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Mitigation Strategies Analysis for realm/realm-cocoa

Mitigation Strategy: Enable Realm Encryption

  • Description:

    1. During Realm configuration, when creating a Realm.Configuration object, set the encryptionKey property. This is a Realm Cocoa specific configuration option.
    2. Generate a strong, random encryption key (e.g., 64 bytes) to be used with Realm's encryption feature.
    3. Securely store this key using the operating system's Keychain (iOS/macOS), as improper key storage negates Realm's encryption benefits.
    4. Retrieve the key from the Keychain when configuring Realm.
    5. Ensure the key is passed to the encryptionKey property of the Realm.Configuration to activate Realm's built-in encryption.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Data Breach at Rest (High Severity): If a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, the Realm database file, managed by Realm Cocoa, is encrypted, making the data unreadable without the encryption key.
      • Unauthorized File System Access (Medium Severity): Even if an attacker gains access to the device's file system, they cannot directly read the contents of the encrypted Realm file, which is a core component of Realm Cocoa.

    • Impact:

      • Data Breach at Rest: High risk reduction. Makes Realm data practically inaccessible without the key.
      • Unauthorized File System Access: Medium risk reduction. Prevents direct access to Realm data but doesn't prevent all potential attacks.

    • Currently Implemented: Yes, implemented in the AppDelegate.swift (or equivalent) during Realm initialization. The encryption key for Realm is generated and stored in the Keychain.

    • Missing Implementation: N/A - Realm encryption is enabled for the primary Realm database. Consider extending encryption to any secondary or temporary Realm databases if used within the application.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Encryption Key Management using Keychain (for Realm Encryption)

  • Description:

    1. Key Generation for Realm: Generate a cryptographically secure random key specifically for Realm encryption using SecRandomCopyBytes (iOS/macOS).
    2. Keychain Storage for Realm Key: Use the Security framework's Keychain Services (SecItemAdd, SecItemCopyMatching, SecItemUpdate) to store the encryption key used by Realm Cocoa.
    3. Keychain Access Control for Realm Key: Configure Keychain access control attributes to restrict access to the Realm encryption key to only the application itself.
    4. Key Retrieval for Realm Configuration: Retrieve the Realm encryption key from the Keychain using SecItemCopyMatching when needed to configure Realm.
    5. Avoid Hardcoding Realm Key: Never hardcode the Realm encryption key directly in the application code.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Encryption Key Compromise (Critical Severity): If the Realm encryption key is compromised, the entire Realm encryption is broken, and data becomes accessible. Keychain protects the Realm key.
      • Reverse Engineering Key Extraction (High Severity): Hardcoded Realm keys can be extracted through reverse engineering. Keychain storage makes Realm key extraction significantly harder.

    • Impact:

      • Encryption Key Compromise: High risk reduction for Realm data. Keychain is a robust system for secure key storage.
      • Reverse Engineering Key Extraction: High risk reduction for Realm key. Makes key extraction significantly more difficult.

    • Currently Implemented: Yes, implemented in a dedicated KeyManager class. This class specifically manages the Realm encryption key generation, Keychain storage, and retrieval. Used during Realm initialization.

    • Missing Implementation: Consider implementing key rotation strategy for the Realm encryption key in the future.

Mitigation Strategy: Realm File Permission Review

  • Description:

    1. Default Realm Permissions: Understand the default file permissions applied by Realm Cocoa when creating database files. Realm typically sets permissions that restrict access to the application's user.
    2. Verification of Realm File Permissions: Programmatically verify the file permissions of the Realm database file after creation, ensuring they align with Realm's intended security model.
    3. Avoid Broad Permissions for Realm Files: Ensure permissions for Realm files are not overly permissive.
    4. Restrict Access to Realm Files: Confirm that only the application process has read and write access to the Realm file, preventing unauthorized access to the Realm database.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Unauthorized Local Access to Realm Data (Medium Severity): If file permissions for Realm files are too broad, other applications could potentially access or modify the Realm database.
      • Data Tampering of Realm Data (Medium Severity): If unauthorized write access is granted to Realm files, malicious applications could tamper with the Realm database.

    • Impact:

      • Unauthorized Local Access to Realm Data: Medium risk reduction. Restricts access to Realm data to the intended application.
      • Data Tampering of Realm Data: Medium risk reduction. Prevents unauthorized modification of the Realm database.

    • Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Default Realm file permissions are relied upon. No explicit permission verification for Realm files is currently in place.

    • Missing Implementation: Implement a check during application startup to programmatically verify the Realm file permissions and potentially correct them if they are found to be overly permissive.

Mitigation Strategy: Strict Realm Schema Definition and Data Validation

  • Description:

    1. Define Realm Schema: Clearly define the Realm schema using Realm Cocoa's object modeling capabilities. Specify data types, required properties, and relationships for all Realm objects.
    2. Data Validation Logic for Realm Objects: Implement validation logic in your application code before writing data to Realm. This ensures data conforms to the defined Realm schema.
    3. Input Sanitization for Realm Data: Sanitize user inputs before storing them in Realm to prevent injection-style attacks or storage of unexpected data within the Realm database.
    4. Realm Schema Migrations: Manage schema changes carefully using Realm Cocoa's migration mechanism.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Data Integrity Issues within Realm (Medium Severity): Lack of schema and validation can lead to inconsistent or corrupted data in the Realm database.
      • Injection Vulnerabilities related to Realm Queries (Low to Medium Severity): Improper data handling could potentially lead to injection-style attacks if queries are dynamically constructed based on unsanitized input intended for Realm.
      • Unexpected Application Behavior due to Realm Data (Medium Severity): Storing unexpected data types or structures in Realm can lead to application errors when interacting with the Realm database.

    • Impact:

      • Data Integrity Issues within Realm: High risk reduction. Enforces data consistency within the Realm database.
      • Injection Vulnerabilities related to Realm Queries: Low to Medium risk reduction. Reduces attack surface related to Realm queries.
      • Unexpected Application Behavior due to Realm Data: High risk reduction. Improves application stability when working with Realm data.

    • Currently Implemented: Yes, Realm schema is defined for all Realm objects. Basic data validation is implemented in some areas, but not consistently applied to all Realm data writes.

    • Missing Implementation: Implement comprehensive data validation for all Realm object properties, especially for user-provided data that will be stored in Realm.

Mitigation Strategy: Parameterized Realm Queries

  • Description:

    1. Use Realm Query Parameters: Utilize Realm Cocoa's query builder or parameterized query features instead of directly concatenating user input into query strings when querying Realm.
    2. Avoid String Interpolation in Realm Queries: Do not use string interpolation or concatenation to build queries for Realm with user-provided values.
    3. Realm Query Language Best Practices: Follow Realm's documentation for constructing secure queries in Realm Cocoa.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Realm Query Injection (Low to Medium Severity): Constructing Realm queries by directly embedding user input can potentially lead to unintended query behavior or data exposure from Realm if malicious input is crafted to alter the query logic.

    • Impact:

      • Realm Query Injection: Medium risk reduction. Prevents malicious users from manipulating Realm query logic through input.

    • Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Most Realm queries are constructed using Realm's query builder, but some instances of string interpolation might exist.

    • Missing Implementation: Conduct a code review to identify and eliminate all instances of Realm query construction using string interpolation or concatenation with user input.

Mitigation Strategy: Keep Realm Cocoa Updated

  • Description:

    1. Regular Realm Updates: Monitor Realm Cocoa releases and security advisories specifically.
    2. Dependency Management for Realm: Use a dependency manager (like CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager) to manage Realm Cocoa and its dependencies, facilitating updates.
    3. Update Process for Realm: Establish a process for regularly updating dependencies, specifically including Realm Cocoa, to the latest stable versions.
    4. Testing After Realm Updates: Thoroughly test the application after updating Realm Cocoa to ensure compatibility and identify any regressions related to Realm functionality.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Known Vulnerabilities in Realm Cocoa (Variable Severity): Outdated versions of Realm Cocoa may contain known security vulnerabilities that are specific to Realm and have been patched in newer versions.

    • Impact:

      • Known Vulnerabilities in Realm Cocoa: High risk reduction. Patching Realm-specific vulnerabilities is crucial.

    • Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Dependency management is in place. Realm Cocoa updates are performed periodically but not on a strict schedule.

    • Missing Implementation: Establish a more proactive and regular schedule for checking for and applying Realm Cocoa updates.

Mitigation Strategy: Code Reviews Focusing on Realm Cocoa Usage

  • Description:

    1. Security-Focused Realm Reviews: Conduct code reviews with a specific focus on how Realm Cocoa is used in the application, including encryption, query construction, data validation, and schema management.
    2. Trained Reviewers for Realm: Ensure reviewers are familiar with Realm Cocoa security best practices and common pitfalls related to its usage.
    3. Automated Code Analysis for Realm: Consider using static analysis tools to automatically detect potential security issues specifically related to Realm Cocoa usage patterns.

    • List of Threats Mitigated:

      • Implementation Errors in Realm Usage (Variable Severity): Human errors in implementing Realm features, especially security-sensitive ones, can introduce vulnerabilities specific to the Realm integration.
      • Logical Flaws in Realm Integration (Variable Severity): Design flaws in how Realm is integrated into the application logic can lead to security weaknesses related to data handling within Realm.

    • Impact:

      • Implementation Errors in Realm Usage: Medium to High risk reduction. Code reviews can catch Realm-specific errors.
      • Logical Flaws in Realm Integration: Medium risk reduction. Reviews can identify design weaknesses in Realm integration.

    • Currently Implemented: Yes, code reviews are standard. However, security-focused reviews specifically targeting Realm Cocoa usage are not consistently performed.

    • Missing Implementation: Incorporate security-focused code review checklists and guidelines specifically for Realm Cocoa. Train developers on Realm security best practices and ensure these are applied during code reviews.