Identify the code and related data structures to be reviewed
2
Check that the code follows the organizational coding standards
3
Inspect that secure coding practices have been adhered to
4
Ensure that error handling is properly implemented
5
Verify if input validation is properly implemented
6
Check for hard-coded sensitive data
7
Inspect the code for possible injection flaws
8
Review the use of third-party components and their security configuration
9
Assess proper implementation of cryptography measures
10
Audit for safe handling of data in transit and rest
11
Investigate the logging and auditing processes in code
12
Confirm general code quality measures are met
13
Consider the security implications of the system environment
14
Scan code using an automated tools
15
Log all the potential issues found during the review
16
Define remediation strategies for each identified issue
17
Approval: Team Lead
18
Create a detailed report of the code review findings and remediation strategies
19
Dispatch report to the relevant parties
20
Implement and verify the remediation strategies
Identify the code and related data structures to be reviewed
This task is crucial in the secure code review process as it sets the foundation for the entire review. Identify the specific code and related data structures that will be reviewed. Have a clear understanding of the scope and boundaries of the code review. Determine the importance of the code and the potential risks associated with it. Consider the impact the code has on the overall system and prioritize accordingly. Are there any specific challenges that may arise during this task? How can they be addressed? Use resources such as version control systems, documentation, and stakeholder input to aid in the identification process.
Check that the code follows the organizational coding standards
Ensure that the code being reviewed adheres to the organizational coding standards. This includes coding style, naming conventions, and overall best practices. Identify any deviations from the standards and evaluate their impact on code quality and security. Are there any specific coding standards or guidelines that need to be followed? What tools or resources can be used to check for adherence to these standards? Consider the potential challenges of enforcing coding standards and provide recommendations for addressing them.
1
Naming conventions
2
Indentation and formatting
3
Commenting
4
Function and variable naming
5
Code modularity and reusability
Inspect that secure coding practices have been adhered to
Review the code to ensure that secure coding practices have been followed. Identify vulnerabilities or weaknesses that may be present due to insecure coding practices. Educate developers on best practices and provide recommendations for improvement. Consider the challenges of implementing secure coding practices in different programming languages or frameworks and provide guidance on how to overcome them.
1
Input validation
2
Output encoding
3
Protection against cross-site scripting (XSS)
4
Protection against SQL injection
5
Prevention of security misconfigurations
Ensure that error handling is properly implemented
Verify that error handling mechanisms are in place and handle exceptions gracefully. Check if error messages provide useful information without disclosing sensitive details. Evaluate the impact of improper error handling on security and system stability. Recommend improvements to error handling mechanisms, including logging and reporting of errors. Consider the challenges in implementing effective error handling and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Proper use of try-catch blocks
2
Logging and reporting of errors
3
Error message content and format
4
Graceful degradation or fallback mechanisms
5
Handling of specific error types (e.g., network errors, database errors)
Verify if input validation is properly implemented
Review the code to ensure input validation is implemented correctly. Identify potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with inadequate input validation. Evaluate the impact of poor input validation on security and system functionality. Recommend improvements in input validation mechanisms, including validation techniques and libraries. Consider the challenges in implementing effective input validation and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Data type validation
2
Length and size validation
3
Format validation (e.g., email, phone number)
4
Input sanitization
5
Regular expression validation
Check for hard-coded sensitive data
Inspect the code to identify any instances of hard-coded sensitive data, such as passwords, API keys, or database connection strings. Evaluate the potential risks associated with hard-coded data and recommend secure alternatives. Consider the challenges in avoiding hard-coded sensitive data and provide guidance on how to address them.
Inspect the code for possible injection flaws
Review the code to identify any potential injection flaws, such as SQL injection or command injection vulnerabilities. Evaluate the impact of injection flaws on security and data integrity. Recommend security measures to prevent injection attacks, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries. Consider the challenges in detecting and preventing injection flaws and provide guidance on how to address them.
Review the use of third-party components and their security configuration
Evaluate the use of third-party components in the code and their security configurations. Identify potential risks associated with outdated or vulnerable components. Recommend strategies for keeping third-party components up-to-date and configuring them securely. Consider the challenges in managing third-party components and provide guidance on how to address them.
Assess proper implementation of cryptography measures
Evaluate the use of cryptography in the code to ensure proper implementation. Identify potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities in cryptographic algorithms, key management, or encryption processes. Recommend best practices for cryptographic implementation, including the use of secure algorithms and appropriate key sizes. Consider the challenges in implementing cryptography measures correctly and provide guidance on how to address them.
