pEpJSONServerAdapter/README.md

# p≡p JSON Server Adapter

## Introduction
The p≡p JSON Server Adapter provides a REST-like jQuery-compatible API to
connect with the p≡p engine.  It is language-independent and can be used by
any client.

## Requirements
In order to use the p≡p JSON Server Adapter, you need to build and run it.
Currently, Linux (Debian 9, Ubuntu 16.04) and MacOS (10.11, 10.12) are
supported, Windows is about to follow.  Newer versions should also work
(file a bug report if not) but are not in our main focus, yet.

## Dependencies
* C++ compiler: tested with g++ 4.8 and 4.9, and clang++ 2.8. Newer versions should work, too.
* GNU make
* libboost-thread-dev (tested with 1.58)
* libboost-program-options-dev  (tested with 1.58)
* libboost-filesystem-dev (tested with 1.58)
* libevent-dev 2.0.21 or 2.0.22 (or build from source, see below)
* [p≡p Engine](https://letsencrypt.pep.foundation/trac/wiki/Basic%20Concepts%20of%20p%E2%89%A1p%20engine)
  (which needs gpgme-thread, a patched libetpan, libboost-system-dev)
* OSSP libuuid

## Building/Installing
### Install the dependencies
Debian 9:

~~~~~
apt install -y build-essential libboost1.62-dev libboost-system1.62-dev \
    libboost-filesystem1.62-dev libboost-program-options1.62-dev \
    libboost-thread1.62-dev libgpgme-dev uuid-dev
~~~~~

macOS 10.12:

Use homebrew or macports to install the required libraries.

For more explicit instructions on how to do this with macports, see the
section below.

Build and install the pEp Engine.  Instructions can be found here:
[https://cacert.pep.foundation/dev/repos/pEpEngine/file/ef23982e4744/README.md](https://cacert.pep.foundation/dev/repos/pEpEngine/file/ef23982e4744/README.md).

### Build and install libevent
~~~~~
mkdir ~/code/json-ad
hg clone https://cacert.pep.foundation/dev/repos/pEpJSONServerAdapter/ ~/code/json-ad
cd ~/code/json-ad
./configure --prefix="$HOME/code/json-ad/libevent-2.0.22-stable/build/" --disable-openssl
make
make install
~~~~~

### Build and install the JSON server
~~~~~
cd cd ~/code/json-ad/server
~~~~~

Edit the build configuration to your needs in `./Makefile.conf`, or create a
`./local.conf` that sets any of the make variables documented in
`./Makefile.conf`.

If a dependency is not found in your system's default include or library
paths, you will have to specify the according paths in a make variable. 
Typically, this has to be done at least for the pEp Engine, libetpan and
libevent.

Below are two sample `./local.conf` files, for orientation.

macOS 10.12:

~~~~~
PREFIX=$(HOME)/code/json-ad/build
HTML_DIRECTORY=$(PREFIX)/share/pEp/json-adapter/html

BOOST_INC=-I$(HOME)/Cellar/boost/1.65.1/include
BOOST_LIB=-L$(HOME)/Cellar/boost/1.65.1/lib

ENGINE_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/engine/build/include
ENGINE_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/engine/build/lib

ETPAN_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/libetpan/build/include
ETPAN_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/libetpan/build/lib

EVENT_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/json-ad/libevent-2.0.22-stable/build/include
EVENT_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/json-ad/libevent-2.0.22-stable/build/lib

GPGME_INC=-I$(HOME)/Cellar/gpgme/1.9.0_1/include
GPGME_LIB=-L$(HOME)/Cellar/gpgme/1.9.0_1/lib

UUID_INC=-I$(HOME)/Cellar/ossp-uuid/1.6.2_2/include
UUID_LIB=-L$(HOME)/Cellar/ossp-uuid/1.6.2_2/lib
~~~~~

Debian 9:

~~~~~
PREFIX=$(HOME)/code/json-ad/build
HTML_DIRECTORY=$(PREFIX)/share/pEp/json-adapter/html

ENGINE_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/engine/build/include
ENGINE_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/engine/build/lib

ETPAN_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/libetpan/build/include
ETPAN_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/libetpan/build/lib

EVENT_INC=-I$(HOME)/code/json-ad/libevent-2.0.22-stable/build/include
EVENT_LIB=-L$(HOME)/code/json-ad/libevent-2.0.22-stable/build/lib
~~~~~

Now, build and install the server:

~~~~~
make all
make install
~~~~~

With `make test` you can execute the server's tests.

