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apidash/doc/security/INCIDENT_RESPONSE_PLAN.md
2025-12-04 21:13:39 +00:00

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Incident Response Plan (IRP) for API Dash

Document Version: 1.0
Effective Date: December 2025
Project: API Dash - Open Source Cross-Platform API Client
Classification: Public
Review Cycle: Annually or post-incident


Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Purpose and Scope
  3. Incident Response Team
  4. Incident Classification and Severity
  5. Incident Response Lifecycle
  6. Communication Plan
  7. Incident Types and Response Procedures
  8. Post-Incident Activities
  9. Tools and Resources
  10. Training and Awareness
  11. Legal and Compliance
  12. Plan Maintenance
  13. Appendices

1. Executive Summary

This Incident Response Plan (IRP) establishes a structured approach for identifying, managing, and resolving security incidents affecting the API Dash open source project. API Dash is a cross-platform API testing client used by developers worldwide, making security incident response critical to maintaining user trust and protecting the community.

Key Objectives

  1. Rapid Detection: Identify security incidents quickly through community reporting and automated monitoring
  2. Effective Response: Contain and resolve incidents with minimal impact to users
  3. Transparent Communication: Keep the community informed while protecting sensitive details
  4. Continuous Improvement: Learn from incidents to strengthen security posture
  5. Compliance: Adhere to responsible disclosure practices and regulatory requirements

Incident Response Goals (2025 Standards)

  • Detection Time: < 1 hour for critical vulnerabilities
  • Initial Response: < 4 hours for critical, < 24 hours for high severity
  • Patch Release: < 72 hours for critical vulnerabilities
  • Public Disclosure: Within 90 days of fix, coordinated with reporters
  • Post-Incident Review: Within 7 days of incident resolution

2. Purpose and Scope

2.1 Purpose

This IRP provides:

  • Clear procedures for handling security incidents
  • Defined roles and responsibilities
  • Communication protocols
  • Documentation requirements
  • Recovery procedures

2.2 Scope

In Scope:

  • Security vulnerabilities in API Dash application code
  • Vulnerabilities in API Dash dependencies and packages
  • Security issues in build/release infrastructure
  • Supply chain attacks affecting distribution
  • Data breaches involving user credentials or sensitive information
  • Malicious code or backdoors in the codebase
  • Security incidents affecting project infrastructure (GitHub, website)
  • Social engineering attacks targeting maintainers or users
  • Compromised releases or distribution channels

Out of Scope:

  • General bugs or functionality issues (use GitHub Issues)
  • User configuration errors or misuse
  • Security of third-party APIs being tested
  • User device security (unless caused by API Dash)
  • Individual user support requests
  • Feature requests or enhancements

2.3 Applicability

This IRP applies to:

  • All API Dash maintainers and contributors
  • Security researchers reporting vulnerabilities
  • Users affected by security incidents
  • Third-party security teams coordinating disclosures

3. Incident Response Team

3.1 Core Team Structure

3.1.1 Incident Commander (IC)

Role: Overall incident coordination and decision-making
Primary: Lead Maintainer (@foss42 GitHub organization)
Backup: Senior Maintainer

Responsibilities:

  • Activate incident response procedures
  • Coordinate team activities
  • Make critical decisions
  • Approve public communications
  • Declare incident closure

3.1.2 Security Lead

Role: Technical security assessment and remediation
Primary: Security-focused maintainer
Backup: Senior developer with security experience

Responsibilities:

  • Vulnerability analysis and validation
  • Risk assessment and severity classification
  • Technical remediation guidance
  • Security patch development
  • Coordinate with security researchers

3.1.3 Communications Lead

Role: Internal and external communications
Primary: Project lead or designated spokesperson
Backup: Senior maintainer

Responsibilities:

  • Draft incident communications
  • Manage GitHub Security Advisories
  • Coordinate vulnerability disclosure
  • Update community on incident status
  • Handle media inquiries (if applicable)

3.1.4 Technical Lead

Role: Code fixes and release management
Primary: Core maintainer with release permissions
Backup: Senior developer

Responsibilities:

  • Develop and test security patches
  • Emergency release coordination
  • Code review of security fixes
  • Verify fix effectiveness
  • Update dependencies

3.1.5 Documentation Lead

Role: Incident documentation and reporting
Primary: Designated maintainer
Backup: Any core team member

Responsibilities:

  • Document incident timeline
  • Maintain incident logs
  • Create post-incident reports
  • Update security documentation
  • Track action items

3.2 Extended Team

  • Community Moderators: Manage community communications
  • Legal Advisor: Provide legal guidance (if available)
  • External Security Experts: Consultants for complex incidents
  • Platform Representatives: GitHub, distribution platform contacts

3.3 Contact Information

Primary Communication Channel: Private GitHub Security Advisory
Emergency Contact: security@apidash.dev (or maintainer emails)
Escalation Path: GitHub organization owners → CNCF security team (if applicable)

Response Time Commitments:

  • Critical: Response within 4 hours
  • High: Response within 24 hours
  • Medium: Response within 72 hours
  • Low: Response within 1 week

4. Incident Classification and Severity

4.1 Severity Levels (Aligned with CVSS 3.1)

CRITICAL (CVSS 9.0-10.0)

Definition: Vulnerabilities with severe impact requiring immediate action

Examples:

  • Remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities
  • Arbitrary code execution in template engine
  • Critical data exposure of all users' credentials
  • Supply chain compromise (malicious dependency)
  • Backdoor or malicious code in releases

Response SLA:

  • Initial Response: 4 hours
  • Assessment: 8 hours
  • Patch Development: 48 hours
  • Patch Release: 72 hours
  • Public Disclosure: Immediate advisory, full disclosure after 7-14 days

HIGH (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

Definition: Significant vulnerabilities that could lead to major impact

Examples:

  • Authentication bypass
  • Privilege escalation vulnerabilities
  • SQL injection or command injection in generated code
  • Unencrypted storage of sensitive credentials
  • Deserialization vulnerabilities
  • XSS or code injection in UI components

Response SLA:

  • Initial Response: 24 hours
  • Assessment: 48 hours
  • Patch Development: 1 week
  • Patch Release: 2 weeks
  • Public Disclosure: Full disclosure after 30 days

