Access control to the VPS instances (SSH keys, IAM roles).
    • Name: Load Balancer (LB)
    • Type: Network Service
    • Description: A load balancer distributing incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic across multiple VPS instances for high availability and scalability.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Distributing traffic across backend servers.
    • Health checks for backend instances.
    • SSL termination (optional).
    • Security controls:
    • DDoS protection.
    • SSL/TLS configuration.
    • Access control policies.
    • Name: Database Server (RDS/Managed)
    • Type: Managed Database Service
    • Description: A managed database service (e.g., AWS RDS, Azure Database for MySQL) providing a scalable and highly available database for Joomla.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Database hosting and management.
    • Automated backups and recovery.
    • Scalability and performance.
    • Security controls:
    • Database access control lists (ACLs).
    • Data encryption at rest and in transit.
    • Automated security patching and updates.
    • Name: Internet
    • Type: Network
    • Description: The public internet through which users access the Joomla website.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Public network connectivity.
    • Security controls:
    • No direct security controls from the Joomla deployment perspective, rely on perimeter security and application-level security.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    dev["Developer"] -- "Code Changes, Commits" --> github["GitHub Repository"]
    github -- "Webhook, Trigger" --> ci["CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)"]
    ci -- "Build, Test, Scan" --> build_artifacts["Build Artifacts (e.g., ZIP, Packages)"]
    build_artifacts -- "Publish, Store" --> release_repo["Release Repository (e.g., joomla.org downloads)"]
    release_repo -- "Download" --> user["User/Administrator"]

    subgraph "CI/CD System"
        style ci fill:#ccf
        build_step["Build Step"]
        test_step["Test Step (Unit, Integration)"]
        scan_step["Security Scan (SAST, Dependency Check)"]
        build_step --> test_step
        test_step --> scan_step
        ci --> build_step
    end
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  • Build Process Elements:
    • Name: Developer
    • Type: Human Actor
    • Description: Joomla core developers and extension developers who write and contribute code.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Writing and committing code changes.
    • Performing local testing.
    • Participating in code reviews.
    • Security controls:
    • Secure development practices training.
    • Code review process.
    • Access control to development environments.
    • Name: GitHub Repository
    • Type: Version Control System
    • Description: The central repository for Joomla source code, hosted on GitHub.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Source code management and versioning.
    • Collaboration platform for developers.
    • Tracking code changes and history.
    • Security controls:
    • Access control to the repository (branch permissions, user roles).
    • Audit logging of code changes.
    • Branch protection rules.
    • Name: CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)
    • Type: Automation System
    • Description: An automated CI/CD pipeline that builds, tests, and packages Joomla releases.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Automated build process.
    • Running unit and integration tests.
    • Performing security scans (SAST, dependency checks).
    • Creating build artifacts (release packages).
    • Security controls:
    • Secure CI/CD pipeline configuration.
    • Secrets management for credentials and API keys.
    • Automated security scanning tools integration.
    • Access control to the CI/CD system.
    • Name: Build Artifacts (e.g., ZIP, Packages)
    • Type: Software Artifacts
    • Description: The packaged releases of Joomla, ready for distribution and deployment.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Distribution of Joomla releases.
    • Providing stable and tested versions of Joomla.
    • Security controls:
    • Digital signatures for release packages (to verify integrity).
    • Secure storage of build artifacts.
    • Name: Release Repository (e.g., joomla.org downloads)
    • Type: Distribution System
    • Description: The official Joomla website or download server where users can download Joomla releases.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Hosting and distributing Joomla releases.
    • Providing download links and release information.
    • Security controls:
    • Secure hosting infrastructure.
    • HTTPS for downloads.
    • Integrity checks for downloaded packages (e.g., checksums).
    • Name: User/Administrator
    • Type: Human Actor
    • Description: Joomla users and administrators who download and install Joomla releases.
    • Responsibilities:
    • Downloading and installing Joomla.
    • Deploying and configuring Joomla websites.
    • Security controls:
    • Verifying download integrity (checksums).
    • Following secure installation and configuration guidelines.

RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Critical business processes we are trying to protect:
  • Website availability and accessibility for end-users.
  • Content management and publishing workflows for administrators.
  • Data integrity and confidentiality of website content and user data.
  • Reputation and trust in the Joomla platform.
  • Security of the Joomla infrastructure (joomla.org and related services).
  • Data we are trying to protect and their sensitivity:
  • Website content (text, images, media): Moderate sensitivity, integrity and availability are key.
  • User accounts (usernames, emails, roles): Moderate to high sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity are important.
  • User passwords: High sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity are critical.
  • Session data: Moderate sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity are important during active sessions.
  • Configuration data (database credentials, API keys): High sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity are critical.
  • Logs (access logs, error logs): Low to moderate sensitivity, integrity and availability are useful for auditing and troubleshooting.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

  • Questions:
  • What is the process for vetting and approving Joomla extensions in the official directory?
  • Are there specific security guidelines or training provided to Joomla extension developers?
  • What is the typical update frequency for Joomla core and extensions security patches?
  • Is there a bug bounty program or vulnerability disclosure process for Joomla?
  • What are the key performance and scalability requirements for a typical Joomla deployment?
  • What is the expected lifespan and support cycle for different Joomla versions?
  • Assumptions:
  • BUSINESS POSTURE: Joomla's primary business goal is to maintain a widely used and trusted open-source CMS. Security and stability are crucial for user adoption and community health.
  • SECURITY POSTURE: Joomla has established security practices, but relies heavily on community contributions and user responsibility for secure deployments. Security is a continuous effort with ongoing improvements.
  • DESIGN: The design is based on a traditional three-tier web application architecture (web server, application server, database). Deployment is flexible and can range from shared hosting to cloud-based infrastructure. The build process is automated using CI/CD principles and includes basic security checks.