Charon/docs/plans/archive/issue-365-additional-security.md

Issue #365: Additional Security Enhancements

Status: Planning Created: 2025-12-21 Issue: https://github.com/Wikid82/Charon/issues/365

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Objective

Implement additional security enhancements to address identified threats and gaps in the current security posture.

Security Threats to Address

1. Supply Chain Attacks ❌ → ✅

• Threat: Compromised Docker images, npm packages, Go modules
• Current Protection: Trivy scanning in CI
• Implementation:
  • Add SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) generation
  • Enhanced dependency scanning

2. DNS Hijacking / Cache Poisoning ❌ → 📖

• Threat: Attacker redirects DNS queries to malicious servers
• Implementation:
  • Document use of encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) in deployment guide

3. TLS Downgrade Attacks ✅ → 📖

• Threat: Force clients to use weak TLS versions
• Current Protection: Caddy enforces TLS 1.2+ by default
• Implementation:
  • Document minimum TLS version in security.md

4. Certificate Transparency (CT) Log Poisoning ❌ → 🔮

• Threat: Attacker registers fraudulent certs for your domains
• Implementation: Future feature (separate issue)

5. Privilege Escalation (Container Escape) ⚠️ → 📖

• Threat: Attacker escapes Docker container to host OS
• Current Protection: Docker security best practices (partial)
• Implementation:
  • Document running with least-privilege
  • Document read-only root filesystem configuration

6. Session Hijacking / Cookie Theft ✅ → 🔒

• Threat: Steal user session tokens via XSS or network sniffing
• Current Protection: HTTPOnly cookies, Secure flag, SameSite
• Implementation:
  • Verify current cookie implementation
  • Add CSP (Content Security Policy) headers

7. Timing Attacks (Cryptographic Side-Channel) ❌ → 🔒

• Threat: Infer secrets by measuring response times
• Implementation:
  • Audit bcrypt timing
  • Use constant-time comparison for tokens

Enterprise-Level Security Gaps

In Scope (This Issue)

• Security Incident Response Plan (SIRP) documentation
• Automated security update notifications documentation

Out of Scope (Future Issues)

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) via Authentik
• SSO for Charon admin
• Audit logging for compliance (GDPR, SOC 2)
• CT log monitoring

Implementation Phases

Phase 1: Documentation Updates

1. Update docs/security.md with TLS minimum version
2. Add container hardening guide
3. Add DNS security deployment guide
4. Create Security Incident Response Plan

Phase 2: Code Changes

1. Implement CSP headers in backend
2. Add constant-time token comparison
3. Verify cookie security flags
4. Add SBOM generation to CI

Phase 3: Testing & Validation

1. Security audit of all changes
2. Penetration testing documentation
3. Update integration tests

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This document will be updated as planning progresses.