MEDIUM (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

Definition: Vulnerabilities with moderate impact

Examples:

  • Information disclosure of non-critical data
  • CSRF vulnerabilities
  • Insecure defaults
  • Path traversal with limited impact
  • Denial of service (local only)
  • Weak cryptography

Response SLA:

  • Initial Response: 72 hours
  • Assessment: 1 week
  • Patch Development: 2-4 weeks
  • Patch Release: Next regular release
  • Public Disclosure: Full disclosure after 60 days

LOW (CVSS 0.1-3.9)

Definition: Minor vulnerabilities with limited impact

Examples:

  • Information leakage with minimal impact
  • Security misconfigurations
  • Minor input validation issues
  • Non-sensitive data exposure

Response SLA:

  • Initial Response: 1 week
  • Assessment: 2 weeks
  • Patch Development: As resources allow
  • Patch Release: Next regular release
  • Public Disclosure: Full disclosure after 90 days

4.2 Incident Categories

Category Description Examples
Vulnerability Security flaws in code or dependencies CVE-reported vulnerabilities
Data Breach Unauthorized access to sensitive data Credential exposure, data leak
Malicious Code Intentional backdoors or malware Supply chain attack, compromised dependency
Infrastructure Compromise of project infrastructure GitHub account takeover, website defacement
Social Engineering Attacks targeting team or users Phishing, impersonation
Availability DoS or service disruption Resource exhaustion attacks

4.3 Impact Assessment Factors

Severity is determined by evaluating:

  1. Confidentiality Impact: Risk of unauthorized information disclosure
  2. Integrity Impact: Risk of data or system modification
  3. Availability Impact: Risk of service disruption
  4. Scope: Number of users affected (single user vs. all users)
  5. Exploitability: Ease of exploitation (simple vs. complex)
  6. User Interaction: Required user interaction (none vs. significant)
  7. Privileges Required: Attacker privileges needed (none vs. admin)

5. Incident Response Lifecycle

5.1 Phase 1: Preparation

Ongoing Activities

1. Proactive Security Measures

  • Enable GitHub Dependabot alerts
  • Implement automated security scanning in CI/CD
  • Regular dependency updates and security patches
  • Security training for maintainers
  • Maintain updated contact information

2. Monitoring and Detection

  • Monitor GitHub Security Advisories
  • Subscribe to security mailing lists for dependencies
  • Track Dependabot alerts
  • Monitor community reports and discussions
  • Review CodeQL scan results

3. Tools and Access

  • Maintain incident response toolkit
  • Ensure access to critical systems
  • Keep security advisory templates ready
  • Maintain vulnerability disclosure page
  • Prepare patch release procedures

4. Documentation

  • Keep IRP updated
  • Maintain security runbooks
  • Document emergency procedures
  • Maintain stakeholder contact lists

5.2 Phase 2: Detection and Analysis

Step 1: Incident Detection

Detection Sources:

  1. GitHub Security Advisories (private vulnerability reports)
  2. Dependabot alerts (dependency vulnerabilities)
  3. Community reports (security@apidash.dev or GitHub Issues)
  4. Security researchers (coordinated disclosure)
  5. Automated scanning (CodeQL, SAST tools)
  6. Social media (public vulnerability discussions)
  7. Third-party notification (GitHub Security Lab, etc.)

Initial Actions (within 1 hour):

[ ] Acknowledge receipt of report
[ ] Assign incident commander
[ ] Create private security advisory or issue
[ ] Gather initial information
[ ] Avoid public discussion until assessed

Step 2: Initial Triage

Triage Checklist:

[ ] Validate the vulnerability (is it real?)
[ ] Determine affected versions
[ ] Assess exploitability
[ ] Identify attack vectors
[ ] Check if exploit is public or in the wild
[ ] Determine initial severity (preliminary)
[ ] Assign to Security Lead

Triage Decision Matrix:

  • Valid Security Issue → Proceed to analysis
  • Non-Security Bug → Route to regular issue tracking
  • Duplicate/Known → Reference existing advisory/issue
  • Invalid/Not Reproducible → Close with explanation

Step 3: Detailed Analysis

Analysis Activities:

  1. Reproduce the Vulnerability

    • Set up test environment
    • Follow reproduction steps
    • Document exact conditions
    • Capture evidence (screenshots, logs)
  2. Impact Assessment

    • Determine CVSS score
    • Identify affected components
    • Assess data at risk
    • Estimate user impact (percentage/count)
    • Identify downstream effects
  3. Root Cause Analysis

    • Identify vulnerable code
    • Determine when introduced (git blame)
    • Check if present in other locations
    • Identify similar vulnerabilities
  4. Attack Surface Mapping

    • Identify all attack vectors
    • List prerequisites for exploitation
    • Document required privileges
    • Assess network exposure

Analysis Output:

  • Severity classification (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
  • Affected versions and components
  • Root cause summary
  • Exploitation requirements
  • Recommended remediation approach

5.3 Phase 3: Containment

Short-term Containment

Immediate Actions (Critical/High severity):

  1. For Critical Vulnerabilities in Released Versions:

    [ ] Confirm severity with team consensus
    [ ] Activate emergency response team
    [ ] Create GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA)
    [ ] Begin patch development immediately
    [ ] Prepare interim workarounds if possible
    [ ] Consider temporary removal of vulnerable features
    
  2. For Infrastructure Compromise:

    [ ] Revoke compromised credentials immediately
    [ ] Enable 2FA on all accounts (if not enabled)
    [ ] Audit access logs
    [ ] Change all shared secrets
    [ ] Lock down affected systems
    [ ] Preserve forensic evidence
    
  3. For Supply Chain Attacks:

    [ ] Identify malicious dependency/code
    [ ] Pin previous known-good versions
    [ ] Alert users immediately (critical advisory)
    [ ] Remove malicious packages from distribution
    [ ] Contact platform providers (npm, pub.dev)
    
  4. For Data Breach:

    [ ] Identify scope of data exposure
    [ ] Contain data leak source
    [ ] Preserve evidence
    [ ] Prepare user notification
    [ ] Assess regulatory obligations
    

