PFVCluster/docs/SECURITY.md

PFVCluster Security Documentation

Security Architecture

The PFVCluster infrastructure provisioning system is designed with security-first principles, implementing multiple layers of protection for server deployment and management.

Current Security Features

1. Secure Deployment Method ✅

• Git-based deployment: Uses git clone instead of curl | bash
• Local execution: Scripts run locally after inspection
• Version control: Full audit trail of changes
• Code review: Changes require explicit approval

2. HTTPS Enforcement ✅

• All downloads use HTTPS: Eliminates man-in-the-middle attacks
• SSL certificate validation: Automatic certificate checking
• Secure repositories: Ubuntu archive, Dell, Proxmox all use HTTPS
• No HTTP fallbacks: No insecure download methods

3. SSH Hardening

• Key-only authentication: Password login disabled
• Secure ciphers: Modern encryption algorithms only
• Fail2ban protection: Automated intrusion prevention
• Custom SSH configuration: Hardened sshd_config

4. System Security

• Firewall configuration: Automated iptables rules
• Audit logging: auditd with custom rules
• SIEM integration: Wazuh agent deployment
• Compliance scanning: SCAP-STIG automated checks

5. Error Handling

• Bash strict mode: set -euo pipefail prevents errors
• Centralized logging: All operations logged with timestamps
• Graceful failures: Proper cleanup on errors
• Line-level debugging: Error reporting with line numbers

Security Testing

Automated Security Validation

# Run security test suite
./tests/run-tests.sh security

# Specific security tests
./tests/security/https-enforcement.sh

Security Test Categories

1. HTTPS Enforcement: Validates all URLs use HTTPS
2. Deployment Security: Checks for secure deployment methods
3. SSL Certificate Validation: Tests certificate authenticity
4. Permission Validation: Verifies proper file permissions

Threat Model

Mitigated Threats

• Supply Chain Attacks: Git-based deployment with review
• Man-in-the-Middle: HTTPS-only downloads
• Privilege Escalation: Proper permission models
• Unauthorized Access: SSH hardening and key management

Remaining Risks

• Secrets in Repository: SSH keys stored in git (planned for removal)
• No Integrity Verification: Downloads lack checksum validation
• No Backup/Recovery: No rollback capability implemented

Security Recommendations

High Priority

1. Implement Secrets Management

   • Remove SSH keys from repository
   • Use Bitwarden/Vault for secret storage
   • Implement key rotation procedures

2. Add Download Integrity Verification

   • SHA256 checksum validation for all downloads
   • GPG signature verification where available
   • Fail-safe on integrity check failures

3. Enhance Audit Logging

   • Centralized log collection
   • Real-time security monitoring
   • Automated threat detection

Medium Priority

1. Configuration Backup

   • System state snapshots before changes
   • Rollback capability for failed deployments
   • Configuration drift detection

2. Network Security

   • VPN-based deployment (where applicable)
   • Network segmentation for management
   • Encrypted communication channels

Compliance

Security Standards

• CIS Benchmarks: Automated compliance checking
• STIG Guidelines: SCAP-based validation
• Industry Best Practices: Following NIST cybersecurity framework

Audit Requirements

• Change Tracking: All modifications logged
• Access Control: Permission-based system access
• Vulnerability Management: Regular security assessments

Incident Response

Security Event Handling

1. Detection: Automated monitoring and alerting
2. Containment: Immediate isolation procedures
3. Investigation: Log analysis and forensics
4. Recovery: System restoration procedures
5. Lessons Learned: Process improvement

Contact Information

• Security Team: [To be defined]
• Incident Response: [To be defined]
• Escalation Path: [To be defined]

Security Development Lifecycle

Code Review Process

1. Static Analysis: Automated security scanning
2. Peer Review: Manual code inspection
3. Security Testing: Automated security test suite
4. Approval: Security team sign-off

Deployment Security

1. Pre-deployment Validation: Security test execution
2. Secure Deployment: Authorized personnel only
3. Post-deployment Verification: Security configuration validation
4. Monitoring: Continuous security monitoring

Security Tools and Integrations

Current Tools

• Wazuh: SIEM and security monitoring
• Lynis: Security auditing
• auditd: System call auditing
• Fail2ban: Intrusion prevention

Planned Integrations

• Vault/Bitwarden: Secrets management
• OSSEC: Host-based intrusion detection
• Nessus/OpenVAS: Vulnerability scanning
• ELK Stack: Log aggregation and analysis

Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability Scanning

• Regular scans: Monthly vulnerability assessments
• Automated patching: Security update automation
• Exception handling: Risk-based patch management
• Reporting: Executive security dashboards

Disclosure Process

1. Internal Discovery: Report to security team
2. Assessment: Risk and impact evaluation
3. Remediation: Patch development and testing
4. Deployment: Coordinated security updates
5. Verification: Post-patch validation

Security Metrics

Key Performance Indicators

• Deployment Success Rate: Percentage of successful secure deployments
• Vulnerability Response Time: Time to patch critical vulnerabilities
• Security Test Coverage: Percentage of code covered by security tests
• Incident Response Time: Time to detect and respond to security events

Monitoring and Reporting

• Real-time Dashboards: Security status monitoring
• Executive Reports: Monthly security summaries
• Compliance Reports: Quarterly compliance assessments
• Trend Analysis: Security posture improvement tracking

Contact and Support

For security-related questions or incidents:

• Repository Issues: https://projects.knownelement.com/project/reachableceo-vptechnicaloperations/timeline
• Community Discussion: https://community.turnsys.com/c/chieftechnologyandproductofficer/26
• Security Team: [Contact information to be added]

Security Updates

This document is updated as security features are implemented and threats evolve. Last updated: July 14, 2025.