Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
288 lines (255 loc) · 19.5 KB

sec-design.md

File metadata and controls

288 lines (255 loc) · 19.5 KB

BUSINESS POSTURE

This project, represented by the GitHub repository actix/actix-web, aims to provide a fast, ergonomic, and reliable web framework for Rust. It targets developers who want to build web applications and services using the Rust programming language, leveraging its performance and safety features.

  • Business Priorities:

    • High Performance: actix-web prioritizes speed and efficiency in handling web requests.
    • Developer Ergonomics: The framework aims to be easy to use and understand for Rust developers, promoting productivity.
    • Reliability and Stability: Ensuring the framework is robust and dependable for building production applications.
    • Community Growth: Fostering a strong and active community around the framework to drive adoption and contribution.

  • Business Goals:

    • Become a leading web framework in the Rust ecosystem.
    • Enable developers to build high-performance and secure web applications quickly.
    • Attract and retain a large and active community of users and contributors.

  • Business Risks:

    • Security Vulnerabilities: Flaws in the framework could expose applications built with actix-web to security risks, damaging reputation and user trust.
    • Performance Bottlenecks: Inefficiencies in the framework could limit the performance of applications, hindering adoption for performance-critical use cases.
    • Community Fragmentation: Lack of community engagement or disagreements within the community could slow down development and adoption.
    • Dependency Issues: Problems with underlying dependencies could impact the stability and security of actix-web.

SECURITY POSTURE

  • Security Controls:

    • security control: Memory Safety: Rust's core language features provide inherent memory safety, reducing vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and use-after-free errors. Implemented by Rust compiler.
    • security control: Type System: Rust's strong type system helps prevent type-related errors that can lead to security issues. Implemented by Rust compiler.
    • security control: Dependency Management: Cargo, Rust's package manager, facilitates dependency management and versioning, aiding in controlling dependency-related risks. Implemented by Cargo.
    • security control: HTTPS Support: actix-web supports HTTPS for secure communication. Implemented within actix-web and underlying libraries like tokio-rustls or native-tls.
    • security control: Middleware: actix-web provides middleware functionality that can be used to implement security features like authentication, authorization, and request logging. Implemented within actix-web.
    • security control: Community Review: As an open-source project, the code is subject to community review, which can help identify potential security vulnerabilities. Implemented by GitHub and community contribution process.

  • Accepted Risks:

    • accepted risk: Dependency Vulnerabilities: Despite dependency management, vulnerabilities can still exist in dependencies, requiring monitoring and updates.
    • accepted risk: Logic Errors: Application-level logic errors introduced by developers using actix-web are outside the scope of the framework's direct control.
    • accepted risk: Denial of Service: Web applications are inherently susceptible to denial-of-service attacks, and actix-web applications are no exception.
    • accepted risk: Configuration Errors: Misconfiguration of actix-web or the underlying deployment environment can introduce security vulnerabilities.

  • Recommended Security Controls:

    • security control: Static Analysis Security Testing (SAST): Integrate SAST tools into the development pipeline to automatically scan the actix-web codebase for potential vulnerabilities.
    • security control: Dependency Scanning: Implement automated dependency scanning to detect and alert on known vulnerabilities in actix-web's dependencies.
    • security control: Fuzzing: Employ fuzzing techniques to automatically test actix-web for unexpected behavior and potential vulnerabilities by providing invalid or malformed inputs.
    • security control: Security Audits: Conduct periodic security audits by external security experts to identify and address potential security weaknesses in the framework.
    • security control: Security Training for Contributors: Provide security training to contributors to raise awareness of secure coding practices and common web security vulnerabilities.
    • security control: Vulnerability Disclosure Policy: Establish a clear vulnerability disclosure policy to guide security researchers and users on how to report potential security issues.

  • Security Requirements:

    • Authentication: actix-web should provide mechanisms and guidance for implementing various authentication methods (e.g., session-based, token-based) in applications built with it.
    • Authorization: The framework should facilitate the implementation of fine-grained authorization controls to manage access to resources and functionalities within applications.
    • Input Validation: actix-web should encourage and provide tools for developers to perform robust input validation to prevent injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection, cross-site scripting). Middleware and request guards are relevant here.
    • Cryptography: actix-web should support and recommend best practices for using cryptography for protecting sensitive data in transit and at rest. This includes TLS/HTTPS configuration and guidance on using cryptographic libraries for application-level encryption.