Long-term Containment

Sustained Response Actions:

  • Implement temporary security controls
  • Monitor for exploitation attempts
  • Prepare comprehensive fix
  • Coordinate with security researcher
  • Plan disclosure timeline

5.4 Phase 4: Eradication

Root Cause Elimination

1. Develop Security Fix:

[ ] Design secure solution
[ ] Implement fix in development branch
[ ] Add regression tests
[ ] Perform security code review
[ ] Test fix thoroughly
[ ] Verify no new vulnerabilities introduced
[ ] Document changes

2. Code Review Requirements:

  • Minimum 2 security-aware reviewers
  • Focus on security implications
  • Check for similar issues elsewhere
  • Validate input handling
  • Review error handling
  • Verify no information leakage

3. Testing Validation:

  • Unit tests for security fix
  • Integration tests
  • Regression testing
  • Security testing (fuzzing, penetration testing)
  • Performance impact assessment
  • Cross-platform validation

4. Dependency Updates:

[ ] Identify updated secure versions
[ ] Test compatibility
[ ] Update pubspec.yaml
[ ] Verify no breaking changes
[ ] Update lockfiles
[ ] Test on all supported platforms

5.5 Phase 5: Recovery

Release and Deployment

1. Emergency Patch Release Process:

# Emergency Release Checklist
[ ] Create release branch from main
[ ] Apply security fix
[ ] Update version number (patch bump)
[ ] Update CHANGELOG.md with security notice
[ ] Run full test suite
[ ] Build release artifacts for all platforms
[ ] Sign releases (if applicable)
[ ] Create GitHub release
[ ] Publish to distribution channels
[ ] Update documentation
[ ] Verify release availability

2. Release Prioritization:

Severity Release Timeline Release Type
Critical 48-72 hours Emergency patch
High 1-2 weeks Security patch
Medium 2-4 weeks Regular release
Low Next planned release Regular release

3. Release Announcement Template:

# Security Release: API Dash v{VERSION}

## Overview
This is a security release addressing [severity] vulnerability in API Dash.

## Affected Versions
- {version range}

## Fixed Vulnerabilities
- **{CVE-ID}** (Severity: {CRITICAL/HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW})
  - {Brief description}
  - CVSS Score: {score}

## Recommended Action
All users should upgrade immediately to version {VERSION}.

## Upgrade Instructions
{Platform-specific upgrade steps}

## Workarounds (if applicable)
{Temporary workarounds for users who cannot upgrade immediately}

## Credits
We would like to thank {researcher name} for responsibly disclosing this vulnerability.

## References
- GitHub Security Advisory: {GHSA link}
- CVE: {CVE link}
- Detailed Security Advisory: {link}

4. Distribution Channels:

  • GitHub Releases (primary)
  • App Store (iOS/iPad)
  • Platform-specific package managers (apt, rpm, etc.)
  • Website download links
  • Documentation updates

5. User Notification:

  • GitHub Security Advisory (automatic notification to watchers)
  • Release notes
  • Social media (Twitter/X, Discord)
  • Security mailing list (if established)
  • In-app notification (for future versions)

Verification

Post-Release Validation:

[ ] Verify fix effectiveness
[ ] Confirm vulnerability no longer exploitable
[ ] Check all platforms updated
[ ] Monitor for issues with patch
[ ] Verify no regression introduced
[ ] Scan updated version with security tools

5.6 Phase 6: Post-Incident Activities

See Section 8: Post-Incident Activities for detailed procedures.


6. Communication Plan

6.1 Communication Principles

  1. Transparency: Be open about incidents while protecting sensitive details
  2. Timeliness: Communicate promptly at each phase
  3. Accuracy: Provide verified information only
  4. Clarity: Use clear, non-technical language for user communications
  5. Coordination: Align with security researchers and stakeholders
  6. Responsibility: Take ownership and accountability

6.2 Internal Communication

During Active Incident

Communication Channels:

  • Primary: Private GitHub Security Advisory discussion
  • Real-time: Dedicated Discord/Slack channel (private)
  • Documentation: Shared incident log (Google Docs or equivalent)
  • Escalation: Direct email to incident commander

Communication Cadence:

  • Critical: Updates every 4 hours minimum
  • High: Updates every 12 hours minimum
  • Medium/Low: Updates every 48 hours minimum

Status Update Template:

## Incident Status Update - {Date/Time}

**Incident ID**: {IR-YYYY-MM-DD-###}
**Severity**: {Level}
**Phase**: {Detection/Analysis/Containment/Eradication/Recovery}

### Current Status
{Brief status description}

### Activities Completed
- {Item 1}
- {Item 2}

### In Progress
- {Item 1}
- {Item 2}

### Next Steps
- {Item 1}
- {Item 2}

### Blockers/Issues
- {Any blockers}

### Expected Next Update
{Time}

6.3 External Communication

Communication to Security Researchers

Initial Response (within 4-24 hours):

Dear {Researcher Name},

Thank you for reporting this security issue to the API Dash project. 
We have received your report and assigned it ID {IR-YYYY-MM-DD-###}.

Our security team is currently analyzing the issue and will provide 
an initial assessment within {timeframe} hours.

We appreciate your responsible disclosure and will keep you updated 
on our progress.

Best regards,
API Dash Security Team

Progress Updates:

  • Provide updates every 7 days minimum
  • Share assessment results
  • Discuss remediation timeline
  • Coordinate disclosure date

Disclosure Coordination:

Dear {Researcher Name},

We have completed development of a fix for {vulnerability ID}. 
We plan to release version {VERSION} on {DATE}.

Proposed disclosure timeline:
- {DATE}: Patch release
- {DATE + 7 days}: Limited disclosure (GHSA)
- {DATE + 30 days}: Full public disclosure

Please let us know if you have any concerns with this timeline 
or if you need additional information.

Credit: We would like to credit you as "{Preferred Name/Handle}" 
in the advisory. Please confirm or provide alternative credit info.