### Macports
[Install MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/install.php) for your version of macOS.

If MacPorts is already installed on your machine, but was installed by a
different user, make sure your `PATH` variable is set as follows in
`~/.profile`:

```
export PATH="/opt/local/bin:/opt/local/sbin:$PATH"
```

Install dependencies packaged with MacPorts as follows.

```
sudo port install gpgme boost ossp-uuid
```

## Running the pEp JSON Adapter
You can use `make run` to start the server.

1. Run ./pep-json-server.  This creates a file that is readable only by the
   current user (/tmp/pEp-json-token-${USER}) and contains the address and
   port the JSON adapter is listening on, normally 127.0.0.1:4223 and a
   "security-token" that must be given in each function call to authenticate
   you as the valid user.

   ```
   ./pep-json-server
   ```

2. Visit that address (normally http://127.0.0.1:4223/) in your
   JavaScript-enabled web browser to see the "JavaScript test client".
3. Call any function ("version()" or "get_gpg_path()" should work just
   fine) with the correct security token.

## Using the p≡p JSON Adapter

In the following section, you'll find background information on how to use
the adapter and its functions.

### Server startup and shutdown

The JSON Server Adapter can be started on demand.
It checks automatically whether an instance for the same user on the machine
is already running and if yes it ends itself gracefully.

If there is no running server found the newly started server creates the
server token file and forks itself into background (if not prevented via
"-d" commandline switch).


### Session handling

When using the p≡p engine, a session is needed to which any adapter can
connect. The p≡p JSON Server Adapter automatically creates one session per
HTTP client connection (and also closes that session automatically when the
client connections is closed). Therefore, the client does not need to take
care of the session management. However, the client has to set up a [HTTP
persistent
connection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_persistent_connection).

### API Principles

All C data types are mapped the same way, so some day the JSON wrapper can
be generated from the p≡p Engine header files (or the JSON wrapper and the
p≡p engine header are both generated from a common interface description
file).

| C type | JSON mapping |
|--|--|
| `bool` | JSON boolean |
| `int` | JSON decimal number |
| `size_t` | JSON decimal number |
| `char*` (representing a UTF-8-encoded NULL-terminated string | JSON string |
| `char*` (representing a binary string | base64-encoded JSON string |
| `enum` | either JSON decimal number or JSON object containing one decimal number as member |
| `struct` | JSON object |
| linked lists (e.g. `bloblist_t`, `stringlist_t`, `identity_list` etc.) | JSON array of their member data type (without the `next` pointer) |

The parameter type PEP_SESSION is handled automatically by the JSON Server
Adapter and the PEP_SESSION parameter is omitted from the JSON API.

#### enum types

Enum types are represented as JSON objects with one member, whose name is
derived from the enum type name, holding the numeric value of the enum.

Some enum types are still represented directly as JSON decimal number. It
shall be changed in a future version of the JSON Adapter.

#### String types

The JSON Server Adapter does automatic memory management for string
parameters. The current p≡p Engine's API distinguish between `const char*`
parameters and `char*` parameters.  `const char*` normally means: the
"ownership" of the string remains at the caller, so the JSON Adapter frees
the string automatically after the call.  `char*` normally means: the
"ownership" of the string goes to the Engine, so the JSON Adapter does _not_
free string.

If there are functions that have a different semantics the behavior of the
JSON wrapper has to be changed.

