Files
rxminder/docs/development/APPLICATION_SECURITY.md

4.4 KiB

Security Guide

🔐 Security Best Practices for Medication Reminder App

Password Security

Password Requirements

  • Minimum 8 characters
  • Must contain uppercase and lowercase letters
  • Must contain at least one number
  • Must contain at least one special character
  • Cannot be common passwords (password123, admin, etc.)

Password Hashing

  • Uses bcrypt with salt rounds for secure password storage
  • Passwords are never stored in plain text
  • Password verification happens through secure hash comparison

Authentication Security

Session Management

  • JWT-like token system for user sessions
  • Tokens have expiration times
  • Secure token storage and transmission
  • Automatic session cleanup on logout

Email Verification

  • All new accounts require email verification
  • Verification tokens are time-limited
  • Prevents unauthorized account creation
  • Uses cryptographically secure random tokens

OAuth Security

  • Supports Google and GitHub OAuth
  • Secure OAuth flow implementation
  • No password storage for OAuth users
  • Account linking prevention for security

Environment Security

Environment Variables

  • Never commit .env files to version control, especially .env.production which contains production credentials
  • Use .env.example as a template for creating new environment files
  • Create separate environment files for different deployment environments:
    • .env - Local development
    • .env.staging - Staging environment
    • .env.production - Production environment
  • Always add all .env files to .gitignore to prevent accidental commits
  • Use environment variables for configuration to maintain security and flexibility
  • Rotate credentials regularly and use strong, unique passwords for each environment
  • Consider using a secrets management system for production environments
  • Never hardcode sensitive information in source code

Docker Security

  • Non-root user for application execution
  • Multi-stage builds to minimize attack surface
  • Health checks for service monitoring
  • Isolated network for services

Database Security

CouchDB Security

  • Admin authentication required
  • Database-level access control
  • SSL/TLS encryption for production
  • Regular backup and security updates

Data Protection

  • User data isolation by user ID
  • Input validation and sanitization
  • Protection against injection attacks
  • Secure data deletion capabilities

Production Security Checklist

Before Deployment

  • Change default admin password
  • Configure strong CouchDB credentials
  • Set up Mailgun with proper API keys
  • Enable SSL/TLS certificates
  • Configure firewall rules
  • Set up monitoring and logging

Regular Security Tasks

  • Rotate credentials monthly
  • Update dependencies regularly
  • Monitor logs for suspicious activity
  • Backup databases securely
  • Review user access permissions
  • Test disaster recovery procedures

Incident Response

Security Breach Protocol

  1. Immediate Response

    • Disable affected accounts
    • Change all credentials
    • Review access logs
    • Document the incident
  2. Investigation

    • Identify breach source
    • Assess data exposure
    • Notify affected users
    • Implement fixes
  3. Recovery

    • Restore from secure backups
    • Update security measures
    • Monitor for further issues
    • Conduct post-incident review

Compliance Considerations

Data Privacy

  • User data minimization
  • Right to data deletion
  • Transparent privacy policy
  • Secure data export capabilities

Healthcare Compliance

  • HIPAA considerations for health data
  • Secure medication information handling
  • Audit trail capabilities
  • Data retention policies

Security Monitoring

Logging

  • Authentication attempts
  • Failed login monitoring
  • Admin actions tracking
  • Database access logging

Alerting

  • Multiple failed login attempts
  • Admin privilege escalation
  • Unusual data access patterns
  • System health issues

Emergency Contacts

Security Issues

Third-party Services