Communication to Users

Security Advisory Template:

# Security Advisory: {Title}

**Advisory ID**: GHSA-{id}  
**CVE**: CVE-{year}-{number}  
**Severity**: {CRITICAL/HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW}  
**Affected Versions**: {versions}  
**Fixed in Version**: {version}  
**Publication Date**: {date}

## Summary
{Brief, clear description of the vulnerability suitable for all audiences}

## Impact
{What could an attacker do? What data/systems are at risk?}

## Affected Configurations
{Are all users affected or only specific configurations?}

## Remediation

### Immediate Actions
1. Upgrade to version {VERSION} immediately
2. {Additional steps if needed}

### Workarounds (if patch not immediately possible)
{Temporary mitigations}

## Timeline
- {Date}: Vulnerability reported
- {Date}: Fix developed
- {Date}: Patch released
- {Date}: Public disclosure

## References
- Fix commit: {link}
- GitHub Security Advisory: {link}
- CVE Details: {link}

## Credits
Discovered by: {Researcher name/handle}  
Coordinated disclosure: {if applicable}

## Contact
For questions about this advisory: security@apidash.dev

Social Media/Community Update:

🔒 Security Update: API Dash v{VERSION} released

Fixed {CRITICAL/HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW} severity vulnerability {CVE-ID}.

All users should update immediately.

Details: {link to GHSA}
Download: {link to release}

Thank you to @{researcher} for responsible disclosure.

#security #apidash #infosec

6.4 Media and Public Relations

For High-Profile Incidents:

  • Designate single spokesperson
  • Prepare statement in advance
  • Coordinate with legal (if available)
  • Monitor public discussion
  • Correct misinformation promptly

Statement Template:

API Dash Security Statement

The API Dash team was notified of a security vulnerability affecting 
versions {versions} on {date}. We immediately began investigating and 
developing a fix.

We have released version {VERSION} which addresses this issue. All users 
should upgrade as soon as possible.

We take security seriously and appreciate the responsible disclosure from 
the security community. Users can report security issues confidentially 
through our GitHub Security Advisories.

For more information: {link}

7. Incident Types and Response Procedures

7.1 Code Vulnerability

Scenario: Security flaw discovered in application code

Detection: Security researcher report, automated scan, or code review

Response Procedure:

  1. Receive and Validate (0-4 hours)

    • Acknowledge report
    • Validate vulnerability
    • Create private GHSA
    • Assign severity
  2. Analyze (4-24 hours)

    • Reproduce issue
    • Determine affected versions
    • Assess impact
    • Identify root cause
  3. Develop Fix (24-72 hours for critical)

    • Implement secure solution
    • Add security tests
    • Code review
    • Test thoroughly
  4. Release Patch (48-96 hours for critical)

    • Create patch release
    • Update documentation
    • Publish GHSA
    • Notify users
  5. Monitor (1-2 weeks post-release)

    • Track adoption
    • Monitor for exploitation
    • Address user questions

Example Decision Tree:

Vulnerability Report
    │
    ├─ Valid & Security-related?
    │   ├─ Yes → Assess Severity
    │   │        ├─ Critical → Emergency Response (4hr SLA)
    │   │        ├─ High → Priority Response (24hr SLA)
    │   │        └─ Med/Low → Standard Response (72hr SLA)
    │   └─ No → Route to standard bug tracking
    │
    └─ Continue with standard process

7.2 Dependency Vulnerability

Scenario: Vulnerability discovered in third-party dependency

Detection: Dependabot alert, security advisory, or manual audit

Response Procedure:

  1. Assess Impact (0-24 hours)

    [ ] Identify vulnerable dependency
    [ ] Check if vulnerability affects API Dash usage
    [ ] Determine exploitability in context
    [ ] Check if transitive or direct dependency
    [ ] Review available patches
    
  2. Evaluate Remediation Options:

    • Option A: Update to patched version

      • Test compatibility
      • Update pubspec.yaml
      • Verify fix
    • Option B: Replace with alternative library

      • Research alternatives
      • Plan migration
      • Implement replacement
    • Option C: Apply workaround

      • Disable vulnerable feature
      • Implement compensating controls
      • Document limitation
  3. Release Update:

    • For critical: Emergency patch within 72 hours
    • For high: Security update within 1 week
    • For medium/low: Next regular release
  4. Documentation:

    ## Dependency Security Update
    
    **Affected Dependency**: {package}@{version}
    **Vulnerability**: {CVE or description}
    **Severity**: {level}
    **Resolution**: Updated to {package}@{new-version}
    **API Dash Versions Affected**: {versions}
    **Fixed in**: API Dash v{version}
    

Dependabot Integration:

# .github/dependabot.yml
version: 2
updates:
  - package-ecosystem: "pub"
    directory: "/"
    schedule:
      interval: "weekly"
    open-pull-requests-limit: 10
    labels:
      - "dependencies"
      - "security"
    assignees:
      - "security-team-member"

7.3 Supply Chain Attack

Scenario: Malicious code injected through compromised dependency or build pipeline

Detection:

  • Unexpected package behavior
  • Community reports of malicious activity
  • Checksum mismatches
  • Security tool alerts

Response Procedure (CRITICAL - IMMEDIATE ACTION):

Phase 1: Emergency Response (0-1 hour)

[ ] STOP all builds and releases immediately
[ ] Revoke access to compromised accounts/systems
[ ] Alert all maintainers via emergency channel
[ ] Preserve forensic evidence
[ ] Identify affected versions

Phase 2: Containment (1-4 hours)

[ ] Remove malicious packages from distribution
[ ] Contact platform providers (GitHub, App Stores)
[ ] Request takedown of compromised releases
[ ] Post emergency security advisory
[ ] Alert users through all channels
[ ] Identify attack vector

Phase 3: Analysis (4-24 hours)

[ ] Forensic analysis of compromise
[ ] Identify malicious code
[ ] Determine scope of impact
[ ] Assess data at risk
[ ] Check if source code compromised
[ ] Review commit history for malicious changes
[ ] Analyze access logs

Phase 4: Eradication (24-48 hours)

[ ] Remove all malicious code
[ ] Verify source code integrity
[ ] Rebuild from known-good source
[ ] Update all credentials and secrets
[ ] Implement additional security controls
[ ] Audit all dependencies

Phase 5: Recovery (48-96 hours)

[ ] Release clean version with new version number
[ ] Sign releases with new keys (if keys compromised)
[ ] Publish detailed incident report
[ ] Provide user guidance
[ ] Monitor for continued threats

User Communication (URGENT):

🚨 CRITICAL SECURITY ALERT 🚨

Versions {versions} of API Dash have been compromised with malicious code.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
1. UNINSTALL affected versions immediately
2. DO NOT use until further notice
3. Change any credentials entered in these versions
4. Monitor for suspicious activity

We are working to release a clean version and will update within {timeframe}.