DESIGN

C4 Context

graph LR
    subgraph "Organization"
        A["Web Application Developer"]
        B["End User"]
    end
    C("actix-web Framework")
    D["Rust Ecosystem (crates.io)"]
    E["Operating System"]
    F["Database Systems"]
    G["External Web Services"]

    A --> C
    B --> C
    C --> D
    C --> E
    C --> F
    C --> G
Loading
  • Context Diagram Elements:
      • Name: Web Application Developer
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Developers who use actix-web to build web applications and services.
      • Responsibilities: Develop, deploy, and maintain web applications using actix-web.
      • Security controls: Secure coding practices, dependency management in applications, secure configuration of applications.
      • Name: End User
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Users who interact with web applications built using actix-web.
      • Responsibilities: Use web applications to access information or services.
      • Security controls: Browser security features, user account security practices.
      • Name: actix-web Framework
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: A fast, ergonomic, and reliable web framework for Rust.
      • Responsibilities: Provide core functionalities for building web applications, including HTTP handling, routing, middleware, and utilities.
      • Security controls: Memory safety (Rust), input validation guidance, HTTPS support, middleware for security features, community security reviews, recommended security controls (SAST, dependency scanning, fuzzing, audits).
      • Name: Rust Ecosystem (crates.io)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: The collection of Rust libraries and tools available through crates.io, the Rust package registry.
      • Responsibilities: Provide reusable libraries and dependencies for actix-web and applications built with it.
      • Security controls: Dependency scanning for crates, crate review process (community-driven).
      • Name: Operating System
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: The operating system on which actix-web applications are deployed.
      • Responsibilities: Provide the runtime environment for actix-web applications.
      • Security controls: OS-level security hardening, access controls, patching.
      • Name: Database Systems
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Database systems used by applications built with actix-web to store and retrieve data. Examples: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB.
      • Responsibilities: Persist and manage application data.
      • Security controls: Database access controls, encryption at rest, encryption in transit, database security hardening.
      • Name: External Web Services
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: External APIs and web services that actix-web applications might interact with. Examples: payment gateways, social media APIs, third-party services.
      • Responsibilities: Provide external functionalities and data to actix-web applications.
      • Security controls: API authentication and authorization, secure communication protocols (HTTPS), input validation of external data.

C4 Container

graph LR
    subgraph "actix-web Framework"
        A["HTTP Server\n(Tokio)"]
        B["Request Routing"]
        C["Middleware Pipeline"]
        D["Handler Functions"]
        E["Utilities\n(e.g., JSON, Forms)"]
    end
    F["Applications\n(built with actix-web)"]

    F --> A
    F --> B
    F --> C
    F --> D
    F --> E

    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
Loading
  • Container Diagram Elements:
      • Name: HTTP Server (Tokio)
      • Type: Container (Library/Component)
      • Description: Handles low-level HTTP protocol processing using the Tokio asynchronous runtime. Manages connections, parses requests, and sends responses.
      • Responsibilities: Accept incoming HTTP connections, parse HTTP requests, manage request/response lifecycle, handle HTTP protocol details.
      • Security controls: TLS/HTTPS configuration, protection against HTTP-specific attacks (e.g., request smuggling), rate limiting (can be implemented via middleware).
      • Name: Request Routing
      • Type: Container (Library/Component)
      • Description: Matches incoming HTTP requests to appropriate handler functions based on defined routes (URLs, methods).
      • Responsibilities: Define and manage application routes, map requests to handlers, parameter extraction from URLs.
      • Security controls: Route definition security (avoiding overly permissive routes), input validation of route parameters, protection against route injection vulnerabilities.
      • Name: Middleware Pipeline
      • Type: Container (Library/Component)
      • Description: A chain of interceptors that process HTTP requests and responses. Middleware can be used for logging, authentication, authorization, request modification, and more.
      • Responsibilities: Implement cross-cutting concerns, modify requests and responses, enforce security policies, provide reusable functionalities.
      • Security controls: Authentication middleware, authorization middleware, input validation middleware, security headers middleware, rate limiting middleware, logging and auditing middleware.
      • Name: Handler Functions
      • Type: Container (Library/Component)
      • Description: Application-specific functions that implement the core business logic for handling requests and generating responses.
      • Responsibilities: Process requests, interact with databases or external services, generate responses based on application logic.
      • Security controls: Input validation within handlers, output encoding, secure data handling, authorization checks within handlers, protection against application-specific vulnerabilities.
      • Name: Utilities (e.g., JSON, Forms)
      • Type: Container (Library/Component)
      • Description: Helper libraries and components for common tasks like JSON serialization/deserialization, form data parsing, and other utilities to simplify web application development.
      • Responsibilities: Provide reusable functionalities, simplify common web development tasks, handle data serialization and parsing.
      • Security controls: Input validation in data parsing utilities (e.g., JSON parsing), protection against injection attacks through utility functions, secure handling of data formats.
      • Name: Applications (built with actix-web)
      • Type: Container (Software System)
      • Description: Web applications and services built by developers using the actix-web framework.
      • Responsibilities: Implement specific business logic, utilize actix-web framework features, deploy and operate web services.
      • Security controls: Application-level security controls (authentication, authorization, input validation, secure coding practices), deployment security, configuration security.

