jamesfredley commented on code in PR #15664: URL: https://github.com/apache/grails-core/pull/15664#discussion_r3249084084
########## THREAT_MODEL.md: ########## @@ -0,0 +1,501 @@ +<!-- +SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 + +Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); +you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. +You may obtain a copy of the License at + + https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 + +Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software +distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, +WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. +See the License for the specific language governing permissions and +limitations under the License. +--> + +# Threat Model - Apache Grails + +## §1 Header + +- **Project**: Apache Grails (`apache/grails-core`) +- **Version binding**: 8.0.x branch. A report against version *N* is triaged against this document as it stood at *N*, not at HEAD. +- **Date**: 2026-01 +- **Author**: Apache Grails PMC and contributors (initial draft). +- **Status**: **DRAFT** - not yet ratified by maintainers. Open questions in §14 must be resolved before this document is binding. +- **Reporting cross-reference**: findings that may violate a property claimed in §8 should be reported privately per [`SECURITY.md`](./SECURITY.md) (which routes to the [ASF Security Team](https://www.apache.org/security/)). Findings that fall under §3 (out of scope), §9 (disclaimed properties), or §11a (known non-findings) will be closed publicly citing the relevant section of this document. +- **Provenance legend**: every non-trivial claim is tagged. + - *(documented)* - stated in the project's own docs ([`grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/`](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/), [`SECURITY.md`](./SECURITY.md), [`README.md`](./README.md), [`AGENTS.md`](./AGENTS.md), or the public Grails Guide). + - *(maintainer)* - stated by a maintainer in response to a question from this drafting process. + - *(inferred)* - reasoned from code structure, absence of a feature, or general domain knowledge. Each must have a matching entry in §14. +- **Draft confidence**: ~46 *(documented)* / 0 *(maintainer)* / ~58 *(inferred)*. This model is a draft-first artifact per the rubric §3.2 - the *(inferred)* count is expected to drop sharply once §14 is worked through with the PMC. + +**Project description**: Apache Grails is an opinionated, full-stack web application framework for the JVM. It composes Apache Groovy, Spring Framework, Spring Boot, GORM (Hibernate / MongoDB / Neo4j data mapping), and GSP/JSON view rendering, and ships a CLI (`grails-shell-cli`, `grails-forge-cli`) plus an HTTP application generator (`grails-forge`). Grails is **embedded into a user-authored web application**; it is not deployed as a standalone network service by the project. The unit of trust modeled here is "an application using the Grails framework," not "a Grails server." *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +--- + +## §2 Scope and intended use + +**Primary intended use**: building server-side web applications in Groovy/Java on the JVM, deployed as Spring Boot executable JARs or WARs running under an operator the application owner controls. *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +**Secondary intended use**: project scaffolding and code generation via the CLI tools and `grails-forge` HTTP API at <https://start.grails.org>. *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +**Caller roles** (the model distinguishes three; this is not a network-service split since the framework is in-process within the user's app): + +| Role | Trust level | Description | +|---|---|---| +| **End user (HTTP client)** | **Untrusted** | Sends HTTP requests to a deployed Grails application. Source of all attacker-controllable input considered in this model. *(inferred)* | +| **Application developer / operator** | **Trusted** | Writes controllers, services, domain classes, URL mappings, GSP templates; configures `application.yml` / `application.groovy`; runs the CLI; chooses plugins. *(inferred)* | +| **Plugin / profile author** | **Trusted-by-association** | Author of a third-party Grails plugin or `grails-forge` profile. Code from a plugin runs with full application privileges. The framework does not isolate plugin code. *(inferred)* | + +### Component-family table + +The framework is large; not every module has the same threat profile. The model carves the framework into the following families: + +| Family | Representative entry point(s) | Touches outside process? | In or out of model | +|---|---|---|---| +| HTTP request ingress | [`GrailsDispatcherServlet`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-mvc/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/servlet/mvc/GrailsDispatcherServlet.groovy), [`UrlMappingsHandlerMapping`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-url-mappings/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/mapping/mvc/UrlMappingsHandlerMapping.groovy) | Yes - network (via Spring Boot embedded container) | **In** | +| Interceptors / controllers | [`GrailsInterceptorHandlerInterceptorAdapter`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-interceptors/src/main/groovy/org/grails/plugins/web/interceptors/GrailsInterceptorHandlerInterceptorAdapter.groovy), `grails.artefact.Controller` trait | Yes - via Spring MVC | **In** | +| Data binding | [`GrailsWebDataBinder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-databinding/src/main/groovy/grails/web/databinding/GrailsWebDataBinder.groovy), `SimpleDataBinder`, [`DefaultDataBindingSourceRegistry`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-databinding/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/databinding/bindingsource/DefaultDataBindingSourceRegistry.groovy) | Indirectly (consumes request body) | **In** | +| View rendering (GSP, JSON, Markup) | [`GroovyPageCompiler`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-gsp/core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/gsp/compiler/GroovyPageCompiler.groovy), [`ResolvableGroovyTemplateEngine`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/ResolvableGroovyTemplateEngine.groovy), [`SmartViewResolver`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/mvc/SmartViewResolver.groovy) | Filesystem (template files) | **In** | +| Codecs / output encoding | [`grails-encoder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-encoder/), [`HTMLCodec`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-encoder/src/main/groovy/org/grails/encoder/CodecFactory.java) and siblings | No | **In** | +| GORM mapping / validation integration | [`GormEntityTransformation`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-datamapping-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/gorm/GormEntityTransformation.groovy), [`PersistentEntityValidator`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-datamapping-validation/src/main/groovy/grails/gorm/validation/PersistentEntityValidator.groovy), [`HibernateMappingBuilder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-data-hibernate5/core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/orm/hibernate/cfg/HibernateMappingBuilder.groovy) | Yes - JDBC / DB driver | **In** | +| Configuration loading | [`ExternalConfigRunListener`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/config/external/ExternalConfigRunListener.groovy), [`GroovyConfigPropertySourceLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/core/cfg/GroovyConfigPropertySourceLoader.groovy), [`GrailsApplicationPostProcessor`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/boot/config/GrailsApplicationPostProcessor.groovy) | Yes - filesystem, env, system properties | **In** | +| Plugin / artefact discovery | [`PluginManagerLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/plugins/PluginManagerLoader.groovy), [`ClassPathScanner`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/boot/config/tools/ClassPathScanner.groovy), [`GrailsFactoriesLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/core/io/support/GrailsFactoriesLoader.groovy) | Filesystem (classpath JARs) | **In** | +| Compile-time AST transforms | [`GlobalGrailsClassInjectorTransformation`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GlobalGrailsClassInjectorTransformation.groovy), [`ResourceTransform`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-rest-transforms/src/main/groovy/org/grails/plugins/web/rest/transform/ResourceTransform.groovy), [`ViewsTransform`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/compiler/ViewsTransform.groovy) | No (build only) | **In** (developer-trusted inputs only - see §6) | +| CLI / shell (`grails-shell-cli`) | [`GrailsCli`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-shell-cli/src/main/groovy/org/grails/cli/GrailsCli.groovy), [`MavenProfileRepository`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-shell-cli/src/main/groovy/org/grails/cli/profile/repository/MavenProfileRepository.groovy) | Yes - network (Maven), filesystem | **In** (with caveats - see §3 and §7) | +| Interactive consoles (`grails-console`) | [`GrailsShell`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-console/src/main/groovy/grails/ui/shell/GrailsShell.groovy), `GroovyConsoleApplicationContext` | Local I/O | **Out** - developer-only tool, see §3 | +| `grails-forge` HTTP API (start.grails.org) | [`ZipCreateController`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-forge/grails-forge-api/src/main/java/org/grails/forge/api/create/zip/ZipCreateController.java), [`GitHubCreateController`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-forge/grails-forge-api/src/main/java/org/grails/forge/api/create/github/GitHubCreateController.java) | Yes - network | **Out** - separate Micronaut-based service deployed independently from any application built with Grails; modeled separately by the operators of start.grails.org. *(inferred)* | Review Comment: Fixed and force-pushed (new commit `6a760c4002`, history rewritten so the absolute paths never existed). All 13 `file:///C:/Users/james/...` URLs are now `./`-relative paths throughout - the §2 component-family table and the §11a `BeforeValidateHelper` reference Copilot flagged, plus the others that shared the same root cause. Thanks for catching it. ########## THREAT_MODEL.md: ########## @@ -0,0 +1,501 @@ +<!-- +SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 + +Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); +you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. +You may obtain a copy of the License at + + https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 + +Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software +distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, +WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. +See the License for the specific language governing permissions and +limitations under the License. +--> + +# Threat Model - Apache Grails + +## §1 Header + +- **Project**: Apache Grails (`apache/grails-core`) +- **Version binding**: 8.0.x branch. A report against version *N* is triaged against this document as it stood at *N*, not at HEAD. +- **Date**: 2026-01 +- **Author**: Apache Grails PMC and contributors (initial draft). +- **Status**: **DRAFT** - not yet ratified by maintainers. Open questions in §14 must be resolved before this document is binding. +- **Reporting cross-reference**: findings that may violate a property claimed in §8 should be reported privately per [`SECURITY.md`](./SECURITY.md) (which routes to the [ASF Security Team](https://www.apache.org/security/)). Findings that fall under §3 (out of scope), §9 (disclaimed properties), or §11a (known non-findings) will be closed publicly citing the relevant section of this document. +- **Provenance legend**: every non-trivial claim is tagged. + - *(documented)* - stated in the project's own docs ([`grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/`](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/), [`SECURITY.md`](./SECURITY.md), [`README.md`](./README.md), [`AGENTS.md`](./AGENTS.md), or the public Grails Guide). + - *(maintainer)* - stated by a maintainer in response to a question from this drafting process. + - *(inferred)* - reasoned from code structure, absence of a feature, or general domain knowledge. Each must have a matching entry in §14. +- **Draft confidence**: ~46 *(documented)* / 0 *(maintainer)* / ~58 *(inferred)*. This model is a draft-first artifact per the rubric §3.2 - the *(inferred)* count is expected to drop sharply once §14 is worked through with the PMC. + +**Project description**: Apache Grails is an opinionated, full-stack web application framework for the JVM. It composes Apache Groovy, Spring Framework, Spring Boot, GORM (Hibernate / MongoDB / Neo4j data mapping), and GSP/JSON view rendering, and ships a CLI (`grails-shell-cli`, `grails-forge-cli`) plus an HTTP application generator (`grails-forge`). Grails is **embedded into a user-authored web application**; it is not deployed as a standalone network service by the project. The unit of trust modeled here is "an application using the Grails framework," not "a Grails server." *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +--- + +## §2 Scope and intended use + +**Primary intended use**: building server-side web applications in Groovy/Java on the JVM, deployed as Spring Boot executable JARs or WARs running under an operator the application owner controls. *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +**Secondary intended use**: project scaffolding and code generation via the CLI tools and `grails-forge` HTTP API at <https://start.grails.org>. *(documented: [README.md](./README.md))* + +**Caller roles** (the model distinguishes three; this is not a network-service split since the framework is in-process within the user's app): + +| Role | Trust level | Description | +|---|---|---| +| **End user (HTTP client)** | **Untrusted** | Sends HTTP requests to a deployed Grails application. Source of all attacker-controllable input considered in this model. *(inferred)* | +| **Application developer / operator** | **Trusted** | Writes controllers, services, domain classes, URL mappings, GSP templates; configures `application.yml` / `application.groovy`; runs the CLI; chooses plugins. *(inferred)* | +| **Plugin / profile author** | **Trusted-by-association** | Author of a third-party Grails plugin or `grails-forge` profile. Code from a plugin runs with full application privileges. The framework does not isolate plugin code. *(inferred)* | + +### Component-family table + +The framework is large; not every module has the same threat profile. The model carves the framework into the following families: + +| Family | Representative entry point(s) | Touches outside process? | In or out of model | +|---|---|---|---| +| HTTP request ingress | [`GrailsDispatcherServlet`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-mvc/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/servlet/mvc/GrailsDispatcherServlet.groovy), [`UrlMappingsHandlerMapping`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-url-mappings/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/mapping/mvc/UrlMappingsHandlerMapping.groovy) | Yes - network (via