More details: {link to emergency advisory}

7.4 Data Breach

Scenario: Unauthorized access to user data (credentials, API responses, etc.)

Response Procedure:

Phase 1: Initial Response (0-1 hour)

[ ] Confirm breach occurred
[ ] Identify data accessed/exfiltrated
[ ] Determine breach source
[ ] Contain the breach
[ ] Preserve evidence
[ ] Assess legal obligations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)

Phase 2: Assessment (1-6 hours)

[ ] Identify affected users
[ ] Determine data sensitivity
[ ] Assess regulatory requirements
[ ] Estimate number of records affected
[ ] Document timeline of breach
[ ] Identify attack method

Phase 3: User Notification (6-72 hours)

[ ] Prepare notification message
[ ] Identify notification method
[ ] Comply with regulatory timelines (GDPR: 72 hours)
[ ] Provide user guidance
[ ] Set up support channel

Breach Notification Template:

# Data Breach Notification

**Date of Breach**: {date}  
**Date of Discovery**: {date}  
**Notification Date**: {date}

## What Happened
{Clear description of the breach}

## What Information Was Involved
{List of data types: credentials, API keys, response data, etc.}

## What We're Doing
{Steps taken to contain and investigate}

## What You Should Do
1. {Action item 1}
2. {Action item 2}
3. {Action item 3}

## Additional Information
{Resources, support contact, FAQ}

## Contact Us
{Contact information for questions}

Regulatory Compliance:

  • GDPR: Notify supervisory authority within 72 hours if EU data affected
  • CCPA: Notify affected California residents without unreasonable delay
  • Other jurisdictions: Follow applicable data breach notification laws

7.5 Infrastructure Compromise

Scenario: Unauthorized access to project infrastructure (GitHub, domains, etc.)

Response Procedure:

Phase 1: Immediate Lockdown (0-15 minutes)

[ ] Revoke compromised credentials
[ ] Enable/verify 2FA on all accounts
[ ] Change all passwords
[ ] Revoke API tokens and SSH keys
[ ] Lock affected repositories/systems
[ ] Contact platform support

Phase 2: Investigation (15 minutes - 2 hours)

[ ] Review access logs
[ ] Identify unauthorized actions
[ ] Determine entry point
[ ] Assess damage
[ ] Check for backdoors
[ ] Review recent commits/changes

Phase 3: Remediation (2-24 hours)

[ ] Revert unauthorized changes
[ ] Strengthen access controls
[ ] Audit all accounts and permissions
[ ] Review and update security policies
[ ] Implement additional monitoring
[ ] Consider new authentication methods (hardware keys)

Phase 4: Recovery (24-72 hours)

[ ] Restore systems to secure state
[ ] Verify integrity of code and releases
[ ] Re-establish trust in infrastructure
[ ] Communicate status to community
[ ] Document lessons learned

GitHub Specific Actions:

[ ] Review "Settings > Audit log"
[ ] Check "Security > Deploy keys"
[ ] Review "Settings > Collaborators"
[ ] Verify branch protection rules
[ ] Check webhook configurations
[ ] Review GitHub Actions workflows
[ ] Verify code signing keys

7.6 Malicious Code Contribution

Scenario: Intentional backdoor or malicious code in pull request or commit

Response Procedure:

Phase 1: Detection (0-1 hour)

[ ] Identify suspicious code
[ ] Determine if merged to main branch
[ ] Check if released to users
[ ] Identify contributor
[ ] Preserve evidence

Phase 2: Containment (1-4 hours)

[ ] Revert malicious commits immediately
[ ] Block contributor if intentional
[ ] Check for other malicious contributions
[ ] Audit recent code changes
[ ] Determine if emergency release needed

Phase 3: Analysis (4-24 hours)

[ ] Analyze malicious code intent
[ ] Determine what it could do
[ ] Check if exploited
[ ] Review contributor history
[ ] Assess trust in other contributions

Phase 4: Communication (24-48 hours)

[ ] If released: Issue security advisory
[ ] Report to GitHub abuse team
[ ] Alert community if severe
[ ] Update contribution guidelines
[ ] Strengthen code review process

Prevention Measures:

  • Require code review from trusted maintainers
  • Use automated security scanning on PRs
  • Implement CODEOWNERS file
  • Suspicious code review checklist
  • Contributor verification for sensitive changes

8. Post-Incident Activities

8.1 Post-Incident Review (PIR)

Timing: Within 7 days of incident resolution

Attendees:

  • Incident Commander
  • All IR team members involved
  • Relevant stakeholders

Agenda:

  1. Incident timeline review
  2. What went well
  3. What could be improved
  4. Action items

PIR Template:

# Post-Incident Review: {Incident ID}

**Date**: {date}
**Facilitator**: {name}
**Attendees**: {list}

## Incident Summary
- **ID**: {IR-YYYY-MM-DD-###}
- **Type**: {vulnerability/breach/infrastructure/etc.}
- **Severity**: {level}
- **Duration**: {detection to resolution}
- **Impact**: {users affected, scope}

## Timeline
| Time | Event | Owner |
|------|-------|-------|
| {timestamp} | {event description} | {person} |
| ... | ... | ... |

## Metrics
- Time to detect: {duration}
- Time to respond: {duration}
- Time to patch: {duration}
- Time to resolve: {duration}
- Users affected: {number/percentage}

## What Went Well ✅
1. {Item 1}
2. {Item 2}
3. {Item 3}

## What Could Be Improved 🔄
1. {Item 1}
   - Root cause: {why}
   - Impact: {what was the effect}
   - Recommendation: {how to fix}

