Security Policy

Supported Versions

We release patches for security vulnerabilities. Which versions are eligible for receiving such patches depends on the CVSS v3.0 Rating:

Version	Supported
1.0.x	✅
< 1.0	❌

Reporting a Vulnerability

The DEB8 team takes security bugs seriously. We appreciate your efforts to responsibly disclose your findings.

How to Report

DO NOT create a public GitHub issue for security vulnerabilities.

Instead, please report security vulnerabilities by emailing:

📧 [email protected]

What to Include

Please include the following information in your report:

1. Type of vulnerability (e.g., XSS, SQL injection, authentication bypass)
2. Full paths of source file(s) related to the vulnerability
3. Location of the affected source code (tag/branch/commit or direct URL)
4. Step-by-step instructions to reproduce the issue
5. Proof-of-concept or exploit code (if possible)
6. Impact assessment of the vulnerability
7. Potential mitigations you've identified

Response Timeline

• Initial Response: Within 48 hours of submission
• Status Update: Within 7 days with our assessment
• Fix Timeline: Varies based on severity
  • Critical: 7 days
  • High: 14 days
  • Medium: 30 days
  • Low: 90 days

Disclosure Policy

• We will acknowledge your report within 48 hours
• We will provide a more detailed response within 7 days
• We will keep you informed of the progress towards a fix
• We may ask for additional information or guidance
• Once fixed, we will coordinate public disclosure with you

Bug Bounty

Currently, we do not have a paid bug bounty program. However, we deeply appreciate security research and will:

• Acknowledge your contribution (with your permission)
• List you in our security hall of fame
• Provide swag/merchandise (if available)

Security Best Practices for Users

For Administrators

1. Environment Variables

   • Never commit .env files to version control
   • Use strong, unique JWT secrets
   • Rotate secrets regularly
   • Use environment-specific configurations

2. Database Security

   • Use strong MongoDB passwords
   • Enable MongoDB authentication
   • Use connection string encryption
   • Regularly backup your database
   • Use MongoDB Atlas with IP whitelisting

3. API Security

   • Keep dependencies updated
   • Use HTTPS in production
   • Implement rate limiting
   • Monitor for suspicious activity
   • Enable CORS only for trusted domains

4. Server Security

   • Keep Node.js and npm updated
   • Use process managers (PM2, Forever)
   • Implement proper logging
   • Use firewalls and security groups
   • Regular security audits

For Developers

1. Code Security

   # Check for vulnerabilities
   npm audit
   
   # Fix vulnerabilities
   npm audit fix

2. Dependencies

   • Regularly update dependencies
   • Review dependency licenses
   • Avoid deprecated packages
   • Use lock files (package-lock.json)

3. Authentication

   • Never store passwords in plain text
   • Use bcrypt for password hashing
   • Implement proper session management
   • Add rate limiting for auth endpoints
   • Use secure JWT secrets

4. Input Validation

   • Sanitize all user inputs
   • Use parameterized queries
   • Implement content security policies
   • Validate file uploads
   • Escape output properly

For Users

1. Account Security

   • Use strong, unique passwords
   • Enable two-factor authentication (when available)
   • Don't share your credentials
   • Log out after using public computers
   • Regularly review your account activity

2. Privacy

   • Be cautious about sharing personal information
   • Review privacy settings regularly
   • Report suspicious activity
   • Use private rooms for sensitive discussions

Known Security Considerations

Current Implementation

1. JWT Tokens

   • Tokens are stored in localStorage
   • Tokens expire after 7 days
   • Tokens include user ID and username only

2. Password Storage

   • Passwords are hashed using bcrypt
   • Salt rounds: 10
   • No password recovery via email (yet)

3. WebSocket Security

   • Socket connections require JWT authentication
   • CORS is configured for specific origins
   • Connection limits prevent DoS attacks

Security Headers

We recommend implementing the following security headers in production:

// Express middleware for security headers
app.use((req, res, next) => {
  res.setHeader('X-Content-Type-Options', 'nosniff');
  res.setHeader('X-Frame-Options', 'DENY');
  res.setHeader('X-XSS-Protection', '1; mode=block');
  res.setHeader('Strict-Transport-Security', 'max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains');
  res.setHeader('Content-Security-Policy', "default-src 'self'");
  next();
});

Third-Party Dependencies

We regularly monitor and update our dependencies. Current critical dependencies:

• Express - Web framework
• MongoDB/Mongoose - Database
• Socket.io - Real-time communication
• JWT - Authentication
• bcrypt.js - Password hashing
• React - Frontend framework

Additional Resources

• OWASP Top 10
• Node.js Security Best Practices
• Express Security Best Practices
• MongoDB Security Checklist

Contact

For any security-related questions or concerns, please contact:

📧 [email protected] 🐛 GitHub Issues: https://github.com/K007-K/DEB8/issues (for non-security bugs)

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Last Updated: October 2025