Spring Boot embedded container) | **In** | +| Interceptors / controllers | [`GrailsInterceptorHandlerInterceptorAdapter`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-interceptors/src/main/groovy/org/grails/plugins/web/interceptors/GrailsInterceptorHandlerInterceptorAdapter.groovy), `grails.artefact.Controller` trait | Yes - via Spring MVC | **In** | +| Data binding | [`GrailsWebDataBinder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-databinding/src/main/groovy/grails/web/databinding/GrailsWebDataBinder.groovy), `SimpleDataBinder`, [`DefaultDataBindingSourceRegistry`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-web-databinding/src/main/groovy/org/grails/web/databinding/bindingsource/DefaultDataBindingSourceRegistry.groovy) | Indirectly (consumes request body) | **In** | +| View rendering (GSP, JSON, Markup) | [`GroovyPageCompiler`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-gsp/core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/gsp/compiler/GroovyPageCompiler.groovy), [`ResolvableGroovyTemplateEngine`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/ResolvableGroovyTemplateEngine.groovy), [`SmartViewResolver`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/mvc/SmartViewResolver.groovy) | Filesystem (template files) | **In** | +| Codecs / output encoding | [`grails-encoder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-encoder/), [`HTMLCodec`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-encoder/src/main/groovy/org/grails/encoder/CodecFactory.java) and siblings | No | **In** | +| GORM mapping / validation integration | [`GormEntityTransformation`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-datamapping-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/gorm/GormEntityTransformation.groovy), [`PersistentEntityValidator`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-datamapping-validation/src/main/groovy/grails/gorm/validation/PersistentEntityValidator.groovy), [`HibernateMappingBuilder`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-data-hibernate5/core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/orm/hibernate/cfg/HibernateMappingBuilder.groovy) | Yes - JDBC / DB driver | **In** | +| Configuration loading | [`ExternalConfigRunListener`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/config/external/ExternalConfigRunListener.groovy), [`GroovyConfigPropertySourceLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/core/cfg/GroovyConfigPropertySourceLoader.groovy), [`GrailsApplicationPostProcessor`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/boot/config/GrailsApplicationPostProcessor.groovy) | Yes - filesystem, env, system properties | **In** | +| Plugin / artefact discovery | [`PluginManagerLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/plugins/PluginManagerLoader.groovy), [`ClassPathScanner`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/grails/boot/config/tools/ClassPathScanner.groovy), [`GrailsFactoriesLoader`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/core/io/support/GrailsFactoriesLoader.groovy) | Filesystem (classpath JARs) | **In** | +| Compile-time AST transforms | [`GlobalGrailsClassInjectorTransformation`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GlobalGrailsClassInjectorTransformation.groovy), [`ResourceTransform`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-rest-transforms/src/main/groovy/org/grails/plugins/web/rest/transform/ResourceTransform.groovy), [`ViewsTransform`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-views-core/src/main/groovy/grails/views/compiler/ViewsTransform.groovy) | No (build only) | **In** (developer-trusted inputs only - see §6) | +| CLI / shell (`grails-shell-cli`) | [`GrailsCli`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-shell-cli/src/main/groovy/org/grails/cli/GrailsCli.groovy), [`MavenProfileRepository`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-shell-cli/src/main/groovy/org/grails/cli/profile/repository/MavenProfileRepository.groovy) | Yes - network (Maven), filesystem | **In** (with caveats - see §3 and §7) | +| Interactive consoles (`grails-console`) | [`GrailsShell`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-console/src/main/groovy/grails/ui/shell/GrailsShell.groovy), `GroovyConsoleApplicationContext` | Local I/O | **Out** - developer-only tool, see §3 | +| `grails-forge` HTTP API (start.grails.org) | [`ZipCreateController`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-forge/grails-forge-api/src/main/java/org/grails/forge/api/create/zip/ZipCreateController.java), [`GitHubCreateController`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-forge/grails-forge-api/src/main/java/org/grails/forge/api/create/github/GitHubCreateController.java) | Yes - network | **Out** - separate Micronaut-based service deployed independently from any application built with Grails; modeled separately by the operators of start.grails.org. *(inferred)* | +| Generated application scaffolding | `grails-profiles/`, files emitted by `create-app` | n/a | **Out** - separately authored; the framework's contract does not extend to scaffolded code once it is in the user's repository. See §3. | +| `grails-test-examples/`, demo apps | n/a | n/a | **Out** - test/demo code, not shipped. See §3. | + +--- + +## §3 Out of scope (explicit non-goals) + +The framework **does not** attempt to defend against, and **does not** model, the following. Triagers may close findings citing this section. + +- **Application-level authentication and authorization.** The framework ships no built-in user store, login flow, or session-based auth. The user is expected to integrate with the Spring Security plugin, Apache Shiro, or an equivalent. The `grails-shell-cli` `SpringSecurityCompilerAutoConfiguration` is a compile-time hook for the plugin, not an auth implementation. *(documented: [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/authentication.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/authentication.adoc), [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securityPlugins.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securityPlugins.adoc))* +- **Transport security (TLS).** Provided by the Spring Boot embedded container (Tomcat / Jetty / Undertow / Netty) or by a reverse proxy in front of the application. Out of layer. *(inferred)* +- **Database engine, JDBC driver, and JVM vulnerabilities.** The framework is a consumer; bugs in these layers are upstream. *(inferred)* +- **Spring Framework, Spring Boot, Hibernate, GORM datastore implementations.** Triaged in their own projects; the framework re-exposes their public APIs but does not own their threat models. *(inferred)* +- **Third-party Grails plugins** (anything not in this repository). Plugins run with full application privileges; their threat models are the responsibility of their authors. *(inferred)* +- **Generated application scaffolding output** (files emitted by `create-app` or `grails-forge`). Once written to the user's filesystem, the output is the user's code. The generator does not promise the generated code remains free of advisories as Grails evolves. *(inferred)* +- **`grails-test-examples/`, demo and reproducer modules**, and any `examples/` or scaffold output checked into the repository. Not shipped in framework distributions; threat-model separately if used as a starting point. *(inferred)* +- **Interactive consoles (`grails-console` module: `GrailsShell`, `GroovyConsole`).