ContextHub is designed with security as a fundamental principle. This document outlines our security practices, threat model, and guidelines for safe usage.

ContextHub operates entirely within the user's local development environment and does not:

• ❌ Transmit data to external servers
• ❌ Store credentials or sensitive information
• ❌ Execute arbitrary code from external sources
• ❌ Require network access for core functionality
• ❌ Access files outside the project directory

1. Local-Only Operation: All operations are performed locally
2. No Network Communication: Zero external API calls or data transmission
3. Minimal Permissions: Requires only file system access within project directory
4. Input Validation: All user inputs are validated and sanitized
5. Safe File Operations: File operations use secure patterns and validation

// All file paths are validated to prevent directory traversal
function validatePath(filePath) {
  const resolvedPath = path.resolve(filePath);
  const projectRoot = process.cwd();
  
  if (!resolvedPath.startsWith(projectRoot)) {
    throw new Error('Path traversal attempt detected');
  }
  
  return resolvedPath;
}

• All file reads/writes are confined to the project directory
• Symlink targets are validated to prevent escape
• File permissions are checked before operations
• Atomic file operations prevent partial writes

• Original files are backed up before modification
• Rollback capability in case of errors
• Backup directory is excluded from version control

• YAML/Markdown parsing with size limits
• Schema validation for structured data
• Sanitization of user-provided content
• Protection against billion laughs attacks

• Argument validation and sanitization
• Limited to predefined command set
• Path validation for all file arguments
• No arbitrary command execution

// Symlinks are validated to prevent malicious targets
function createSecureSymlink(target, linkPath) {
  const resolvedTarget = path.resolve(target);
  const resolvedLink = path.resolve(linkPath);
  
  // Ensure both paths are within project directory
  validatePath(resolvedTarget);
  validatePath(resolvedLink);
  
  // Check for circular references
  if (wouldCreateCycle(resolvedTarget, resolvedLink)) {
    throw new Error('Circular symlink detected');
  }
  
  return fs.symlink(resolvedTarget, resolvedLink);
}

• Target validation to prevent escape attacks
• Circular reference detection
• Broken symlink cleanup
• Regular integrity checks

• No dynamic code execution in templates
• Static template processing only
• Input sanitization for all variables
• Protection against template injection

• No execution of configuration content
• Static file generation only
• Content filtering and validation
• Size limits to prevent DoS

# Verify npm package signature
npm audit

# Check package integrity
npm ls contexthub

# Verify installation source
npm view contexthub

# Always review generated configurations
cat CLAUDE.md
cat .cursorrules
cat .github/copilot-instructions.md

# Verify symlink targets
ls -la CLAUDE.md
readlink CLAUDE.md

<!-- ❌ DON'T include sensitive information -->
## Database Connection
Password: super-secret-password
API Key: sk-1234567890abcdef

<!-- ✅ DO use placeholders or environment variables -->
## Database Connection
Use environment variables for credentials:
- DB_PASSWORD
- API_KEY

# Add sensitive files to .gitignore
echo "*.env" >> .gitignore
echo "secrets/" >> .gitignore
echo ".ai-tools-backup/" >> .gitignore

# Never commit credentials
git add .ai-context.md  # ✅ Safe
git add .env           # ❌ Dangerous

• No hardcoded credentials or secrets
• All file paths validated for traversal
• Input validation on all user data
• Error messages don't leak sensitive info
• No arbitrary code execution
• Dependencies are security audited

# Run security tests
npm run test:security

# Test with malicious inputs
npm run test:fuzzing

# Validate file permissions
npm run test:permissions

Please DO NOT report security vulnerabilities through public GitHub issues.

Instead, please use one of these methods:

1. GitHub Security Advisories (Preferred): Report a vulnerability

Include the following information:

• Description of the vulnerability
• Steps to reproduce
• Potential impact
• Suggested fix (if any)

• Security patches are released immediately
• All users are notified via GitHub Security Advisories
• Automatic updates recommended for security fixes
• Breaking changes avoided in security releases

A: No. ContextHub only operates within your project directory and only accesses files you explicitly configure. It cannot access:

• Files outside your project directory
• System files or directories
• Home directory files (unless project is in home)
• Other projects or repositories

A: No. ContextHub is completely local. It does not:

• Make network requests
• Send telemetry data
• Upload configurations
• Connect to external APIs
• Transmit any information

A: No. ContextHub only performs file operations:

• Reading configuration files
• Writing configuration files
• Creating symlinks
• Copying files
• Validating syntax

It never executes user-provided code or scripts.

A: Yes. ContextHub is designed for enterprise use:

• No network access required
• No data transmission
• Operates within project boundaries
• Full audit trail of operations
• Source code is open and auditable

A: We protect against supply chain attacks through:

• Minimal dependencies (only 4 runtime dependencies)
• Regular dependency audits
• Signed releases
• Reproducible builds
• Package integrity verification

All development dependencies are:

• Regularly updated
• Security audited
• Not included in production builds
• Isolated from runtime code

# Regular security audits
npm audit
npm audit fix

# Automated dependency updates
npm update

# Check for known vulnerabilities
npm audit --audit-level high

• OWASP Top 10: Addresses all relevant security risks
• SANS Top 25: Mitigates software security weaknesses
• CWE: Common Weakness Enumeration compliance
• NIST: Follows cybersecurity framework guidelines

• GDPR Compliant: No personal data processing
• CCPA Compliant: No data collection or selling
• SOC 2: Meets security and availability criteria
• ISO 27001: Follows information security standards

• Static analysis compatible
• Container security scanning supported
• SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) available
• Vulnerability disclosure program

# Security test suite
npm run test:security

# Includes:
# - Path traversal tests
# - Input validation tests
# - Symlink security tests
# - File permission tests
# - Content injection tests

# Test malicious inputs
echo "../../../etc/passwd" | contexthub build --source -

# Test path traversal
contexthub build --output "../../../tmp"

# Test symlink attacks
ln -s /etc/passwd .ai-context.md
contexthub build

• Regular security assessments
• Third-party security reviews
• Bug bounty program (planned)
• Community security reviews

1. Detection: Automated monitoring and user reports
2. Assessment: Evaluate severity and impact
3. Containment: Immediate mitigation steps
4. Investigation: Root cause analysis
5. Resolution: Fix development and testing
6. Communication: User notification and advisory
7. Follow-up: Process improvement

• GitHub Security: Security Advisories
• Issue Tracker: GitHub Issues

• OWASP Secure Coding Practices
• Node.js Security Best Practices
• npm Security Guidelines

• npm audit
• Snyk
• OSSAR

• Node.js Security Working Group
• OWASP Node.js Project

ContextHub is designed with security as a core principle:

✅ Local-only operation - No network access or data transmission
✅ Minimal attack surface - Limited to file operations in project directory
✅ Input validation - All user inputs are validated and sanitized
✅ Secure file operations - Path traversal protection and safe symlinks
✅ No code execution - Only static file generation and copying
✅ Transparent operation - All operations are logged and auditable
✅ Regular security audits - Continuous monitoring and testing
✅ Responsive security team - Quick response to security issues

For security questions or concerns, please use GitHub Security Advisories

Last updated: 2025-06-20