Security Policy for PKI Trust Auditor

Overview#

This document outlines the security policy, vulnerability management procedures, and security considerations for the PKI Trust Auditor application. As a security auditing tool that handles sensitive PKI infrastructure data, maintaining robust security practices is paramount.

Responsible Disclosure Policy#

Reporting Security Vulnerabilities#

We take the security of PKI Trust Auditor seriously. If you believe you've found a security vulnerability, please report it to us following these guidelines:

Contact Information:

Required Information:

  • Detailed description of the vulnerability
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Affected versions of PKI Trust Auditor
  • Potential impact assessment
  • Any proof-of-concept code or screenshots

Response Timeline:

  • Acknowledgement: Within 48 hours of report receipt
  • Initial Assessment: Within 5 business days
  • Remediation Plan: Within 10 business days for critical issues
  • Public Disclosure: Coordinated with reporter after patch availability

Security Considerations for PKI Trust Auditor#

Data Security#

Credential Handling

  • PKI Trust Auditor uses current user credentials for all operations
  • No credential storage or caching occurs within the application
  • All authentication relies on Windows integrated authentication
  • Users should employ dedicated service accounts with minimal required privileges

Evidence Storage

  • Audit results are stored locally in the Audit-Results/ directory
  • Evidence files contain security assessment data and should be protected
  • Downloaded certificates and CRLs are stored for analysis purposes
  • No sensitive data is transmitted externally by the application

Certificate Handling

  • CA certificates are retrieved from Active Directory for analysis
  • AIA certificates are downloaded from configured URLs for validation
  • CRL files are downloaded for accessibility testing
  • All downloaded cryptographic materials should be treated as sensitive

Network Security#

Communication Protocols

  • WMI: Uses DCOM/RPC over port 135 (ensure proper firewall configuration)
  • PowerShell Remoting: Uses WinRM over ports 5985/5986
  • LDAP: Active Directory queries over port 389/636
  • HTTP/HTTPS: URL reachability testing for AIA and CDP endpoints

Security Recommendations

  • Implement network segmentation for CA servers
  • Use encrypted channels where available (LDAPS, WinRM HTTPS)
  • Configure appropriate firewall rules for required ports
  • Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity

Application Security#

Input Validation

  • All CA configuration parameters are validated before execution
  • Certificate data is parsed with proper error handling
  • Template configurations are analyzed with security controls
  • Registry queries include proper sanitization and validation

Error Handling

  • Errors are logged without exposing sensitive information
  • Stack traces are captured for debugging but not exposed to users
  • Failed operations are gracefully handled with appropriate status codes
  • Evidence files contain detailed execution information for troubleshooting

Dependency Security

  • Regular security scanning of third-party dependencies
  • Prompt application of security patches for .NET framework
  • Monitoring of security advisories for System.DirectoryServices and System.Management
  • Secure coding practices for all custom PowerShell scripts

Vulnerability Management Process#

Vulnerability Assessment#

Severity Classification

  • Critical: Remote code execution, privilege escalation, data exposure
  • High: Information disclosure, denial of service, authentication bypass
  • Medium: Security configuration issues, improper access controls
  • Low: Informational disclosures, minor security observations

Assessment Criteria

  • Impact on PKI infrastructure security
  • Potential for credential or certificate exposure
  • Risk to audit integrity and evidence collection
  • Compliance implications for security assessments

Remediation Procedures#

Patch Development

  • Security patches are developed in isolated branches
  • Comprehensive testing against multiple PKI environments
  • Backward compatibility assessment for existing audit results
  • Security review before release

Release Process

  • Security updates are released as patch versions (e.g., 1.0.1)
  • Release notes include detailed vulnerability information
  • Users are notified through multiple channels
  • Critical updates may include expedited release procedures

Disclosure Policy#

Coordinated Disclosure

  • Vulnerabilities are disclosed after patches are available
  • Credit is provided to security researchers who follow responsible disclosure
  • Public disclosure includes sufficient information for users to assess risk
  • No zero-day vulnerabilities are disclosed without available mitigation

Communication Channels

  • GitHub Security Advisories for technical details
  • Email notifications to registered users
  • Website announcements for critical security updates
  • Social media for broad awareness

Security Best Practices for Users#

Deployment Security#

Installation Guidelines

  • Deploy PKI Trust Auditor on dedicated audit servers
  • Use dedicated service accounts with minimal required privileges
  • Implement proper access controls on audit result directories
  • Regularly update to the latest secure version

Configuration Security

  • Secure parameters.json configuration files
  • Use domain-specific service accounts for CA access
  • Implement proper logging and monitoring
  • Regular security reviews of audit configurations

Access Control#

Principle of Least Privilege

  • Grant only necessary permissions for CA administration
  • Limit network access to required ports and protocols
  • Implement proper segregation of duties
  • Regular access reviews for audit accounts

Monitoring and Auditing

  • Monitor audit execution logs for suspicious activity
  • Implement proper log retention and analysis
  • Regular review of audit evidence files
  • Security incident response procedures

Operational Security#

Secure Usage

  • Run audits during maintenance windows when possible
  • Secure storage of audit results and evidence
  • Proper disposal of temporary files and cached data
  • Regular security assessments of the audit environment

Compliance Considerations

  • Align audit practices with organizational security policies
  • Maintain proper documentation for compliance requirements
  • Regular review of security controls and procedures
  • Incident response planning for security events

Compliance and Standards#

Security Frameworks#

PKI Trust Auditor supports compliance with:

  • NIST SP 800-53: Security and privacy controls
  • PCI DSS: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
  • ISO 27001: Information security management
  • CIS Benchmarks: Security configuration guidelines

Audit Trail#

  • Detailed execution logs with timestamps
  • Evidence files for each control execution
  • Compliance status reporting
  • Remediation tracking and verification

Incident Response#

  • Security incident reporting procedures
  • Forensic analysis capabilities through evidence collection
  • Communication protocols for security events
  • Post-incident review and improvement processes

Maintenance and Updates#

Security Updates#

Regular Scanning

  • Continuous monitoring of security advisories
  • Regular dependency vulnerability scanning
  • Security code review for new features
  • Penetration testing for major releases

Update Policy

  • Security patches are released as needed
  • Regular maintenance releases include security improvements
  • End-of-life announcements with sufficient lead time
  • Migration guidance for major version upgrades

Version Support#

Supported Versions

  • Current major version and previous major version
  • Security patches for supported versions only
  • Clear end-of-life announcements for deprecated versions
  • Migration tools and documentation for upgrades

End-of-Life Policy

  • 6 months notice for version end-of-life
  • Security support for 12 months after release
  • Extended support available for enterprise customers
  • Clear migration paths to supported versions

Contact and Support#

Security Team#

Resources#

  • Security Documentation: PKI Trust Auditor User Guide
  • Technical Documentation: Project README and code documentation
  • Community Support: GitHub Issues for non-security questions
  • This security policy is subject to change without notice
  • Users are responsible for implementing appropriate security measures
  • The development team provides security support on a best-effort basis

This security policy is maintained by the PKI Trust Auditor development team. Last updated: October 2025

For security concerns, please contact [email protected]