** These provide arbitrary Groovy code execution with full application-context access **by design**. They are developer tools. Reachability of these consoles from a deployed application is a deployment-configuration finding against the operator, not a framework vulnerability. *(inferred)* +- **`grails-forge` HTTP service at start.grails.org**, including the `ZipCreateController` / `GitHubCreateController` endpoints. The Micronaut-based service is deployed independently, has its own operator, and is modeled separately. The Grails framework neither runs this service inside user applications nor inherits its risk. *(inferred)* +- **Build-time supply chain** (Gradle plugin portal, Maven Central, signing, reproducible builds, GitHub Action pinning). Important, but not threat-model content per the rubric §1. The framework does have a CodeQL workflow ([`.github/workflows/codeql.yml`](./.github/workflows/codeql.yml)) and a CycloneDX SBOM tooling path, but neither makes a security claim that belongs in this document. *(documented: [`.github/workflows/codeql.yml`](./.github/workflows/codeql.yml))* +- **Side-channel attacks** (timing, cache, power, micro-architectural). No constant-time guarantees are made anywhere in the framework. *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §4 Trust boundaries and data flow + +The principal trust boundary modeled here is the **HTTP request boundary**: data crossing from an end user (untrusted) into a Grails application's controller layer. A secondary boundary is the **filesystem / environment boundary** at application startup, where configuration is loaded. + +### Primary data flow (HTTP request → response) + +``` +[Untrusted end user] + | + v (HTTP bytes; transport security is the operator's responsibility - §3) +[Embedded servlet container] <-- boundary: not framework + | + v +[GrailsDispatcherServlet] <-- HTTP request enters framework + | + v +[UrlMappingsHandlerMapping] (regex/wildcard match against developer-authored UrlMappings DSL) + | + v +[GrailsInterceptorHandlerInterceptorAdapter] (developer-authored interceptors) + | + v +[Controller action] (developer-authored; trusted-code, untrusted-data) + | | + | +--> [GrailsWebDataBinder] (request params/body -> domain object) <-- HIGHEST-RISK SURFACE + | + v +[Domain services, GORM] (developer-authored business logic; GORM escapes parameterized queries) + | + v +[View rendering: GSP / JSON / Markup] (output encoding via codecs - §8) + | + v +[Embedded servlet container] + | + v +[End user] +``` + +The trust transition occurs at `GrailsDispatcherServlet`. Within the framework, **request parameters, headers, cookies, and request bodies are treated as attacker-controlled**. The output codec layer is the matching transition on the response side - data leaving the framework into a view template is escaped per the view's content type. *(documented: [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc), [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc))* + +### Reachability preconditions per component family + +A triager applies these tests before deciding a finding is in-model: + +| Component family | Reachability precondition for a finding to be in-model | +|---|---| +| HTTP request ingress | Reachable from an HTTP request with no developer-authored guard preceding it. *(inferred)* | +| Data binding | Reachable via a controller action that calls `bindData()`, uses command objects, or accepts a domain class parameter, AND the bound fields are not declared `bindable: false`. *(inferred)* | +| View rendering | Reachable when developer-supplied model data flows into a GSP/JSON view AND output encoding is either disabled or bypassed via `${raw()}`. *(inferred)* | +| Codecs | Reachable from any call to an encoder API; the codec subsystem itself is a control, not a sink. *(inferred)* | +| GORM mapping integration | Reachable from a query path that accepts attacker-controlled values. HQL string concatenation, dynamic finder property names sourced from `params`, and `where`-DSL closures dynamically built from input are the canonical risk paths. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "SQL injection")* | +| Configuration loading | Reachable only if the attacker controls `grails.config.locations`, `GRAILS_CONFIG_LOCATIONS`, or the application classpath. **All three require local privilege at or above the application process** - therefore out of model in the default web-app scenario. *(inferred)* | +| Plugin / artefact discovery | Reachable only via a malicious JAR on the classpath. Same precondition as above - **classpath compromise is out of model**. *(inferred)* | +| Compile-time AST transforms | Reachable only at build time, with developer-controlled source files. Not reachable from an end user. *(inferred)* | +| CLI / shell (`grails-shell-cli`) | Reachable by the developer running the CLI on their local machine. End users do not invoke the CLI; if they can, the host is already compromised. *(inferred)* | + +The reachability column for **configuration loading** and **plugin discovery** is the load-bearing claim of this section: the framework's most powerful capabilities (Groovy DSL evaluation, classloader injection) are guarded by "code on the classpath is trusted." A report against these surfaces that does not first demonstrate untrusted control of the classpath or `grails.config.locations` is `OUT-OF-MODEL: trusted-input`. See §13. + +--- + +## §5 Assumptions about the environment + +**Runtime**: +- JDK 21 or higher. *(documented: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md))* +- Apache Groovy 4.0.x. *(documented: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md))* +- Spring Boot 4.0.x / Spring Framework 7.0.x. *(documented: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md))* +- Jakarta EE 10 servlet API (`jakarta.*`, not `javax.*`). *(documented: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md))* + +**Operator-controlled environment**: +- The application is deployed by a trusted operator on hardware and OS the operator controls. *(inferred)* +- The embedded servlet container is fronted by, or itself provides, transport security (TLS). *(inferred)* +- The application classpath contains only artifacts the operator/developer chose - no untrusted JAR is loaded at runtime. *(inferred)* +- Environment variables and system properties consulted at startup (`GRAILS_ENV`, `grails.env`, `grails.config.locations`, and the standard Spring Boot set) reflect operator intent. *(inferred)* + +**Concurrency**: +- The framework assumes a thread-per-request servlet model. Reactive (`WebFlux`) deployment is supported by Spring Boot but is not the modeled default. *(inferred)* +- `GrailsWebRequest.lookup()` provides thread-local access to the active request; the framework assumes one logical request per thread. *(documented: [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md))* + +### What the framework does NOT do to its host + +These are **negative claims** about the framework's behavior. By the rubric they are the lowest-confidence claims in the model and the highest-priority targets for maintainer confirmation (see §14). + +- The framework does not bind sockets directly. All network listening is delegated to the Spring Boot embedded container, configured by the operator. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not spawn child processes from the runtime layer. The CLI (`grails-shell-cli`) does spawn build tools (Gradle) - but only when invoked by a developer at the terminal. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not install JVM signal handlers. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not read environment variables beyond `GRAILS_ENV` / `grails.env` / `grails.config.locations` and the Spring Boot standard set. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not mutate global JVM state (default `Locale`, default `TimeZone`, system properties) at runtime. It does mutate `Locale` and `TimeZone` for the duration of a request via `GrailsWebRequest` for i18n - this is request-scoped, not process-wide. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not write to stdout or stderr at runtime beyond SLF4J-routed logging. *(inferred)* +- The framework does not load classes from network locations at runtime. (The CLI does, via `MavenProfileRepository`, but that is the developer surface - see §6 and §7.) *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §5a Build-time and configuration variants + +The framework exposes a small number of configuration knobs whose value affects which security properties hold. Defaults are listed; "Maintainer stance" is a §14 target. + +| Knob | Default | Effect on the model | Maintainer stance | +|---|---|---|---| +| `grails.databinding.autoGrowCollectionLimit` | 256 *(documented: framework default)* | Caps automatic collection growth during data binding - hard limit on memory amplification from an attacker submitting deeply indexed parameters (`list[1000000]=x`). Raising removes the cap. | **§14 wave 2** - is the documented default the supported production posture, or is the operator expected to lower it? | +| `grails.databinding.dateFormats` / `dateParsingLenient` | RFC-3339 + locale defaults; lenient parsing on | Affects how strict date binding is. Loose parsing has historically been a source of validation-bypass findings in other frameworks. | **§14 wave 2** | +| `grails.views.default.codec` and codec defaults (`grails.views.gsp.codecs.expression`, `scriptlet`, `taglib`, `staticparts`) | `html` for expression / scriptlet contexts (XSS protection on by default) | Setting any of these to `none` **disables automatic output encoding** for that context - immediate `OUT-OF-MODEL: non-default-build` for XSS reports under non-default settings. *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc), [codecs.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc))* | **§14 wave 1** - confirm the `html` default is the supported production posture. | +| `grails.controllers.upload.maxFileSize` / `maxRequestSize` | Operator-set; framework does not impose a default beyond Spring Boot's `MultipartProperties` (1 MB / 10 MB respectively) | Multipart upload size cap. Operators who raise these without separate rate-limiting expose themselves to DoS via large multipart bodies. | **§14 wave 2** | +| `grails.allowedMethods` (per-controller) | None (developer opt-in) | Restricts HTTP methods accepted by each action. Absence is **not** a finding; the model treats per-action method gating as a developer responsibility. *(inferred)* | **§14 wave 1** | +| `grails.config.locations` (env var, system property, or config) | Empty | Adds external config file paths. **A non-empty value sourced from an untrusted location is a `BY-DESIGN: property-disclaimed` triage outcome** - see §9. | **§14 wave 1** - confirm this disposition. | +| `GRAILS_ENV` / `grails.env` | `development` from CLI, `production` for assembled bootJars | Selects the active environment block in `application.yml` / `application.groovy`. Operators who deploy with `GRAILS_ENV=development` inherit the looser dev defaults (e.g., stack traces in responses). | **§14 wave 1** - is deploying with `development` a `non-default-build` posture? | +| `grails.serverURL` | Operator-set; required for absolute link generation outside a request | Used by `createLink` and similar tag helpers when no request scope exists. Misconfiguration is a phishing/open-redirect adjacent issue but is a deployment-config concern, not a framework bug. *(inferred)* | **§14 wave 2** | + +There is **no compile-time `-D` define or build flag** that voids a §8 property; the model is invariant under build configuration. *(inferred - §14 wave 3)* + +--- + +## §6 Assumptions about inputs + +The framework's public input boundary is the HTTP request. Per-parameter trust is summarized below. The table is intentionally framework-level; per-application controllers, services, and domain classes are out of scope (developer-authored). + +### Per-parameter trust table + +| Entry point / surface | Parameter | Attacker-controllable? | Caller (developer) must enforce | +|---|---|---|---| +| `Controller.params` | All values | **Yes** - direct request parameter map | Type coercion correctness; never concatenate into HQL/SQL/JPQL/Groovy strings; never use as redirect target without an allow-list. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "XSS", "HTML/URL injection")* | +| `Controller.request.headers` | All values | **Yes** - including `X-Forwarded-*`, `Host`, `User-Agent`, `Referer`, custom auth tokens | Treat presence as evidence of nothing; auth headers must be verified against the configured auth subsystem (Spring Security or equivalent). *(inferred)* | +| `Controller.request.cookies` | All values | **Yes** | Treat as attacker-supplied; if used for auth, integrity-protect via Spring Security or signed cookies. *(inferred)* | +| `Controller.request.JSON` / `XML` | Full body | **Yes** | Parser inputs are bounded by `maxRequestSize`; nested-depth limits are the parser's responsibility (Jackson, JAXP). *(inferred)* | +| `bindData(target, source)` | `source` (any `Map` or request) | **Yes** for the source; **No** for the target type (developer-controlled) | Use `bindable`/`include`/`exclude` to whitelist fields. The framework will bind every settable property of `target` from matching keys in `source` unless told otherwise. *(documented: [GORM data binding guide](https://grails.apache.org/docs/latest/guide/single.html#dataBinding))* | +| Command-object binding (auto-bound controller action parameter) | Field values | **Yes** | Annotate command-object fields with `bindable=false` for fields that must not be set from the request. *(inferred)* | +| Domain-class binding (`new Book(params)`, `book.properties = params`) | Field values | **Yes** | **Mass-assignment risk.** Use command objects or explicit allow-lists rather than binding the request to a domain class. *(inferred - canonical OWASP class)* | +| `MultipartFile` upload | `bytes`, `originalFilename`, `contentType` | **Yes** | Never use `originalFilename` as a filesystem path without sanitization; verify `contentType` server-side against the actual byte content. *(inferred)* | +| URL mapping path variables | Pattern captures (`/$id`, `/$controller/$action/$id`) | **Yes** | Validate type and range; `params.id` is an arbitrary string until validated. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Guessable IDs")* | +| GSP expression `${...