DEPLOYMENT

Deployment Scenario: Docker Container in Cloud Environment (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure)

graph LR
    subgraph "Cloud Environment (e.g., AWS)"
        subgraph "Kubernetes Cluster"
            A["actix-web Application Pod\n(Docker Container)"]
        end
        B["Load Balancer"]
        C["Firewall"]
    end
    D["Internet"]

    D --> B
    B --> C
    C --> A
Loading
  • Deployment Diagram Elements:
      • Name: actix-web Application Pod (Docker Container)
      • Type: Container Instance
      • Description: A Docker container running an actix-web application, deployed within a Kubernetes pod.
      • Responsibilities: Run the application code, handle HTTP requests, execute application logic.
      • Security controls: Container image security scanning, least privilege container configuration, network policies within Kubernetes, application-level security controls.
      • Name: Load Balancer
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Distributes incoming traffic across multiple instances of the actix-web application for scalability and availability.
      • Responsibilities: Load balancing, traffic distribution, SSL termination (optional).
      • Security controls: SSL/TLS configuration, DDoS protection, access control lists, security monitoring.
      • Name: Firewall
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Controls network traffic to and from the Kubernetes cluster and application pods.
      • Responsibilities: Network security, access control, traffic filtering.
      • Security controls: Network access control lists (ACLs), intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), security rules configuration.
      • Name: Internet
      • Type: Environment
      • Description: The public internet from which users access the actix-web application.
      • Responsibilities: Provide network connectivity for users.
      • Security controls: N/A (external environment).

BUILD

graph LR
    A["Developer\n(Code Changes)"] --> B["GitHub\n(Code Repository)"];
    B --> C["GitHub Actions\n(CI/CD Pipeline)"];
    C --> D["Rust Toolchain\n(cargo build)"];
    D --> E["Security Scanners\n(SAST, Dependency)"];
    E --> F["Container Registry\n(e.g., Docker Hub, GHCR)"];
    F --> G["Deployment Environment"];
Loading
  • Build Diagram Elements:
      • Name: Developer (Code Changes)
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Developers writing and modifying the actix-web framework code.
      • Responsibilities: Write code, commit changes, create pull requests, contribute to the project.
      • Security controls: Secure coding practices, code review process, access control to the repository.
      • Name: GitHub (Code Repository)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Hosts the actix-web source code repository, manages version control, and facilitates collaboration.
      • Responsibilities: Source code management, version control, collaboration platform, pull request management.
      • Security controls: Access control (authentication and authorization), branch protection rules, audit logs, vulnerability scanning (GitHub Dependabot).
      • Name: GitHub Actions (CI/CD Pipeline)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Automates the build, test, and deployment processes for actix-web.
      • Responsibilities: Automated build process, running tests, performing security checks, publishing build artifacts.
      • Security controls: Secure pipeline configuration, secret management, access control to workflows, code scanning actions, dependency scanning actions.
      • Name: Rust Toolchain (cargo build)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: The Rust compiler and build system (Cargo) used to compile and build actix-web.
      • Responsibilities: Compile Rust code, manage dependencies, create build artifacts.
      • Security controls: Rust compiler memory safety features, Cargo dependency management, build reproducibility.
      • Name: Security Scanners (SAST, Dependency)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Static analysis security testing (SAST) tools and dependency scanners integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential vulnerabilities in the code and dependencies.
      • Responsibilities: Automated security vulnerability detection during the build process.
      • Security controls: SAST tool configuration, dependency scanner configuration, vulnerability reporting and remediation process.
      • Name: Container Registry (e.g., Docker Hub, GHCR)
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Stores and distributes Docker container images for actix-web applications (if containerized deployment is used).
      • Responsibilities: Store container images, manage image versions, provide image distribution.
      • Security controls: Access control to the registry, image signing, vulnerability scanning of container images, registry security hardening.
      • Name: Deployment Environment
      • Type: Environment
      • Description: The target environment where actix-web applications are deployed (e.g., Kubernetes cluster, cloud platform).
      • Responsibilities: Run and host the deployed applications.
      • Security controls: Deployment environment security controls (as described in the Deployment section).

RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Critical Business Processes:

    • Secure and reliable delivery of web applications built using actix-web.
    • Maintaining the reputation and trust of the actix-web framework and its community.
    • Ensuring the performance and stability of applications built with actix-web.

  • Data to Protect and Sensitivity:

    • Source code of actix-web: High sensitivity. Confidentiality and integrity are crucial to prevent unauthorized modifications or exposure of vulnerabilities.
    • Framework binaries and libraries: Medium sensitivity. Integrity is important to ensure users are using trusted and unmodified components.
    • User data in applications built with actix-web: Sensitivity varies greatly depending on the application. Could range from low (public data) to high (personal identifiable information, financial data). actix-web itself does not directly handle user data, but applications built with it do. The framework's security impacts the security of this data indirectly.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

  • Questions:

    • What is the current process for security vulnerability reporting and handling in actix-web? Is there a public security policy?
    • Are there any plans for formal security audits of actix-web?
    • What security testing is currently integrated into the CI/CD pipeline? (e.g., SAST, dependency scanning, fuzzing)
    • Are there any specific security features or middleware components planned for future development?
    • What is the process for updating dependencies and addressing dependency vulnerabilities?

  • Assumptions:

    • Security is a significant concern for the actix-web project and its community.
    • The project aims to provide a secure foundation for building web applications.
    • Developers using actix-web are expected to implement application-level security controls in addition to relying on the framework's security features.
    • The target deployment environments for actix-web applications include cloud environments and containerized deployments.
    • The project benefits from the inherent memory safety and type safety provided by the Rust programming language.