2. {Item 2}
   - Root cause: {why}
   - Impact: {what was the effect}
   - Recommendation: {how to fix}

## Action Items
| Action | Owner | Priority | Due Date | Status |
|--------|-------|----------|----------|--------|
| {Action 1} | {name} | {P0/P1/P2} | {date} | {Open/In Progress/Done} |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

## Lessons Learned
1. {Lesson 1}
2. {Lesson 2}
3. {Lesson 3}

## Documentation Updates Needed
- [ ] Update IRP
- [ ] Update threat model
- [ ] Update security documentation
- [ ] Update developer guidelines
- [ ] Update monitoring/detection

## Follow-up Meeting
Scheduled for: {date} to review action item progress

8.2 Documentation

Incident Log: Maintain a comprehensive log of all security incidents:

# Security Incident Log

| ID | Date | Type | Severity | Status | Resolution |
|----|------|------|----------|--------|------------|
| IR-2025-12-001 | 2025-12-01 | Vulnerability | HIGH | Resolved | Patched in v1.2.3 |
| IR-2025-11-045 | 2025-11-15 | Dependency | MEDIUM | Resolved | Updated dep |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

Knowledge Base: Create runbooks for common scenarios:

  • Dependency update procedure
  • Emergency release process
  • Infrastructure compromise response
  • Data breach notification process

8.3 Improvement Actions

Security Enhancements: Based on incident learnings:

  1. Implement additional security controls
  2. Update threat model
  3. Enhance monitoring/detection
  4. Improve tooling
  5. Add security tests
  6. Update documentation

Process Improvements:

  1. Refine IRP procedures
  2. Update response checklists
  3. Improve communication templates
  4. Enhance training materials
  5. Streamline escalation paths

Training:

  1. Conduct incident retrospective training
  2. Share lessons learned with team
  3. Update security awareness materials
  4. Practice improved procedures

8.4 Continuous Monitoring

Post-Incident Monitoring:

  • Monitor for reoccurrence
  • Track patch adoption rates
  • Watch for exploitation attempts
  • Monitor security researchers' follow-ups
  • Check for similar vulnerabilities

Metrics Tracking:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Mean Time to Detect (MTTD)
- Mean Time to Respond (MTTR)
- Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR)
- Patch adoption rate
- Number of incidents by severity
- Number of incidents by type
- Effectiveness of mitigations

9. Tools and Resources

9.1 Security Tools

Detection and Monitoring

  • GitHub Dependabot: Automated dependency vulnerability scanning
  • CodeQL: Static application security testing (SAST)
  • Dart/Flutter Security Linters: Code quality and security checks
  • Snyk: Open source vulnerability scanner (optional)
  • OWASP Dependency-Check: Dependency vulnerability analysis

Analysis Tools

  • GitHub Security Advisories: Vulnerability database and disclosure platform
  • CVE/NVD: Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database
  • CVSS Calculator: Severity scoring tool
  • Git History Tools: For forensic analysis (git log, git blame)

Communication

  • GitHub Security Advisories: Primary disclosure platform
  • GitHub Discussions: Community communication
  • Discord/Slack: Real-time team communication
  • Email: Direct communication with researchers

Incident Management

  • GitHub Issues: Private security issues
  • GitHub Projects: Incident tracking board
  • Shared Documents: Incident logs (Google Docs/Notion)
  • Password Manager: Secure credential storage for team

9.2 Reference Materials

Vulnerability Databases

Security Frameworks

Disclosure Guidelines

  • ISO/IEC 29147: Vulnerability disclosure
  • CERT Guide to Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure: https://vuls.cert.org/
  • Google Project Zero Policy: 90-day disclosure deadline

9.3 Contact Lists

Internal Contacts

Incident Commander:
- Name: {Lead Maintainer}
- GitHub: @{username}
- Email: {email}
- Phone: {emergency only}

Security Lead:
- Name: {Security-focused maintainer}
- GitHub: @{username}
- Email: {email}

Communications Lead:
- Name: {Communications person}
- GitHub: @{username}
- Email: {email}

External Contacts

GitHub Security Team:
- Email: security@github.com
- Emergency: https://github.com/security

Platform Providers:
- Apple App Store: https://developer.apple.com/contact/
- Pub.dev: security@pub.dev

Legal (if applicable):
- TBD based on organization

Security Community:
- CERT/CC: cert@cert.org
- OpenSSF: security@openssf.org

9.4 Templates and Checklists

Available in Appendices:

  • Incident response checklist
  • Security advisory template
  • Post-incident review template
  • Communication templates
  • Severity assessment guide

10. Training and Awareness

10.1 Team Training

Required Training for IR Team:

  1. Incident Response Basics (Annual)

    • IRP overview
    • Roles and responsibilities
    • Communication protocols
    • Tools and access
  2. Security Fundamentals (Annual)

    • Common vulnerability types
    • Secure coding practices
    • Threat modeling basics
    • Security testing
  3. Tabletop Exercises (Bi-annual)

    • Simulated incident scenarios
    • Practice response procedures
    • Test communication channels
    • Identify gaps in plan
  4. Platform-Specific Training (As needed)

    • GitHub Security features
    • Flutter security best practices
    • Dependency management

Training Schedule:

  • Onboarding: New IR team members
  • Annual: All IR team members
  • Quarterly: Security updates and lessons learned
  • Post-incident: Specific learnings from incidents

10.2 Tabletop Exercise Scenarios

Scenario 1: Critical RCE Vulnerability

SCENARIO: Security researcher reports remote code execution vulnerability
          in template engine. Exploit code is public.

EXERCISE:
- How do we verify the vulnerability?
- What's the appropriate severity?
- What's our patch timeline?
- How do we communicate to users?
- What's our disclosure timeline?

Scenario 2: Compromised Dependency

SCENARIO: A popular dependency has been compromised with malicious code.
          API Dash uses this dependency.

EXERCISE:
- How do we detect this?
- Is API Dash affected?
- What do we tell users?
- How do we remove the dependency?
- Do we need an emergency release?

Scenario 3: Data Breach

SCENARIO: User reports their API credentials were leaked after using API Dash.
          Potentially multiple users affected.

