Skip to content

security.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
241 lines (173 loc) · 6.69 KB

security.md

File metadata and controls

241 lines (173 loc) · 6.69 KB

Security Policy

Security Overview

This document outlines the security considerations for the Python Features Explorer application.

Current Security Model

The application has a permissive security model by default to provide maximum flexibility for learning purposes.

What This Means

  • Examples run with user privileges - Example scripts execute with full access to your system
  • No sandboxing by default - Code execution does not use isolation containers
  • File system access - Scripts can read/write files in accessible directories
  • Network access - Scripts can make network connections (unless restricted by system firewall)

Known Security Considerations

1. Arbitrary Code Execution

Risk Level: ⚠️ Medium

Description: The application executes any Python script in the examples/ directory without validation.

Impact: Malicious scripts could potentially:

  • Read or modify files on your system
  • Access system resources
  • Make network connections
  • Install unauthorized software

Mitigation:

  • Only run examples from trusted sources
  • Review example code before execution
  • Use separate user accounts for testing
  • Consider running in a containerized environment

2. Path Validation

Risk Level: ✓ Accepted

Description: The application validates that examples are .py files, but does not restrict file system locations.

Security Note: Path construction is designed to only access the designated examples/ directory.

3. Code Execution Timeout

Risk Level: ✓ Mitigated

Description: All examples are subject to timeout protection.

Settings:

  • Default timeout: 30 seconds (configurable in config.yaml)
  • Prevents infinite loops and resource exhaustion
  • Automatically kills hanging processes

Security Recommendations

For Production Use

  1. Enable Sandbox Mode (sandbox_mode: true)

    • Adds file system access restrictions
    • Limits allowed directories
    • Blocks potentially dangerous functions

  2. Review Allowed Directories

    security:
  allowed_directories: 
    - "examples"  # Only these can be accessed

  3. Monitor Blocked Functions

    security:
  blocked_functions: 
    - "os.system"      # Prevents shell commands
    - "os.popen"
    - "subprocess.call"
    - "eval"          # Prevents arbitrary code execution
    - "exec"          # Prevents arbitrary code execution

  4. Logging

    • Keep detailed logs of all executions
    • Review logs periodically
    • Set log rotation for security monitoring

  5. Use Non-Privileged User

    • Run application as separate user
    • Limit user file system permissions
    • Use read-only mounts where possible

For Development/Testing

  1. Use Virtual Environment

    python -m venv explorer_env
source explorer_env/bin/activate

  2. Use Containerization

    docker run -v $(pwd):/app explorer_image

  3. Enable Strict Logging

    logging:
  level: "DEBUG"
  file: "secure_logs/python_explorer.log"
  max_size_mb: 50

Security Best Practices

Before Running Examples

  1. Review the code - Understand what the example does
  2. Check imports - Ensure no suspicious external packages
  3. Monitor output - Watch for unexpected behavior
  4. Start small - Begin with simple examples

After Installing/Running

  • Keep Python updated - Update regularly for security patches
  • Review dependencies - Check for vulnerable packages with pip audit
  • Check logs - Regularly review python_explorer.log
  • Back up progress - Periodically backup user_progress.json

Reporting Security Issues

If you discover a security vulnerability, please report it responsibly:

  1. Do not disclose publicly until resolved
  2. Email security maintainers with details
  3. Include:
    • Description of vulnerability
    • Steps to reproduce
    • Potential impact
    • Suggested fix (if applicable)

Security Updates

Security updates will be announced:

  • Through repository releases
  • Via email notifications for subscribed users
  • On the project's security page

Version Support

Version Supported
2.0.x ✅ Active Security
1.0.x ⚠️ Security Only

Audit Trail

For comprehensive security auditing:

  • All executions are logged to python_explorer.log
  • User progress changes tracked with timestamps
  • Failed executions recorded with error details
  • Configuration changes logged

External Security Tools

Consider using additional tools for comprehensive security:

  1. SAST (Static Application Security Testing)

    • Code analysis before execution
    • Detects common vulnerabilities

  2. Containerization

    # Run in isolated container
docker run --read-only --tmpfs /tmp explorer_app

  3. Network Security

    • Use firewall to restrict network access
    • Monitor outgoing connections
    • Consider using air-gapped systems

Compliance Considerations

Educational Use

For educational purposes, the default permissive model balances:

  • Learning flexibility
  • Resource accessibility
  • System integration

Production Use

For production/deployed versions:

  • Enable sandbox mode by default
  • Restrict examples to trusted sources
  • Implement comprehensive logging
  • Use containerized execution

Known Limitations

  1. No OS-level sandboxing - Requires external tools for containers (Docker, etc.)
  2. No file system virtualization - Scripts have real file system access
  3. No network isolation - Unless system firewall configured
  4. No capability dropping - Scripts run with user privileges

Third-Party Security

  • Dependencies listed in requirements.txt are periodically audited
  • Python itself receives regular security updates
  • Consider using package scanning tools:
    • safety for vulnerability scanning
    • pip-audit for dependency checks
    • bandit for Python security analysis

Future Security Improvements

Planned security enhancements:

  • Container-based execution
  • File system sandboxing
  • Network isolation
  • Permission-based execution controls
  • Automated vulnerability scanning

Contact

For security-related inquiries:

  • Issue tracker: Security section
  • Email: Use repository issue system
  • Timeframe: Within 48 hours for valid reports

Disclaimer

This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.

The development team takes security seriously but cannot guarantee absolute security, especially with applications that execute user-provided code. Use at your own risk and implement appropriate security measures based on your specific requirements.

Last updated: April 2024