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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0002953Composrcorepublic2022-11-22 18:11
ReporterPatrick SchmalstigAssigned To 
SeverityFeature-request 
Status non-assignedResolutionopen 
Product Version 
Fixed in Version 
Summary0002953: Extend encrypting to more than CPFs
DescriptionExtend the encryption capabilities found in Custom Profile Fields elsewhere. The biggest place I can think of is catalogues. Certain catalogue fields can be selected to be encrypted in the database, especially if the field is very privacy sensitive info.

Could also be useful for sensitive forums, private topics, and the support ticket system (tickets could contain sensitive info like passwords and connection info, etc.). Might also be useful for chats.
Additional InformationPerformance hit possible. Staff need to be aware of encryption implications (eg. hard to recover)
TagsType: Legal compliance / Privacy, Type: Security
Time estimation (hours)40
Sponsorship open

Activities

Patrick Schmalstig

2016-11-28 01:50

administrator   ~0004586

Perhaps also offer the ability to encrypt forum posts on user request in the posting screen, and make anonymous post get encrypted (if available) by default.

Chris Graham

2016-11-28 09:58

administrator   ~0004589

Last edited: 2016-11-28 10:04

View 4 revisions

It is important to bear in mind that the system can't self-decrypt anything right now by design - a key password needs to be entered by the admin each time. That stops system breaches leading to data exposure unless a backdoor is also placed there. This issue seems to cover use cases of:
1) individual users decrypting their own stuff (in which case individual keys would need generating and saving in profiles)
2) staff-only being able to decrypt stuff
3) the system decrypting it's own stuff but at least stuff streaming out of the database is encrypted so a file-system breach would also be needed to undermine security

Someone would need to sponsor this feature as it is much more complex to use and specific than the vast majority of sites would need.

I am also concerned whether is is truly solving a security problem...

Consider the scenario of this improving trust between site owners and site users:
A site owner could just place fake encryption, and read everything anyway.
So little help there.

Consider the scenario of this providing a better security wall in case of hacking:
A hacker could just put in a backdoor that eats up key passwords.
So little help there.

It narrows the use case a lot. I think it only helps for the case of protecting from disgruntled staff who never had code-write access, and protecting from hackers who can never get code-write access.

"Could also be useful for..."

The non-bundled password_censor addon contains an 'encrypt' Comcode tag.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2016-11-28 01:46 Patrick Schmalstig New Issue
2016-11-28 01:48 Patrick Schmalstig Additional Information Updated View Revisions
2016-11-28 01:50 Patrick Schmalstig Note Added: 0004586
2016-11-28 09:51 Chris Graham Category cns_cpfs => core
2016-11-28 09:56 Chris Graham Tag Attached: Type: Security
2016-11-28 09:58 Chris Graham Note Added: 0004589
2016-11-28 09:58 Chris Graham Time estimation (hours) => 40
2016-11-28 10:01 Chris Graham Note Edited: 0004589 View Revisions
2016-11-28 10:03 Chris Graham Note Edited: 0004589 View Revisions
2016-11-28 10:04 Chris Graham Note Edited: 0004589 View Revisions
2022-11-22 18:11 Chris Graham Tag Attached: Type: Legal compliance / Privacy