- Overview
- Project Plan
- Workflows
< > Security
---
##### Project:
::PROJECTNAME
##### Internal Release Number:
::X.Y.Z
##### Related Documents:
- ::LINKS TO RELEVANT STANDARDS
- ::LINKS TO OTHER DOCUMENTS
---
### Overview
*TODO: Answer the questions below to help you design needed security
features. Some example text is provided. Add or delete text as needed.*
#### What are the most important facts that a developer should know about the security of this system?
::PARAGRAPH OR BULLETS
#### What are the ranked goals for security in this system?
1. ::[Data security](Glossary-Std#data_security)
2. ::[Intrusion prevention](Glossary-Std#intrusion_prevention)
3. ::[Abuse prevention](Glossary-Std#abuse_prevention)
4. ::[Auditability](Glossary-Std#auditability)
### Security Mechanisms
#### What physical security mechanisms will be used?
- ::Servers will be kept in a locked room with door code known only
to administrators.
- ::Servers will be kept in a locked equipment rack.
- ::Server case itself has a security cable that prevents the case
from being opened (so the hard-disk with sensitive data cannot
be removed).
- ::Backup tapes are stored in a locked cabinet in a locked room.
#### What network security mechanisms will be used?
- ::A firewall device limits access to specific network ports (e.g.,
port 80 for web server access).
- ::Firewall software limits access to specific network ports (e.g.,
port 80 for web server access).
- ::Only the front-end machines are accessible over the Internet.
Other machines in the server cluster communicate over a private
LAN only.
- ::Users can only connect to the server from specific ranges of
IP-address (e.g., university-owned computers in networks
on campus).
- ::Certain users (e.g., administrators) can only connect from
specific ranges of IP-addresses.
- ::All network communication takes place over a virtual private
network (VPN) that is encrypted and not accessible to outsiders.
- ::All network communication takes place over a LAN that does not
have any connections to the Internet.
#### What operating system security will be used?
- ::Operating system user accounts will never be created on the
servers, other than those needed by the application itself.
- ::Different components in the application execute as different
operating system users, have only the least possible privileges,
and may only access the particular files needed by
that component.
- ::Operating system permissions on files and directories are set to
prevent undesired access or modification.
- ::Intrusion detection software will be used on the server to
detect any modifications made by hackers.
- ::Administrators will monitor security mailing lists for
announcements of security holes in any components that we use
and security patches and upgrades will be applied quickly.
- ::Data on disks and backup tapes is stored using an encrypted file
system so that the data is protected if the media itself is
stolen or somehow accessed.
#### What application security mechanisms will be used?
- ::Values input into every field are validated before use
- ::Usernames and passwords are required for access
- ::Passwords are stored encrypted
- ::Verification of user email address
- ::The quality of passwords is checked
- ::Users must have certificate files on their client machine before
they can connect to the server
- ::Users must have physical security tokens (e.g., hasp, dongle,
smartcard, or fingerprint reader)
- ::Users are given roles that define their permissions. Those roles
are:
- ::Guest: Visitor to the site is not logged in, no permissions
to change anything
- ::Guest: Visitor to the site is not logged in, can post
messages anonymously
- ::RegisteredUser: User is logged in, has permissions for X, Y,
and Z
- ::Administrator: Permission to change anything, even on behalf
of other regular users
- ::Each action (information display or change) requires that the
user has a role with proper permissions
- ::Compromised or abused accounts can be quickly disabled
by administrators.
- ::Administrators can review user permissions
- ::Administrators can audit all accesses and changes
- ::All communications with the user are encrypted (e.g., SSL)
- ::Some communications with the user (e.g., the username
and password) are encrypted (e.g., SSL)
- ::Sessions are tied to a particular client IP-address so that
stolen cookies cannot be used.
- ::Session cookies are long random strings that cannot be guessed.
- ::Sessions time out so that unattended terminals cannot be abused.
- ::Actions that seem to destroy data actually move it to a place
where it can still be reviewed by administrators.
- ::Sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, are processed but
not retained in any database or file
- ::The data access layer will be responsible for preventing SQL
injection attacks (i.e., hackers attempting to enter SQL
statements through application UI fields).
- ::The data access layer will allow read-only connections, which
will be used for most requests, as well as write connections for
requests that update the database.
- ::The HTML generation layer will be responsible for preventing
cross-site-scripting (XSS) attacks.
- ::The application will prevent CSRF attacks. It will do this by
performing updates to the database only after a POST, and
checking that the referring page was served by the system for
every POST. Browsers that do not report HTTP-Referrer will not
be supported.
### Security Checklist
#### Protection of data: To what extent has this been achieved?
::2-4 SENTENCES
#### Prevention of intrusion: To what extent has this been achieved?
::2-4 SENTENCES
#### Prevention of abuse: To what extent has this been achieved?
::2-4 SENTENCES
#### Accountability/auditing: To what extent has this been achieved?
::2-4 SENTENCES
#### Have these security mechanisms been communicated to the development team and other stakeholders?
::Yes, everyone understands. Feedback is welcome.
::No, this is a risk that is noted in the [Risk
Management](plan#risks) section.
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