EXERCISE:
- How do we investigate?
- What data might be exposed?
- What are our legal obligations?
- How do we notify affected users?
- What should users do?

Scenario 4: GitHub Account Compromise

SCENARIO: A maintainer's GitHub account is compromised.
          Unauthorized commits are pushed to main branch.

EXERCISE:
- What are immediate actions?
- How do we revoke access?
- What do we audit?
- Do we need to revert commits?
- How do we verify code integrity?

10.3 User Education

Security Best Practices Guide (for users):

# API Dash Security Best Practices

## Protecting Your Credentials
- Use environment variables for sensitive values
- Don't commit credentials to version control
- Regularly rotate API keys and tokens
- Use read-only tokens when possible

## Safe Collection Sharing
- Redact credentials before exporting
- Use encrypted exports for sensitive data
- Review collections before importing
- Trust collection sources

## Keeping Secure
- Always use latest version
- Enable automatic updates
- Watch for security advisories
- Report security issues responsibly

## Local Data Security
- Use full-disk encryption
- Secure your workspace folder
- Clear history containing sensitive data
- Use strong device passwords

Responsible Disclosure Guide (for researchers):

# Reporting Security Vulnerabilities

Thank you for helping keep API Dash secure!

## How to Report
1. **Do NOT** create public GitHub issues
2. Use GitHub Security Advisories (preferred)
3. Or email: security@apidash.dev

## What to Include
- Description of vulnerability
- Steps to reproduce
- Affected versions
- Potential impact
- Suggested fix (optional)

## What to Expect
- Acknowledgment within 24 hours
- Initial assessment within 72 hours
- Regular updates on progress
- Coordinated disclosure timeline
- Credit in advisory (if desired)

## Disclosure Policy
- We follow 90-day disclosure deadline
- Earlier disclosure if fix is ready
- We'll coordinate with you

## Safe Harbor
We will not pursue legal action against researchers who:
- Act in good faith
- Don't access user data
- Don't disrupt service
- Report responsibly

11.1 Regulatory Requirements

Data Protection Laws

GDPR (EU):

  • Breach Notification: 72 hours to supervisory authority
  • User Notification: Without undue delay if high risk
  • Documentation: Detailed records of breach
  • Applicability: If processing EU residents' data

CCPA (California):

  • Breach Notification: Without unreasonable delay
  • Content: Specific information requirements
  • Method: Written notice to affected individuals
  • Applicability: If processing California residents' data

Other Jurisdictions:

  • Check applicable data breach notification laws
  • Consult legal counsel for specific requirements
  • Maintain list of applicable regulations

Open Source Considerations

Transparency:

  • Open source projects have unique transparency expectations
  • Balance between security and openness
  • Public incident disclosure aligns with open source values

Liability:

  • Review project license (API Dash likely uses MIT)
  • Understand warranty disclaimers
  • Consider liability limitations
  • Document security efforts

When to Involve Legal Counsel:

  • Data breaches affecting personal information
  • Potential regulatory violations
  • Threats of legal action
  • Complex liability questions
  • Law enforcement involvement

Legal Resources:

  • Open source legal organizations (Software Freedom Conservancy, etc.)
  • Pro bono legal services for open source
  • GitHub's legal resources
  • Local bar associations

11.3 Law Enforcement

When to Contact Law Enforcement:

  • Criminal activity (hacking, extortion, etc.)
  • Significant data breach
  • Identity theft concerns
  • Ongoing attacks

What to Provide:

  • Incident summary
  • Timeline of events
  • Evidence preservation
  • Technical details
  • Impact assessment

Coordination:

  • Designate single point of contact
  • Preserve evidence chain of custody
  • Get case number for reference
  • Balance investigation with incident response

11.4 Insurance

Cyber Insurance Considerations:

  • Most applicable for commercial entities
  • Open source projects typically lack coverage
  • Document security practices for potential future coverage
  • Understand requirements if organization obtains coverage

12. Plan Maintenance

12.1 Review Schedule

Regular Reviews:

  • Annual: Comprehensive plan review and update
  • Quarterly: Metrics review and process improvements
  • Post-Incident: Review and update based on learnings
  • After Major Changes: Review when project structure changes

Review Checklist:

[ ] Update contact information
[ ] Review and update procedures
[ ] Validate tool access
[ ] Check compliance requirements
[ ] Update templates
[ ] Review metrics and KPIs
[ ] Incorporate lessons learned
[ ] Test communication channels
[ ] Verify escalation paths
[ ] Update training materials

12.2 Change Management

Plan Updates:

  • Version control this document
  • Track changes in git history
  • Communicate significant changes to team
  • Train team on major procedural updates

Approval Process:

  • Minor updates: Security Lead approval
  • Major updates: Incident Commander + team consensus
  • Emergency updates: Incident Commander approval, team notification

Change Log:

| Version | Date | Changes | Approved By |
|---------|------|---------|-------------|
| 1.0 | 2025-12-04 | Initial IRP | IC |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |

12.3 Testing and Validation

Plan Testing:

  • Annual Tabletop Exercise: Full scenario walkthrough
  • Quarterly Mini-Exercise: Specific procedure testing
  • Post-Update Testing: Validate changes work as intended

Validation Criteria:

  • All contacts are current
  • All tools are accessible
  • Procedures are clear and actionable
  • Templates are complete
  • Team understands roles

12.4 Continuous Improvement

Improvement Sources:

  1. Post-incident reviews
  2. Tabletop exercises
  3. Industry best practices
  4. Regulatory changes
  5. Tool updates
  6. Team feedback

Metrics for Success:

  • Reduced time to detect
  • Reduced time to respond
  • Reduced time to resolve
  • Increased patch adoption
  • Improved team confidence
  • Positive community feedback

