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attack-surface.md

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Attack Surface Analysis for realm/realm-cocoa

Attack Surface: Unencrypted Local Data Storage

  • Description: Realm data stored on the device without encryption is vulnerable to unauthorized access.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: Realm provides the option for encryption, but it's not enabled by default. Developers must explicitly configure it.
    • Example: An attacker gains physical access to a lost device and extracts the unencrypted .realm file, revealing all stored user data.
    • Impact: Complete compromise of all data stored in the Realm, including sensitive user information, application data, etc.
    • Risk Severity: Critical
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Always enable Realm encryption using a 64-byte cryptographically secure random key. Store the key securely using the iOS Keychain or Secure Enclave. Never hardcode the key.

Attack Surface: Weak or Compromised Encryption Key

  • Description: Using a weak, predictable, or exposed encryption key renders Realm's encryption ineffective.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: Realm relies on the developer to provide a strong and securely managed encryption key.
    • Example: A developer uses a short, easily guessable password as the encryption key. An attacker uses a dictionary attack to crack the key and decrypt the Realm file. Alternatively, the key is accidentally logged to a console or stored in an insecure location.
    • Impact: Complete compromise of all data stored in the encrypted Realm, similar to having no encryption.
    • Risk Severity: Critical
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Generate a 64-byte cryptographically secure random key. Store the key exclusively in the iOS Keychain or Secure Enclave. Implement key rotation policies. Thoroughly audit code to ensure the key is never logged, exposed in debug output, or transmitted insecurely.

Attack Surface: Realm Sync Authentication Bypass

  • Description: Weaknesses in the authentication process for Realm Sync allow unauthorized access to synchronized data.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: Realm Sync relies on a separate authentication system (often Realm Object Server's built-in authentication or a custom provider). The Realm-Cocoa SDK interacts with this system, and vulnerabilities in the interaction or the authentication system itself are relevant.
    • Example: An attacker exploits a weak password policy or a vulnerability in the OAuth flow to gain access to a user's Realm Sync account, allowing them to read or modify all synchronized data.
    • Impact: Unauthorized access to, modification of, or deletion of all data synchronized through Realm Sync for the compromised account. Potentially impacts multiple users if an administrator account is compromised.
    • Risk Severity: High
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Implement strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., multi-factor authentication, robust password policies, secure OAuth implementations). Use HTTPS for all communication with the Realm Object Server. Regularly audit and update authentication protocols. Ensure the Realm-Cocoa SDK is correctly configured to interact securely with the authentication provider.

Attack Surface: Insufficient Realm Sync Authorization (Permissions)

  • Description: Poorly configured Realm Sync permissions allow users to access data they shouldn't.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: Realm Sync provides a permission system, and the Realm-Cocoa SDK is used to define and enforce these permissions. Misconfiguration within the SDK usage is the direct contributor.
    • Example: A developer grants all users read/write access to all objects in a Realm, allowing a regular user to modify or delete data belonging to other users or the application itself.
    • Impact: Unauthorized access to, modification of, or deletion of data by users who should not have those privileges. Data integrity and confidentiality breaches.
    • Risk Severity: High
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Implement the principle of least privilege. Define granular permissions using the Realm-Cocoa SDK that grant users only the minimum necessary access to data. Regularly review and audit permissions. Use Realm's query-based permissions for fine-grained control.

Attack Surface: Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack on Realm Sync

  • Description: An attacker intercepts the communication between the client (using Realm-Cocoa) and the Realm Object Server, potentially stealing or modifying data.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: The Realm-Cocoa SDK handles the network communication with the Realm Object Server. Failure to properly secure this communication within the SDK usage is the direct issue.
    • Example: An attacker on the same Wi-Fi network uses ARP spoofing to intercept the traffic between the app (using Realm-Cocoa) and the Realm Object Server, capturing sensitive data or injecting malicious data.
    • Impact: Data theft, data modification, potential compromise of the user's Realm Sync account.
    • Risk Severity: High
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Always use HTTPS for communication with the Realm Object Server. Ensure the Realm-Cocoa SDK is configured to use HTTPS. Implement certificate pinning within the application code using the Realm-Cocoa SDK's configuration options to prevent attackers from using forged certificates.

Attack Surface: Vulnerabilities in Realm-Cocoa or its Dependencies

  • Description: Security flaws within the Realm-Cocoa library itself or its underlying dependencies could be exploited.
    • How Realm-Cocoa Contributes: As with any software, Realm-Cocoa and its dependencies are not immune to vulnerabilities.
    • Example: A newly discovered vulnerability in a cryptographic library used by Realm-Cocoa allows an attacker to bypass encryption.
    • Impact: Varies widely depending on the specific vulnerability, potentially ranging from data leaks to arbitrary code execution.
    • Risk Severity: Varies (High to Critical, depending on the vulnerability)
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Developer: Keep Realm-Cocoa and all project dependencies updated to the latest versions. Use dependency scanning tools (e.g., OWASP Dependency-Check) to identify and address known vulnerabilities. Monitor security advisories for Realm and related libraries.