[Phase 1.5] Security Layer & API Key Handling (Days 8-11)

[mfittko]

🔒 Security Layer & API Key Handling (Days 8-11)

Component: Security Framework | Critical Path: Required for safe tool execution
Parent Issue: #2 | Timeline: Days 8-11 of Phase 1

🎯 Objective

Implement comprehensive security framework with API key management, tool sandboxing, and access controls to ensure safe operation.

📋 Tasks

5.1 Security Policy Framework

• 5.1.1 Create comprehensive SecurityPolicy interface

  • File system access permissions (read/write/execute)
  • Network access controls (allowed domains, protocols)
  • System command execution restrictions
  • Resource limits (memory, CPU, execution time)

• 5.1.2 Implement SecurityPolicyValidator with access controls

  • Policy loading and validation from configuration
  • Runtime permission checking for all operations
  • Violation logging and blocking
  • Policy inheritance and override mechanisms

• 5.1.3 Create default security policies for different environments

  • Development mode (relaxed but logged)
  • Production mode (strict restrictions)
  • IDE integration mode (limited file access)
  • Testing mode (sandboxed with cleanup)

• 5.1.4 Add security policy loading and validation

  • Configuration file integration
  • Environment-specific policy selection
  • Policy validation and conflict resolution
  • Runtime policy updates and reloading

5.2 API Key & Credential Management

• 5.2.1 Create secure credential manager with memory-only storage

  • No disk storage of credentials
  • Memory encryption where possible
  • Automatic cleanup on process termination
  • Multiple provider support (OpenAI, etc.)

• 5.2.2 Implement environment variable validation with warnings

  • Required credential detection
  • Validation of API key formats
  • Warning for weak or test keys
  • Environment isolation and validation

• 5.2.3 Add secure credential file support with permissions validation

  • Encrypted credential file support
  • File permission validation (600/400)
  • Multiple credential storage backends
  • Credential rotation and expiration

• 5.2.4 Create comprehensive logging redaction for API keys

  • Automatic API key detection and redaction
  • Pattern-based credential masking
  • Debug logging without credential exposure
  • Audit trail for credential usage

5.3 Tool Execution Sandboxing

• 5.3.1 Create ToolExecutionContext with resource limits

  • Memory usage limits and monitoring
  • CPU time limits and enforcement
  • Network request timeouts and restrictions
  • File system access boundaries

• 5.3.2 Implement security-wrapped tool execution

  • Pre-execution permission validation
  • Runtime security monitoring
  • Post-execution cleanup and validation
  • Exception handling with security context

• 5.3.3 Add resource monitoring (memory, CPU, execution time)

  • Real-time resource usage tracking
  • Limit enforcement with graceful degradation
  • Performance metrics collection
  • Alert system for resource abuse

• 5.3.4 Create comprehensive audit logging

  • All tool executions logged with context
  • Security violation tracking
  • Performance and resource usage logs
  • Exportable audit trail for compliance

5.4 Security Testing

• 5.4.1 Create security test suite with malicious input scenarios

  • Path traversal attack prevention
  • Command injection prevention
  • API key extraction attempt blocking
  • Resource exhaustion attack handling

• 5.4.2 Test file system access restrictions

  • Unauthorized file access attempts
  • Directory traversal prevention
  • Permission boundary enforcement
  • Temporary file handling security

• 5.4.3 Verify API key redaction in all output scenarios

  • Console output redaction testing
  • Log file redaction validation
  • Error message redaction verification
  • Debug output security validation

• 5.4.4 Validate resource limit enforcement

  • Memory limit stress testing
  • CPU time limit validation
  • Network timeout enforcement
  • Concurrent execution limit testing

✅ Definition of Done

• Security policies prevent unauthorized operations
• API keys never appear in logs or output
• Tool execution stays within resource limits
• File system access is properly restricted
• Security tests pass with malicious inputs
• Audit logging captures all security events
• Credential management is secure and encrypted
• Resource monitoring prevents abuse

🔗 Dependencies

• Requires: Schema Design ([Phase 1.2] Schema Design & Validation (Days 3-5) #4) for security configuration
• Enables: Safe tool execution in all components

📚 References

• Node.js Security Best Practices
• OWASP Security Guidelines
• API Key Security

Note: Security is non-negotiable. This framework must prevent all unauthorized access and credential leakage.