}` (default mode) | Model value | **Yes** | Default codec encodes for HTML; explicit `${raw(x)}` opt-outs are a developer assertion that `x` is trusted. *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc))* | +| `grails.config.locations` (env / system property) | File path | **No - trusted operator input** | Operators must not source this value from end-user input. See §9 false-friend on Groovy config evaluation. *(inferred)* | +| `application.groovy` / `application.yml` contents | All keys | **No - trusted operator input** | `application.groovy` is evaluated as Groovy; treat it like source code, not configuration. *(inferred)* | +| Domain `mapping {}` / `constraints {}` closure | Closure body | **No - trusted developer input** | Evaluated at startup via `HibernateMappingBuilder.evaluate()` and `ConstraintsEvaluator`. Developer-authored code. *(inferred)* | +| AST transform inputs (`@Resource`, `@Validateable`, etc.) | Annotated source | **No - trusted developer input** | Run at compile time on developer source. *(inferred)* | +| `MavenProfileRepository` (CLI) | Profile coordinates | **Trusted developer input by default; trusted-third-party if a custom repo is configured** | The CLI downloads profile JARs and executes their `.groovy` command scripts (`GroovyScriptCommand`). Treat profile sources with the same trust as any other build-time dependency. See §11. *(inferred)* | + +### Size, shape, rate assumptions + +- Request body size: bounded by the embedded container / Spring Boot multipart settings, not by the framework itself. *(inferred)* +- Number of bound collection entries during data binding: bounded by `grails.databinding.autoGrowCollectionLimit` (default 256). *(documented: framework default)* +- URL mapping pattern complexity: developer-authored; the framework does not enforce a complexity ceiling on regex / wildcard patterns. ReDoS risk is therefore left to the developer. See §11. *(inferred)* +- Request rate: no built-in rate limiting; operators must add it at the proxy or via Spring Security / bucket4j. *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §7 Adversary model + +### In-scope adversary: the HTTP end user + +The principal adversary is a remote, unauthenticated HTTP client. Capabilities: + +- Crafts arbitrary HTTP requests against any URL pattern the application exposes. +- Sends arbitrary headers, cookies, query parameters, form bodies, JSON bodies, XML bodies, and multipart uploads up to operator-configured size limits. +- May replay or modify requests sourced from authenticated sessions in a CSRF context. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Cross-site request forgery")* +- May enumerate URL spaces, including guessable `id` values. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Guessable IDs")* + +What this adversary does **not** have: + +- Read or write access to the application filesystem, classpath, environment variables, or system properties. +- Ability to inject classes into the classpath or modify `application.groovy` / `application.yml`. +- Co-location on the same JVM as the application. +- Side-channel observation (timing, cache, power). +- Ability to compromise the JDK, Spring, Hibernate, or any third-party plugin. + +**Adversary goal**: cause the framework to violate one of the properties in §8 - typically by injecting code (XSS, HQL injection, Groovy injection), exfiltrating data the developer did not authorize disclosure of, or exhausting resources (DoS). + +### Documented adversary-model statement + +> "You must assume that every unprotected URL is publicly accessible one way or another." *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* + +This is the framework's stated position: URLs without developer-applied protection are reachable by the in-scope adversary. + +### Out-of-scope adversaries + +- **Local attacker with shell access on the application host.** Such an attacker can modify config, JARs, env vars, and the JVM itself. The framework cannot defend against them and does not try. *(inferred)* +- **Compromised plugin / JAR on the application classpath.** Plugins run with full privileges by design. *(inferred)* +- **Compromised build environment.** Out of model per §3. +- **Co-tenant attacker on the same JVM (e.g., another application in a shared servlet container).** The framework does not assume process-level isolation between deployed applications. The model assumes one application per JVM. *(inferred)* +- **Attacker who controls a Grails plugin or `grails-forge` profile downloaded by a developer running the CLI.** This is the supply-chain surface around `MavenProfileRepository`; see §11. The framework does not verify profile JAR signatures beyond what Maven Resolver provides. *(inferred)* +- **Attacker with the ability to make a developer execute the `GrailsShell` or `GroovyConsole`.** Out of scope - these are unrestricted code-execution tools by design. *(inferred)* +- **Side-channel observers** (timing, cache, micro-architectural). *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §8 Security properties the project provides + +Each property is stated with its conditions, the symptom of a violation, a severity tier, and a provenance tag. + +| # | Property | Conditions | Violation symptom | Severity | Provenance | +|---|---|---|---|---|---| +| P1 | **Parameterized GORM queries are SQL/HQL-injection safe.** | Caller uses named or positional parameters (or criteria DSL / `where` DSL with bound values), not string concatenation into HQL/SQL. | Reflected data appears unescaped in the executed SQL; attacker-controlled boolean predicates evaluate. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "SQL injection", [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc))* | +| P2 | **Default GSP `${...}` expression output is HTML-encoded.** | View runs with the default codec configuration (`expression=html`); developer has not explicitly opted into `raw()` or set the codec to `none`. | Reflected XSS via a value rendered through `${userInput}` without `raw()`. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc), [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc))* | +| P3 | **Grails-supplied link / form / `createLink` / `createLinkTo` tag helpers URL-encode their parameter values.** | Caller uses the supplied tag library rather than hand-built strings. | Reflected URL/header injection via a value passed to `<g:link params="...">` or equivalent that is not encoded. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(documented: [grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security.adoc), [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "HTML/URL injection")* | +| P4 | **`HTMLCodec`, `URLCodec`, `JavaScriptCodec`, `Base64Codec`, and related codecs encode for their stated context.** | Codec is invoked at the boundary between trusted source and the named output context. | Output does not match the documented encoding for the context (e.g., `encodeAsHTML` fails to escape `<`). | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(documented: [codecs.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc))* | +| P5 | **`useToken` (synchronizer token) on a form blocks naive CSRF and double-submit.** | Form is rendered with `useToken="true"` and the receiving action uses `withForm { }`. | Token validation accepts a missing, reused, or attacker-supplied token. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Cross-site request forgery")* | +| P6 | **Data binding respects `bindable=false` and explicit `include`/`exclude` lists.** | Field is annotated or the binding call explicitly lists allowed/forbidden fields. | A field marked unbindable is set from request input. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** | *(inferred)* | +| P7 | **Compile-time AST transforms (`@Resource`, `@Validateable`, etc.) only act on developer-authored source.** | Build runs on developer-controlled source. | A transform fires on or is influenced by attacker-supplied input. | Correctness; security-critical only if reachable from a non-build attacker. | *(inferred)* | +| P8 | **Configuration loading does not evaluate `application.groovy` from a path the framework itself chose at runtime - paths come from build-time classpath and operator-supplied environment/system properties.** | Operator has not pointed `grails.config.locations` at attacker-writable storage. | A user request causes evaluation of a Groovy file the operator did not authorize. | **Security-critical (CVE-eligible)** if violated. | *(inferred - §14 wave 1)* | +| P9 | **`maxFileSize` / `maxRequestSize` / `autoGrowCollectionLimit` provide bounded data-binding memory.** | Operator does not raise the limits past application needs. | Memory growth proportional to attacker-controlled input regardless of limit. | Resource property; framework treats super-linear memory in input size as a bug below the configured limit. *(inferred - §14 wave 2)* | *(inferred)* | + +### Resource consumption line + +The model takes the position that: + +- Hangs or unbounded memory growth driven by **bounded** request input (i.e., input that fits under the operator-configured size limits) **is a bug**. *(inferred - §14 wave 2)* +- Super-linear CPU in **unbounded** developer-authored regex (URL mapping patterns, constraint regexes) **is not a framework bug** - ReDoS surfaced through developer-supplied patterns is a developer responsibility. *(inferred)* +- "Slow but completes" is not a framework bug at any input size. *(inferred - §14 wave 2)* + +--- + +## §9 Security properties the project does NOT provide + +These properties are **disclaimed by design**. A report that depends on one of them is a `BY-DESIGN: property-disclaimed` triage outcome (see §13). + +- **Authentication, authorization, session management, password storage.** The framework ships no built-in user store. Delegated to Spring Security plugin or equivalent. *(documented: [authentication.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/authentication.adoc), [securityPlugins.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securityPlugins.adoc))* +- **CSRF protection on requests not protected by `useToken`.** `useToken` is opt-in per form. Actions that mutate state without a synchronizer token are not CSRF-protected by the framework. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +- **XSS protection for templates rendered with the codec disabled (`grails.views.default.codec=none`) or values explicitly passed through `raw()`.** Opt-out is the developer's stated intent. *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc), [codecs.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc))* +- **SQL/HQL injection protection for queries built by string concatenation.** Only parameterized GORM forms are safe; `Book.find("from Book where title = '${params.title}'")` is documented as unsafe. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +- **Authorization for individual domain-object access ("guessable IDs").** The framework does not check that the requesting user is permitted to view the object identified by `params.id`. The developer must enforce this. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Guessable IDs")* +- **Rate limiting / DoS protection against request volume.** No built-in throttling. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Denial of service")* +- **Constant-time cryptographic operations.** No constant-time comparison or secret-handling primitives are provided. *(inferred)* +- **Sandboxing of Groovy code in `application.groovy`, plugin `doWithSpring` blocks, or AST transforms.** Groovy source on the classpath is trusted, full stop. *(inferred)* +- **Verification of plugin or `grails-forge` profile JAR provenance.** The CLI uses standard Maven resolution; trust in the configured repository is operator-supplied. *(inferred)* +- **Cross-process / cross-tenant isolation.** One application per JVM is assumed. Sharing a JVM across mutually-untrusting apps is unsupported. *(inferred)* +- **Transport security.** Provided by Spring Boot / the operator's proxy. *(inferred)* + +### False-friend properties (the highest-value section for integrators) + +Features that **look like** a security property but are not one. Reports that confuse a false friend for the real thing are `KNOWN-NON-FINDING` (§11a) when documented and `BY-DESIGN: property-disclaimed` (§13) when not. + +- **`@Secured` annotations are not a built-in framework guarantee.** `@Secured` is integration-shaped sugar for the Spring Security plugin. Without that plugin installed and correctly configured, the annotation is inert. *(inferred)* +- **`bindable=false` is a data-binding control, not an access-control control.** It prevents a field from being set from request input. It does not prevent a developer from setting the field in code, and it does not prevent the field from being **read** and serialized into a response. *(inferred)* +- **`useToken` is a synchronizer-token CSRF defense, not a transaction-integrity guarantee.** It blocks naive cross-site form submissions and accidental double-submits. It is not a replay-protection mechanism for an authenticated user against a future-token attacker. *(inferred)* +- **Domain-class `constraints { }` are input-validation rules, not security boundaries.** `nullable: false` and `matches: /…/` are correctness checks. A constraint failure is a validation error, not an attack signal. *(inferred)* +- **GSP comments (`<%-- … --%>`) strip from output; HTML comments (`<!-- … -->`) do not.** Putting secrets in HTML comments leaks them to clients. The framework does not strip HTML comments. *(inferred)* +- **`grails.serverURL` is for link generation, not an authoritative declaration of the deployment URL for security purposes.** Setting it does not bind the application to that origin; the embedded container still serves whatever the operator binds it to. *(inferred)* + +### Well-known attack classes against this category of project that the framework does not defend against + +(One sentence per class; the point is to put integrators on notice, not to teach.) + +- **Mass assignment.** Binding the request map directly to a domain class without `bindable`/allow-lists. *(inferred)* +- **Open redirect.** Using a request parameter as a `redirect(url: params.next)` target. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "XSS - cross-site scripting injection" mentions this in the `successURL` example)* +- **Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF).** No built-in URL-fetch allow-list. *(inferred)* +- **XXE in XML data binding.** XML parsing is delegated to the underlying parser; the framework does not impose a parser configuration. *(inferred)* +- **ReDoS in developer-authored URL mappings and constraint regexes.** No complexity ceiling. *(inferred)* +- **Zip-bomb / archive expansion** in multipart and `grails-forge` ZIP generation. Bounded only by container size limits. *(inferred)* +- **Path traversal** through `MultipartFile.originalFilename` if used as a filesystem path. *(inferred)* +- **JSON / XML DoS** (deeply nested or large primitives) - the parser's responsibility, not the framework's. *(inferred)* +- **Session fixation, replay, sidejacking.** Session security is the auth plugin's responsibility. *(inferred)* +- **Cache-key / cache-poisoning attacks** in Spring Boot caching layers. *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §10 Downstream responsibilities + +For the assumptions in §5-§7 to hold, the **application developer / operator** must: + +1. Use a real authentication and authorization layer (Spring Security plugin or equivalent). The framework provides no replacement. *(documented: [authentication.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/authentication.adoc))* +2. Place TLS termination in front of the application (operator) or configure the embedded container's HTTPS connector. *(inferred)* +3. Never concatenate request parameters into HQL/SQL strings, Groovy `Eval`/`GroovyShell` calls, redirect targets, or shell commands. Use parameterized GORM queries, `withForm { }`, allow-lists. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +4. Bind request data through command objects or explicit allow-lists - not by passing `params` directly into a domain-class constructor or property setter. *(inferred)* +5. Authorize every domain-object access by ID. Never rely on guessable IDs as an access control. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Guessable IDs")* +6. Apply `useToken` (or equivalent CSRF protection from the auth plugin) on every state-mutating form. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +7. Keep `grails.views.default.codec` and the GSP context codecs at their HTML-encoding defaults. *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc))* +8. Sanitize and bound any request parameter used to size a query result (`max`, `offset`, `firstResult`). *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "Denial of service")* +9. Cap multipart upload size at the application boundary; cap request rate at the proxy. *(inferred)* +10. Treat `application.groovy`, plugin `doWithSpring` blocks, and any code on the classpath as part of the application's TCB. Do not source `grails.config.locations` from user input or attacker-writable storage. *(inferred)* +11. Validate `MultipartFile.originalFilename` and `contentType` before using them; never use the original filename as a filesystem path. *(inferred)* +12. Deploy with `GRAILS_ENV=production` (or equivalent) - the development environment loosens stack-trace exposure and dev-tools behavior. *(inferred - §14 wave 1)* + +--- + +## §11 Known misuse patterns + +In-the-wild patterns the API permits but that violate the assumptions in §5-§7. + +- **Mass-assignment via `new DomainClass(params)` or `domainInstance.properties = params`.** Looks ergonomic. Lets the request set fields the developer never intended - including `id`, `version`, role/permission booleans, and association references. *Fix*: use command objects, or annotate sensitive fields `bindable=false`, or pass an explicit allow-list to `bindData`. *(inferred)* +- **HQL/SQL string concatenation in `Book.find("…${params.x}…")`.** Documented explicitly as a vulnerability. *Fix*: named or positional parameters. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc) "SQL injection")* +- **Using a request parameter as a redirect target (`redirect(url: params.next)` or `successURL`-style flows).** Documented in the XSS section as the open-redirect / phishing pivot pattern. *Fix*: allow-list of permitted redirect targets. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +- **`${raw(userInput)}` in a GSP** to "fix" double-encoding when the developer is actually disabling XSS protection on attacker-controlled data. *Fix*: keep the codec enabled and stop double-encoding upstream. *(inferred)* +- **Disabling the default codec globally** (`grails.views.default.codec=none`) to make legacy templates render unchanged. *Fix*: keep the default and migrate templates individually. *(documented: [xssPrevention.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/xssPrevention.adoc), [codecs.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/codecs.adoc))* +- **Using `grails.config.locations` to load a writable file** (e.g., `/var/tmp/app-config.groovy`, an S3-backed user-config blob). The file is **evaluated as Groovy**, which means whoever can write it can run arbitrary code in the application process. *Fix*: source `grails.config.locations` only from a trusted operator-controlled path; prefer `application.yml` over `application.groovy` when the values are user-influenced. *(inferred)* +- **Exposing `GrailsShell`, `GroovyConsole`, or any Spring Boot Actuator endpoint that evaluates Groovy** on a network-reachable interface. *Fix*: bind those endpoints to localhost or disable them in production. *(inferred)* +- **Treating constraint validation as authorization.** A constraint passing does not mean the user is permitted to perform the operation. *Fix*: keep authz separate from validation. *(inferred)* +- **Putting secrets in HTML comments inside GSP templates.** They reach the client. *Fix*: use GSP comments (`<%-- … --%>`) or omit. *(inferred)* +- **Using `params.id` directly in a GORM `get(id)` call without an authorization check.** The "guessable IDs" pattern. *(documented: [securingAgainstAttacks.adoc](./grails-doc/src/en/guide/security/securingAgainstAttacks.adoc))* +- **Trusting `MultipartFile.originalFilename`** as a destination filename. The value is attacker-controlled and may include `../`, NUL bytes, or shell metacharacters. *Fix*: generate server-side filenames; never let user data join a filesystem path. *(inferred)* +- **Configuring a custom Maven repository for `grails-shell-cli` profiles** without HTTPS or signature checks. Affects developer machines, not deployed applications. *Fix*: pin to Maven Central or an HTTPS-only mirror; verify checksums. *(inferred)* + +--- + +## §11a Known non-findings (recurring false positives) + +The mirror of §11: patterns that scanners, fuzzers, AI analyzers, or human reviewers repeatedly flag against this project that **are not bugs given the model**. Feed this section to suppression configurations. + +- **"Dynamic class loading in `ClassPathScanner.classLoader.loadClass(name)`"** - reported by SAST tools as reflective class loading on attacker-controlled data. **Not in model**: `name` is sourced from the classpath, which is operator-controlled per §5 and §7. The reachability precondition in §4 ("classpath compromise is out of model") discharges this. +- **"Reflective `Class.forName` / `loadClass` in `ApplicationClassInjector` and AST infrastructure"** - same disposition as above; class names come from the build/classpath. +- **"Groovy `evaluate()` / `ConfigSlurper` in `GroovyConfigPropertySourceLoader` and `HibernateMappingBuilder`"** - flagged as code-injection sink. **Not in model**: inputs are `application.groovy` and domain `mapping {}` closures, both trusted developer/operator inputs per §6. See §9 disclaimer. +- **"`GroovyShell` instantiation in `grails-console` (`GrailsShell`, `GroovyConsoleApplicationContext`)"** - flagged as arbitrary code execution. **By design** per §3: these modules are developer tools providing arbitrary Groovy execution with full app context. Out of model. +- **"Mass-assignment warning on domain-class binding"** when the developer has applied `bindable=false` or used a command object - the warning is a heuristic that does not see the allow-list. Verify the allow-list exists; if it does, suppress. +- **"GSP `${raw(x)}` is unsafe"** when `x` is a trusted developer-controlled value (e.g., a model attribute populated from a server-side computation, never touched by request input). Verify by trace; if confirmed trusted, suppress. +- **"`SimpleDataBinder` uses reflection on user-class field types"** - flagged as type-confusion risk. Type discovery is on the **target** class, which is developer-authored, not the source. Out of model. +- **"`BeforeValidateHelper` implements `Serializable` with a `readObject` method"** ([`grails-datamapping-validation/src/main/groovy/org/grails/datastore/gorm/support/BeforeValidateHelper.java`](file:///C:/Users/james/Documents/IdeaProjects/grails-core-2/grails-datamapping-validation/src/main/groovy/org/grails/datastore/gorm/support/BeforeValidateHelper.java)) - flagged as a Java-serialization gadget-chain risk. **In-model only if** the application stores `BeforeValidateHelper` instances in an attacker-reachable serialized container (e.g., session, distributed cache, untrusted message bus). Out-of-model in the default request/response flow. This entry is **§14 wave 3** to confirm. Review Comment: Fixed in the same commit (`6a760c4002`, force-pushed). The `BeforeValidateHelper.java` link is now `[...](./grails-datamapping-validation/src/main/groovy/org/grails/datastore/gorm/support/BeforeValidateHelper.java)`. -- This is an automated message from the Apache Git Service. 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