mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for laravel/framework

Mitigation Strategy: Eloquent Model Attribute Control ($fillable / $guarded)

• Description:

  1. Identify Models: Examine all Eloquent models within the app/Models directory (or your custom model location).
  2. Choose Strategy: Decide whether to use $fillable (whitelist of allowed attributes) or $guarded (blacklist of disallowed attributes). $fillable is generally preferred.
  3. Define Attributes: Within each model class, define either the $fillable or $guarded property as an array. For $fillable, list every attribute that should be mass-assignable. For $guarded, list attributes that should not be mass-assignable. Never leave both undefined.
  4. Review Controller Logic: Ensure controllers interacting with these models do not use request()->all() directly with Model::create() or Model::update().
  5. Safe Data Handling: Use request()->only(['field1', 'field2', ...]) or manually assign attributes after validation.
  6. Form Requests (Optional but Framework-Specific): Utilize Laravel's Form Request classes for complex validation and data handling before it reaches the model.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Mass Assignment: (Severity: High) - Attackers inject data into unexpected database columns.
  • Data Tampering: (Severity: Medium) - Attackers modify existing data in unintended ways.

• Impact:

  • Mass Assignment: Risk reduced from High to Low.
  • Data Tampering: Risk reduced from Medium to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • app/Models/User.php: $fillable defined.
  • app/Http/Controllers/UserController.php: Uses request()->only().

• Missing Implementation:

  • app/Models/Product.php: Neither $fillable nor $guarded is defined.
  • app/Http/Controllers/ProductController.php: Uses Product::create(request()->all()).

Mitigation Strategy: CSRF Protection Enforcement (Using Laravel's Middleware and Directives)

• Description:

  1. Verify Middleware: Confirm the VerifyCsrfToken middleware is enabled in the web middleware group within app/Http/Kernel.php.
  2. Blade Forms: Use the @csrf Blade directive inside all <form> tags in your .blade.php files.
  3. AJAX Requests: Include the CSRF token (obtained from <meta name="csrf-token" content="{{ csrf_token() }}">) in the X-CSRF-TOKEN header for AJAX requests.
  4. API Routes (Sanctum/Passport): Use Laravel Sanctum or Passport for API authentication, which handles CSRF protection for API routes. Do not use the web middleware group for API security.
  5. Exemptions (Rare & Framework-Specific): If disabling CSRF protection for specific routes (using $except in VerifyCsrfToken), document the reason clearly.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): (Severity: High)

• Impact:

  • CSRF: Risk reduced from High to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • app/Http/Kernel.php: VerifyCsrfToken middleware enabled.
  • Blade forms include @csrf.
  • AJAX requests include X-CSRF-TOKEN header.

• Missing Implementation:

  • API routes currently use the web middleware group. Needs to switch to Laravel Sanctum.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Session Configuration (Using Laravel's config/session.php)

• Description:

  1. Session Driver: In config/session.php, choose a secure driver (database, redis, or memcached are recommended for production).
  2. Lifetime: Set an appropriate session lifetime in config/session.php.
  3. Cookie Settings: Ensure http_only and secure are set to true in config/session.php.
  4. Encryption: Verify session encryption is enabled (default). Ensure a strong APP_KEY is set in .env.
  5. Regeneration (Framework Method): After login, call request()->session()->regenerate().
  6. Invalidation (Framework Method): On logout, call request()->session()->invalidate().

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Session Hijacking: (Severity: High)
  • Session Fixation: (Severity: High)
  • Session Data Exposure: (Severity: Medium)

• Impact:

  • Session Hijacking: Risk reduced from High to Low.
  • Session Fixation: Risk reduced from High to Low.
  • Session Data Exposure: Risk reduced from Medium to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • config/session.php: Secure settings configured.
  • Login/Logout controllers: Use regenerate() and invalidate().

• Missing Implementation:

  • None.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Route Model Binding (Using Laravel's Route Definitions and Scopes)

• Description:

  1. Review Routes: Examine routes in routes/web.php and routes/api.php using route model binding.
  2. Soft Deletes: If models use soft deletes, be cautious. Use global scopes or explicit binding with closures to exclude them if needed.
  3. Explicit Binding (Custom Keys): Use explicit binding with custom keys: Route::get('/users/{user:uuid}', ...)
  4. Scopes (Framework Feature): Use route model binding scopes to restrict queries (e.g., Route::model('user', User::class)->scope('active');).
  5. Validation: Validate the resolved model in your controller or Form Request.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Unauthorized Access to Resources: (Severity: Medium)
  • Exposure of Soft-Deleted Data: (Severity: Medium)

• Impact:

  • Unauthorized Access: Risk reduced from Medium to Low.
  • Soft-Deleted Data Exposure: Risk reduced from Medium to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • routes/web.php: Uses explicit binding.
  • Controllers validate resolved models.

• Missing Implementation:

  • app/Models/Post.php: Uses soft deletes without proper handling in route binding.

Mitigation Strategy: Prevent Debugging Information Leaks (Using Laravel's Configuration and Tools)

• Description:

  1. APP_DEBUG: Set APP_DEBUG=false in your .env file for production.
  2. Debugging Tools: Disable or restrict access to Laravel Telescope and Laravel Debugbar in production.
  3. Logging: Configure config/logging.php with appropriate log levels for production (e.g., error).
  4. Remove Debugging Code: Remove dd(), dump(), etc., from production code.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Information Disclosure: (Severity: High)

• Impact:

  • Information Disclosure: Risk reduced from High to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • .env (production): APP_DEBUG=false.
  • Telescope/Debugbar disabled in production.
  • config/logging.php: Log level set to error.

• Missing Implementation:

  • None.

Mitigation Strategy: Validate Redirects and Forwards (Using Laravel's redirect() and route() Helpers)

• Description:

  1. Avoid User Input: Do not directly use user input in redirect() or route() calls.
  2. Named Routes (Framework Feature): Use named routes (e.g., return redirect()->route('home');).
  3. Whitelist: If using user input, validate it against a whitelist.
  4. intended() (Framework Method): Use return redirect()->intended('/'); after authentication.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Open Redirect: (Severity: Medium)

• Impact:

  • Open Redirect: Risk reduced from Medium to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Named routes used extensively.
  • intended() used after login.

• Missing Implementation:

  • One controller method uses redirect($request->input('return_url')) without validation.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Configuration and Secrets (Leveraging Laravel's Configuration System)

• Description:

  1. .env Exclusion: .env file must not be in version control.
  2. Environment Variables: Use environment variables on the server.
  3. Configuration Caching (Framework Command): Run php artisan config:cache in production. Clear with php artisan config:clear after changes.
  4. File Permissions: Restrict access to .env and configuration files.
  5. **Secrets Management (Consider external service, but configuration is within Laravel).

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Exposure of Sensitive Configuration: (Severity: High)

• Impact:

  • Exposure of Sensitive Configuration: Risk reduced from High to Low.

• Currently Implemented:

  • .env excluded from version control.
  • Environment variables used.
  • Configuration caching enabled.
  • File permissions set correctly.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Not currently using a dedicated secrets management service.