13. Appendices

Appendix A: Quick Reference Card

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║        API DASH INCIDENT RESPONSE QUICK GUIDE           ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ CRITICAL INCIDENT?                                       ║
║   → Contact Incident Commander IMMEDIATELY               ║
║   → Create private GitHub Security Advisory              ║
║   → Do NOT discuss publicly                              ║
║                                                          ║
║ RESPONSE TIMES:                                          ║
║   Critical:  4 hours                                     ║
║   High:      24 hours                                    ║
║   Medium:    72 hours                                    ║
║   Low:       1 week                                      ║
║                                                          ║
║ SEVERITY GUIDE:                                          ║
║   🔴 Critical: RCE, Supply chain, Mass credential leak   ║
║   🟠 High:     Auth bypass, Privilege escalation         ║
║   🟡 Medium:   Info disclosure, CSRF, DoS                ║
║   🟢 Low:      Minor info leak, Security misconfig       ║
║                                                          ║
║ CONTACTS:                                                ║
║   Security: security@apidash.dev                         ║
║   GitHub:   Security Advisories (preferred)              ║
║   Discord:  #security channel                            ║
║                                                          ║
║ REMEMBER:                                                ║
║   ✓ Preserve evidence                                    ║
║   ✓ Document everything                                  ║
║   ✓ Communicate regularly                                ║
║   ✓ Learn and improve                                    ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Appendix B: Incident Response Checklist

Phase 1: Detection

[ ] Incident detected/reported
[ ] Initial assessment completed
[ ] Incident Commander notified
[ ] Preliminary severity assigned
[ ] Private GHSA created (if needed)
[ ] Team activated

Phase 2: Analysis

[ ] Vulnerability validated
[ ] Affected versions identified
[ ] Attack vectors documented
[ ] Impact assessed
[ ] Root cause determined
[ ] Final severity assigned
[ ] CVSS score calculated

Phase 3: Containment

[ ] Immediate threats neutralized
[ ] Access revoked (if compromise)
[ ] Temporary workarounds identified
[ ] Users warned (if critical)
[ ] Evidence preserved
[ ] Monitoring enhanced

Phase 4: Eradication

[ ] Security fix developed
[ ] Fix tested thoroughly
[ ] Code reviewed
[ ] Regression tests added
[ ] Documentation updated
[ ] Similar issues checked

Phase 5: Recovery

[ ] Patch released
[ ] Security advisory published
[ ] Users notified
[ ] Distribution channels updated
[ ] Fix verified effective
[ ] Monitoring continued

Phase 6: Post-Incident

[ ] PIR scheduled
[ ] Incident documented
[ ] Lessons learned captured
[ ] Action items assigned
[ ] Plan updated
[ ] Training updated
[ ] Metrics recorded

Appendix C: Communication Templates

See Section 6 for detailed templates

Appendix D: CVSS Scoring Guide

CVSS v3.1 Quick Reference:

Base Metrics:

  • Attack Vector (AV): Network/Adjacent/Local/Physical
  • Attack Complexity (AC): Low/High
  • Privileges Required (PR): None/Low/High
  • User Interaction (UI): None/Required
  • Scope (S): Unchanged/Changed
  • Confidentiality Impact (C): None/Low/High
  • Integrity Impact (I): None/Low/High
  • Availability Impact (A): None/Low/High

Calculator: https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.1

Example Scoring:

Remote Code Execution:
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Score: 10.0 (CRITICAL)

Stored XSS:
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Score: 5.4 (MEDIUM)

Appendix E: Useful Commands

Git Forensics:

# View commit history for file
git log --follow --all -- path/to/file

# See who changed specific lines
git blame path/to/file

# Find when vulnerability was introduced
git bisect start
git bisect bad  # Current broken state
git bisect good v1.0.0  # Known good version

# Check if specific code exists in all branches
git grep "suspicious_function" $(git rev-list --all)

# Revert specific commits
git revert <commit-hash>

Security Scanning:

# Check for dependency vulnerabilities
dart pub outdated --mode security

# Run static analysis
flutter analyze

# Check for secrets in code (using gitleaks)
gitleaks detect --source .

# Audit npm packages (if using web)
npm audit

# Check license compliance
flutter pub deps --style=compact

Incident Response:

# Create branch for security fix
git checkout -b security/fix-cve-2025-xxxx

# Create signed commit
git commit -S -m "security: fix vulnerability"

# Create signed tag for release
git tag -s v1.2.3 -m "Security release v1.2.3"

# Verify signature
git verify-tag v1.2.3

Appendix F: Acronyms and Definitions

Acronyms:

  • IRP: Incident Response Plan
  • IR: Incident Response
  • IC: Incident Commander
  • PIR: Post-Incident Review
  • GHSA: GitHub Security Advisory
  • CVE: Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
  • CVSS: Common Vulnerability Scoring System
  • RCE: Remote Code Execution
  • XSS: Cross-Site Scripting
  • CSRF: Cross-Site Request Forgery
  • DoS: Denial of Service
  • SAST: Static Application Security Testing
  • DAST: Dynamic Application Security Testing
  • SBOM: Software Bill of Materials

Definitions:

  • Security Incident: Any event that poses a threat to confidentiality, integrity, or availability
  • Vulnerability: A weakness that can be exploited
  • Exploit: Code or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability
  • Patch: Update that fixes a security issue
  • Advisory: Public notification of security issue and fix
  • Disclosure: Process of revealing vulnerability details
  • Coordinated Disclosure: Vulnerability disclosure coordinated with vendor

Appendix G: External Resources

Security Organizations:

Reporting Platforms:

Learning Resources:


Document Control

Version Date Author Changes Approved By
1.0 December 2025 Security Team Initial IRP based on 2025 guidelines Incident Commander

Next Review Date: December 2026
Document Owner: API Dash Security Team
Classification: Public
Distribution: All maintainers, published in repository


Acknowledgments

This Incident Response Plan is based on industry best practices and frameworks including:

  • NIST Computer Security Incident Handling Guide (SP 800-61 Rev. 2)
  • SANS Incident Handler's Handbook
  • ISO/IEC 27035 Incident Management
  • CERT Coordination Center practices
  • OWASP Incident Response guidelines
  • GitHub Security best practices
  • Open Source Security Foundation recommendations

Special thanks to the security community for their guidance and the API Dash contributors for their commitment to security.


For security incidents or questions about this plan:
📧 security@apidash.dev
🔒 GitHub Security Advisories: https://github.com/foss42/apidash/security/advisories
💬 Discord: #security channel

END OF INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN