Security & Compliance

This document outlines the security measures and compliance frameworks implemented in the Credit History Application.

🔐 Core Security Principles

1. Confidentiality

Sensitive data (passwords, tokens, SSNs) encrypted with industry-standard algorithms
Encryption keys stored separately from application code
All data transmission over secure HTTPS connections

2. Integrity

Input validation on all user-provided data
Database transactions ensure data consistency
Audit logs track all changes to sensitive data

3. Availability

Health check endpoints for deployment monitoring
Rate limiting to prevent denial-of-service attacks
Graceful error handling ensures application stability

🛡️ Security Features

Authentication & Authorization

✅ Secure password hashing with bcrypt
✅ Multi-factor authentication support
✅ Short-lived access tokens (15 minutes)
✅ Refresh token rotation for long-lived sessions
✅ Automatic session invalidation on logout

Data Protection

✅ Encryption for sensitive fields in database
✅ TLS 1.3 for all data in transit
✅ Secure HTTPS enforcement
✅ No sensitive data in logs or error messages

Access Control

✅ User data isolation by user ID
✅ Role-based access control (future)
✅ API authentication on all endpoints
✅ Token-based authorization with JWT

API Security

✅ Input validation and sanitization
✅ SQL injection prevention via parameterized queries
✅ Cross-site scripting (XSS) protection
✅ Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection
✅ Rate limiting on authentication endpoints

📋 Compliance Frameworks

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

✅ User consent tracking for data collection
✅ Right to access: Users can export their personal data
✅ Right to deletion: Users can request permanent data deletion
✅ Right to rectification: Users can update their information
✅ Data retention policies: Automatic purge after 90 days (configurable)
✅ Privacy notice provided at signup

CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)

✅ Right to know: Transparency in data collection
✅ Right to delete: Comply with deletion requests
✅ Right to opt-out: Control data sharing with third parties
✅ Non-discrimination: No price/service changes based on CCPA exercise
✅ Opt-in for sensitive data: Explicit consent required

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

✅ Permissible purpose declarations before credit pulls
✅ Adverse action notices when applicable
✅ Dispute resolution process documentation
✅ Compliance with data accuracy requirements

🔍 Audit & Monitoring

Logging

All sensitive operations logged with timestamp and user context
Failed authentication attempts tracked
Data access events recorded for compliance
Logs retained for audit periods per regulation

Monitoring

Health check endpoints track application status
Configuration validation on startup
Alerts on repeated failed access attempts
Periodic security audit logs

Incident Response

Detection: Automated monitoring of audit logs
Response: Immediate token/key revocation capability
Investigation: Comprehensive audit trail retention
Recovery: User notification within 24 hours

🤝 Third-Party Security

Plaid API

✅ SOC 2 Type II certified
✅ ISO 27001 certified
✅ Encrypted data transmission
✅ Per-user API tokens (no shared credentials)

Experian API

✅ SOC 2 Type II certified
✅ OAuth 2.0 authentication
✅ Encrypted tokens with automatic refresh
✅ FCRA-compliant credit data handling

Data Processing Agreements

✅ Vendor SLAs reviewed and signed
✅ Data sub-processor notifications in privacy policy
✅ Contractual data protection requirements
✅ Right to audit vendor security

🔄 Development Security

Code Security

✅ Regular dependency updates
✅ Automated vulnerability scanning (Dependabot)
✅ Code review requirements for all PRs
✅ Secure coding standards in documentation

Testing

✅ 70%+ code coverage requirement
✅ Automated tests run on all PRs
✅ Security-focused test cases
✅ Integration tests with mocked APIs

Secrets Management

✅ Environment variables for all credentials
✅ .env file ignored in git
✅ No credentials in commit history
✅ Key rotation policies documented

🚀 Deployment Security

Infrastructure

✅ HTTPS/TLS enforced on all connections
✅ Web firewall (WAF) enabled in production
✅ DDoS protection configured
✅ Security headers configured (HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options)

Database

✅ Connection requires SSL/TLS
✅ Encrypted backups
✅ Regular backup testing
✅ Point-in-time recovery capability

Environment Separation

✅ Development: Sandbox credentials, test data
✅ Staging: Production-like environment, masked data
✅ Production: Hardened configuration, restricted access

✅ Pre-Production Security Checklist

Before deploying to production, verify:

🔔 Security Updates

We monitor security advisories for all dependencies and apply patches promptly:

Critical: Applied within 24 hours
High: Applied within 1 week
Medium: Applied within 2 weeks
Low: Applied in next release cycle

Subscribe to security updates:

🆘 Responsible Disclosure

Found a security vulnerability? Please do not open a public issue.

Instead, email: security@example.com with:

Description of the vulnerability
Steps to reproduce
Potential impact
Suggested fix (optional)

We will:

Confirm receipt within 24 hours
Provide timeline for fix
Credit you in security notes (if desired)
Keep your identity confidential

📚 Additional Resources

OWASP Top 10 - Web application security risks
NIST Cybersecurity Framework - Security best practices
CWE/SANS Top 25 - Most dangerous software weaknesses
Plaid Security Documentation
Experian Data Security

📅 Last Updated

December 13, 2025

Questions? Open an issue or contact the maintainers.

Report a vulnerability? Email: security@example.com (do not open public issue)

Security: odanree/credit-history-app

Security

SECURITY.md