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BUSINESS POSTURE

  • Business Priorities and Goals:
    • Provide a fast, efficient, and developer-friendly mobile database solution for iOS and macOS applications.
    • Enable offline data storage and synchronization capabilities for mobile applications.
    • Offer a robust and reliable database solution that simplifies data management in mobile development.
    • Support a wide range of data types and complex data relationships.
    • Maintain compatibility with the latest iOS and macOS versions and development tools.
  • Business Risks:
    • Data corruption or loss due to software bugs or unexpected application termination.
    • Performance bottlenecks impacting application responsiveness and user experience.
    • Security vulnerabilities leading to unauthorized data access or modification.
    • Compatibility issues with future operating system updates or development tool changes.
    • Difficulty in attracting and retaining users if the database solution is unreliable or hard to use.

SECURITY POSTURE

  • Existing Security Controls:

    • security control: Code reviews are likely performed as part of the development process, although not explicitly documented in the provided repository. (Location: Assumed based on standard software development practices)
    • security control: Unit and integration tests are present in the repository. (Location: Tests directory in the repository)
    • security control: Publicly available source code allows for community security review. (Location: GitHub repository)
    • security control: Issue tracking system (GitHub Issues) is used for reporting and addressing bugs, including potential security vulnerabilities. (Location: GitHub repository)
    • accepted risk: Reliance on community contributions for security vulnerability identification and patching.
    • accepted risk: Limited formal security testing or penetration testing documentation available in the public repository.

  • Recommended Security Controls:

    • security control: Implement automated Static Application Security Testing (SAST) in the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential security vulnerabilities in the code.
    • security control: Introduce Dependency Check tools to identify and manage known vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies.
    • security control: Conduct regular security code reviews with a focus on identifying and mitigating potential security risks.
    • security control: Establish a clear process for reporting and handling security vulnerabilities, including a security policy and contact information.
    • security control: Consider performing penetration testing or security audits by external security experts.

  • Security Requirements:

    • Authentication:
      • Not directly applicable to a database library itself, as authentication is typically handled by the application using the library.
      • The library should provide mechanisms to integrate with application-level authentication schemes if needed (e.g., for data synchronization with backend services).
    • Authorization:
      • The library should enforce access control mechanisms to ensure that only authorized application components can access and modify data.
      • Consider role-based access control within the application using the library's features.
    • Input Validation:
      • The library must perform robust input validation to prevent injection attacks and data corruption.
      • All data inputs from the application should be validated to ensure they conform to expected formats and constraints.
      • The library should handle invalid or malicious input gracefully and securely, without crashing or exposing sensitive information.
    • Cryptography:
      • If data encryption at rest is required, the library should provide or integrate with secure cryptographic mechanisms.
      • Consider using platform-provided encryption APIs for data protection.
      • Ensure proper key management practices if encryption is implemented.
      • For data synchronization, ensure secure communication channels (e.g., TLS/HTTPS) are used to protect data in transit.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Mobile Application User"
        U[User]
    end
    subgraph "Mobile Application Developer"
        D[Developer]
    end
    subgraph "Realm Cocoa Project"
        RC["Realm Cocoa Library"]
    end
    subgraph "Backend Services (Optional)"
        BS[Backend Service]
    end

    U -->|Uses Mobile Application| MA
    D -->|Integrates Realm Cocoa| RC
    MA -->|Uses Realm Cocoa for Data Storage| RC
    MA -->|Synchronizes Data (Optional)| BS
    D -->|Contributes to/Uses| RC
    style RC fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Context Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: User
      • Type: Person
      • Description: End-user of mobile applications that utilize the Realm Cocoa library.
      • Responsibilities: Uses mobile applications for various purposes, interacts with data stored and managed by Realm Cocoa indirectly through applications.
      • Security controls: User devices and accounts are assumed to have standard security controls like device passwords/biometrics. Application level security controls are outside the scope of Realm Cocoa library itself.
    • Element:
      • Name: Developer
      • Type: Person
      • Description: Software developer who integrates the Realm Cocoa library into mobile applications.
      • Responsibilities: Uses Realm Cocoa to build data storage and management features in mobile applications. Responsible for secure integration and usage of the library. May contribute to the Realm Cocoa project.
      • Security controls: Developer workstations and accounts should have standard security controls. Secure coding practices are expected when using Realm Cocoa.
    • Element:
      • Name: Realm Cocoa Library
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: A mobile database library for iOS and macOS, providing local data persistence and synchronization capabilities.
      • Responsibilities: Provides APIs for data storage, retrieval, and management within mobile applications. Handles data persistence, querying, and synchronization (if used).
      • Security controls: Input validation, data integrity checks, potential encryption features (depending on configuration and version), adherence to secure coding practices in library development.
    • Element:
      • Name: Mobile Application
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: iOS or macOS application developed using Realm Cocoa for data management.
      • Responsibilities: Provides user interface and application logic. Uses Realm Cocoa for local data storage and potentially synchronization with backend services.
      • Security controls: Application-level authentication, authorization, input validation, secure communication with backend services, data protection mechanisms using Realm Cocoa features.
    • Element:
      • Name: Backend Service
      • Type: Software System
      • Description: Optional backend system that mobile applications may synchronize data with.
      • Responsibilities: Stores and manages data in the cloud. Provides data synchronization services for mobile applications.
      • Security controls: Server-side authentication, authorization, input validation, secure APIs, data encryption in transit and at rest, infrastructure security controls.

C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Mobile Application User"
        U[User]
    end
    subgraph "Mobile Application Developer"
        D[Developer]
    end
    subgraph "Mobile Application"
        MA[Mobile Application Container]
        subgraph "Realm Cocoa Library"
            RC[Realm Cocoa Framework/Pod]
        end
    end
    subgraph "Backend Services (Optional)"
        BS[Backend Service API]
    end

    U -->|Uses Application Features| MA
    D -->|Integrates Library| RC
    MA -->|Uses Realm API Calls| RC
    MA -->|HTTPS API Calls (Optional)| BS
    style RC fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style MA fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Container Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Realm Cocoa Framework/Pod
      • Type: Library/Framework
      • Description: Compiled library (framework or CocoaPod) that gets integrated into mobile applications. Contains the core database engine and APIs.
      • Responsibilities: Provides data storage, retrieval, querying, and synchronization functionalities to the mobile application. Manages local database files.
      • Security controls: Input validation within the library, data integrity checks, potential encryption features, secure coding practices in library implementation.
    • Element:
      • Name: Mobile Application Container
      • Type: Application
      • Description: The mobile application itself, encompassing application code, UI, and integrated libraries including Realm Cocoa.
      • Responsibilities: Provides application features to the user. Manages user interactions and data flow. Uses Realm Cocoa for local data persistence. Handles application-level security.
      • Security controls: Application-level authentication, authorization, input validation (in application code), secure communication with backend services, secure data handling using Realm Cocoa APIs.
    • Element:
      • Name: Backend Service API
      • Type: API
      • Description: Optional backend API that the mobile application may interact with for data synchronization or other backend functionalities.
      • Responsibilities: Provides data synchronization services, user authentication, and other backend functionalities.
      • Security controls: API authentication and authorization, input validation, secure API design, protection against common web vulnerabilities, infrastructure security.

DEPLOYMENT

  • Deployment Architecture Options:

    • Option 1: Direct integration into mobile application - Realm Cocoa library is directly embedded within the mobile application package. Deployment is handled through app stores (Apple App Store, TestFlight).
    • Option 2: Enterprise deployment - For internal enterprise applications, deployment might be through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions or direct installation.

  • Detailed Deployment Architecture (Option 1 - App Store Deployment):

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Developer Environment"
        DEV[Developer Workstation]
    end
    subgraph "Build and Distribution"
        CI[CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)]
        AS[Apple App Store Connect]
    end
    subgraph "End User Device"
        DEVICE[User iPhone/iPad/Mac]
    end

    DEV -->|Code, Build Commands| CI
    CI -->|Builds, Tests, Signs Application| AS
    AS -->|Distributes Application| DEVICE
    DEVICE -->|Runs Mobile Application with Realm Cocoa| MA
    style MA fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Deployment Diagram Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Developer Workstation
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Developer's local machine used for writing code, building, and testing the mobile application.
      • Responsibilities: Development, local testing, code management (Git).
      • Security controls: Workstation security controls (OS hardening, antivirus, firewall), developer account security, code repository access controls.
    • Element:
      • Name: CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Automated system for building, testing, and deploying the mobile application.
      • Responsibilities: Automated builds, unit and integration testing, static analysis, application signing, deployment to app stores or distribution platforms.
      • Security controls: Secure CI/CD pipeline configuration, access control to CI/CD system, secrets management for signing keys and credentials, build artifact integrity checks.
    • Element:
      • Name: Apple App Store Connect
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: Apple's platform for distributing iOS and macOS applications to end-users.
      • Responsibilities: Application hosting, distribution to user devices, app updates.
      • Security controls: Apple's platform security controls, application signing verification, app review process.
    • Element:
      • Name: User iPhone/iPad/Mac
      • Type: Infrastructure
      • Description: End-user's mobile device or computer where the application is installed and run.
      • Responsibilities: Running the mobile application, storing application data locally using Realm Cocoa.
      • Security controls: Device security controls (OS security, device encryption, biometrics), application sandbox, user account security.

BUILD

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Developer"
        DEV[Developer Workstation]
    end
    subgraph "Version Control"
        VC[GitHub Repository]
    end
    subgraph "CI/CD Pipeline"
        CI[CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)]
        SAST[SAST Scanner]
        DependencyCheck[Dependency Check]
        BUILD[Build Process]
        TEST[Automated Tests]
    end
    subgraph "Artifact Repository"
        ARTIFACT[Build Artifacts (Framework, Pod)]
    end

    DEV -->|Code Commit| VC
    VC -->|Webhook Trigger| CI
    CI -->|Checkout Code| BUILD
    CI -->|Run SAST Scanner| SAST
    CI -->|Run Dependency Check| DependencyCheck
    CI -->|Compile & Build| BUILD
    CI -->|Run Automated Tests| TEST
    BUILD -->|Build Artifacts| ARTIFACT
    SAST -->|Security Scan Results| CI
    DependencyCheck -->|Dependency Vulnerability Report| CI
    style BUILD fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style TEST fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style SAST fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style DependencyCheck fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
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  • Build Process Elements:
    • Element:
      • Name: Developer Workstation
      • Type: Environment
      • Description: Developer's local machine where code is written and initially tested.
      • Responsibilities: Code development, local testing, committing code to version control.
      • Security controls: Developer workstation security, code review before commit.
    • Element:
      • Name: GitHub Repository
      • Type: Version Control System
      • Description: Central repository for source code, using Git for version control.
      • Responsibilities: Source code management, version history, collaboration.
      • Security controls: Access control to repository, branch protection, commit signing (optional).
    • Element:
      • Name: CI/CD System (e.g., GitHub Actions)
      • Type: Automation System
      • Description: Automated system for building, testing, and potentially deploying the library.
      • Responsibilities: Automated build process, running tests, static analysis, dependency checks, artifact generation.
      • Security controls: Secure CI/CD pipeline configuration, access control to CI/CD system, secrets management, build artifact integrity.
    • Element:
      • Name: SAST Scanner
      • Type: Security Tool
      • Description: Static Application Security Testing tool to automatically analyze source code for potential vulnerabilities.
      • Responsibilities: Identify potential security flaws in the code before compilation.
      • Security controls: Regularly updated vulnerability rules, secure configuration of SAST tool.
    • Element:
      • Name: Dependency Check
      • Type: Security Tool
      • Description: Tool to scan project dependencies and identify known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries.
      • Responsibilities: Identify vulnerable dependencies and generate reports.
      • Security controls: Regularly updated vulnerability database, secure configuration of dependency check tool.
    • Element:
      • Name: Build Process
      • Type: Process
      • Description: Compilation and linking of source code to create build artifacts (framework, Pod).
      • Responsibilities: Compiling code, creating distributable library.
      • Security controls: Secure build environment, build process integrity.
    • Element:
      • Name: Automated Tests
      • Type: Process
      • Description: Unit and integration tests to verify code functionality and catch regressions.
      • Responsibilities: Ensure code quality and functionality, identify bugs early in the development cycle.
      • Security controls: Secure test environment, comprehensive test coverage including security-related test cases.
    • Element:
      • Name: Build Artifacts (Framework, Pod)
      • Type: Artifact
      • Description: Compiled library files (framework, CocoaPod) ready for distribution and integration into mobile applications.
      • Responsibilities: Distributable library for developers to use in their applications.
      • Security controls: Artifact signing (optional), secure storage and distribution of artifacts.

RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Critical Business Processes:

    • Secure and reliable data storage and retrieval within mobile applications.
    • Maintaining data integrity and preventing data corruption.
    • Ensuring application performance and responsiveness when interacting with the database.
    • Protecting user data privacy and confidentiality.
    • Smooth application operation and preventing crashes or unexpected behavior due to database issues.

  • Data Sensitivity:

    • Data stored by applications using Realm Cocoa can vary greatly in sensitivity depending on the application's purpose.
    • Potential data types include:
      • User personal information (names, addresses, emails, etc.)
      • User credentials (if stored locally - generally not recommended)
      • Financial data
      • Health data
      • Application-specific data, which may be sensitive in context.
    • Sensitivity level is highly application-dependent. For many applications, the data stored by Realm Cocoa would be considered sensitive or confidential user data.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

  • Questions:

    • What is the intended use case and target audience for applications using Realm Cocoa? (e.g., enterprise apps, consumer apps, specific industries)
    • Are there specific regulatory compliance requirements that applications using Realm Cocoa need to adhere to (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA)?
    • What are the performance requirements and scalability needs for applications using Realm Cocoa?
    • Is data synchronization with backend services a primary use case, and if so, what are the security requirements for data synchronization?
    • Are there specific encryption requirements for data at rest or in transit?
    • What is the process for reporting and handling security vulnerabilities in Realm Cocoa?
    • Are there any formal security audits or penetration testing performed on Realm Cocoa?

  • Assumptions:

    • Developers using Realm Cocoa are responsible for implementing application-level security controls such as authentication, authorization, and input validation in their application code.
    • Data stored in Realm Cocoa is potentially sensitive user data and needs to be protected accordingly.
    • The build and release process for Realm Cocoa aims to produce a secure and reliable library.
    • The provided GitHub repository represents the current and actively developed version of Realm Cocoa.
    • Standard software development best practices are followed in the development of Realm Cocoa, including code reviews and testing.