Audit for safe handling of data in transit and rest
Review the code to ensure the safe handling of data during transit and at rest. Identify potential risks associated with insecure data transmission or storage. Recommend secure protocols for data transfer and storage mechanisms, such as SSL/TLS for encryption and secure hashing algorithms. Consider the challenges in implementing secure data handling and provide guidance on how to address them.
Investigate the logging and auditing processes in code
Examine the code to evaluate the logging and auditing processes implemented. Verify if sufficient logging is in place to capture relevant events and actions. Assess the integrity and confidentiality of logged data. Recommend improvements in logging mechanisms, such as log rotation and proper log storage. Consider the challenges in implementing effective logging and auditing processes and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Logging of security-related events
2
Proper log level configuration
3
Log storage and rotation
4
Protection of log files from unauthorized access
5
Audit trail analysis capabilities
Confirm general code quality measures are met
Verify that the code adheres to general code quality measures. Evaluate code readability, maintainability, and efficiency. Suggest improvements for code optimization, such as refactoring or identifying code smells. Consider the impact of poor code quality on security and overall system performance. Recommend best practices for code quality assurance and improvement. Consider the challenges in maintaining code quality and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Readability
2
Modularity
3
Efficiency
4
Consistency
5
Code documentation
Consider the security implications of the system environment
Take into account the security implications of the system environment in which the code operates. Assess risks associated with the operating system, network configuration, server infrastructure, and other system dependencies. Recommend security measures specific to the system environment, such as firewall configuration, access controls, or system hardening. Consider the challenges in securing the system environment and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Firewall configuration
2
Network segmentation
3
Access control policies
4
Server hardening
5
Regular security updates
Scan code using an automated tools
Utilize automated code scanning tools to identify potential security vulnerabilities or coding errors that may have been missed during manual review. Discuss the advantages and limitations of automated tools and their integration into the code review process. Share resources or recommendations for popular code scanning tools in your organization or industry. Consider the challenges in using automated tools effectively and provide guidance on how to address them.
Log all the potential issues found during the review
Create a log or record of all the potential issues, vulnerabilities, or areas of improvement identified during the code review. This log will serve as a reference for further analysis, prioritization, and tracking of remediation efforts. Discuss the format and structure of the log and any specific information or fields that should be included. Consider the challenges in creating and maintaining an issue log and provide guidance on how to address them.
Define remediation strategies for each identified issue
For each issue identified during the code review, define a clear remediation strategy to address the problem. This includes determining the severity of the issue, prioritizing fixes, and identifying the necessary actions to mitigate the risk. Discuss strategies for communicating the identified issues and corresponding remediation plans to the development team or relevant stakeholders. Consider the challenges in defining effective remediation strategies and provide guidance on how to address them.
Approval: Team Lead
Will be submitted for approval:
Inspect that secure coding practices have been adhered to
Will be submitted
Ensure that error handling is properly implemented
Will be submitted
Verify if input validation is properly implemented
Will be submitted
Check for hard-coded sensitive data
Will be submitted
Inspect the code for possible injection flaws
Will be submitted
Review the use of third-party components and their security configuration
Will be submitted
Assess proper implementation of cryptography measures
Will be submitted
Audit for safe handling of data in transit and rest
Will be submitted
Investigate the logging and auditing processes in code
Will be submitted
Confirm general code quality measures are met
Will be submitted
Consider the security implications of the system environment
Will be submitted
Scan code using an automated tools
Will be submitted
Log all the potential issues found during the review
Will be submitted
Define remediation strategies for each identified issue
Will be submitted
Create a detailed report of the code review findings and remediation strategies
Compile all the findings from the code review, including identified issues, vulnerabilities, and suggested remediation strategies, into a comprehensive report. The report should communicate the results of the code review in a clear and concise manner, providing necessary details for understanding the issues and their impact. Discuss the structure and format of the report, including any specific sections or information that should be included. Consider the challenges in creating an effective code review report and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Executive summary
2
Detailed findings
3
Remediation strategies
4
Prioritization and risk assessment
5
Recommendations for future code review
Dispatch report to the relevant parties
Ensure that the code review report is shared with the appropriate individuals or teams. Discuss the process for distributing the report, including any internal review or approval steps. Identify key stakeholders who should receive the report and their respective roles in addressing the identified issues. Consider the challenges in distributing the report effectively and provide guidance on how to address them.
1
Development team
2
Project managers
3
Security team
4
Executive management
5
External auditors
Implement and verify the remediation strategies
Actively engage in the implementation and verification of the defined remediation strategies for each identified issue. Collaborate with the development team or relevant stakeholders to address the issues and ensure that the necessary fixes or improvements have been successfully implemented. Discuss the process for verifying the effectiveness of the remediation strategies and any specific actions or tests that should be conducted. Consider the challenges in implementing and verifying remediation strategies and provide guidance on how to address them.