#### Parameter (value) restrictions

Some API functions have restrictions on their parameter values.  The JSON
Adapter does not know these restrictions (because it does not know the
semantics of the wrapped functions at all).  So it is the client's
responsibility to fulfill these parameter restrictions!  Especially when
there are restrictions that are checked with assert() within the p≡p Engine,
it is impossible for the JSON Adapter to catch failed assertions - the
Engine and the Adapter process will be terminated immediatetely when the
Engine is compiled in debug mode (= with enabled assert() checking).

Currently there are no range checks for numerical parameter types (e.g. a
JSON decimal number can hold a bigger value than the `int` parameter type of
a certain C function).

### API Reference

An complete overview with all functions that are callable from the client
can be found in the [API Reference](pEp JSON Server Adapter/API Reference).

That API reference is a generated file that shows the current API briefly.
There is also a (currently manually written) file that holts a copy of the
documentation from the Engine's header files: [API reference detail.md]

Most of the callable functions are functions from the C API of the p≡p
Engine.  They are described in detail, incl.  pre- and post-conditions in
the appropriate C header files of the Engine.


### Authentication

The JSON Server Adapter and the client have to authenticate to each other.
"Authentication" in this case means "run with the same user rights". This is
done by proving that each communication partner is able to read a certain
file that has user-only read permissions.

0. There is a common (between client & server) algorithm to create the path
   and filename of the "server token file", for a given user name.
   The token file and its directory MUST be owned by the user and MUST be
   readable and writable only by the user, nobody else.  Client and server
   check for the right ownership and access rights of the token file and its
   directory. (TODO: What shall be done if that check fails?)

1. The server creates a "server token file" containing a "server token" and
   the IP address and port where the server listens on.  This file can only
   be read by client programs that run with the same user rights.

2. The client checks the path, reads the "server token" from the file and
   authenticates itself to the server in each JSON RPC call with that "server
   token".


## Extending / customizing

If you want to extend or customize the p≡p JSON Adapter, there are several
rules and definitions to take into account.

### Definitions

* The `FunctionMap function` in `ev_server.cc` defines which functions
  are callable via the JSON-RPC interface.  The existing entries show the
  syntax of that map.
  Non-static member functions can be called, too. Thanks to std::function<>
  a member function `Foo::func(Params...)` is handled like a free-standing
  function `func(Foo* f, Params...)`.

* For each type there must exist specializations of the template classes
  "In" (for input parameters) and "Out" (for output parameters).
  The linker will tell you, which specializations are needed.

* The specializations for "generic types" are in `function_map.cc`.

* The specializations for "p≡p-specific types" are in `pep-types.cc`.


## TODOs

The following issues are planned but not yet implemented.

* Windows build:
    * implement get_token_filename() for MS Windows (security-token.cc line 43)
    * do the Windows-specific stuff to build the software on Windows

* Add unit tests

* Fix the bugs that are found by the Unit tests, if any.

* Generate all the tedious boiler plate code
    * the content of pep-types.cc
    * perhaps the FunctionMap 'function' in mt-server.cc
    * perhaps the JavaScript side of the HTML test page to ensure to be
      consistent with the server side in pep-types.cc

* Adapt the "p≡p Transport API", when it is final. (either manually or by
  code generator, if ready)


## Appendix A: Attack scenarios on the authentication

Let's discuss different attack / threat scenarios. I don't know which are
realistic or possible, yet.

### General ideas / improvements

Currently the JSON Server Adapter writes its server token file in a
directory that is only readable & writable by the user itself.

The server token file is written in $HOME/.pEp/json-token on
UNIX/Linux/MacOS and %LOCALAPPDATA%/pEp/json-token on MS Windows.

The JSON Server Adapter also checks whether .pEp has 0700 access rights
on unixoid systems.


### Attacker with the same user rights

If the attacker is able to run his malicious code with the same user
rights as the JSON Server Adapter and his legitimate client, it is (and
always will be) *impossible* to prevent this attack. Such an attacker also
can just start a legitimate client that is under his control.

The same applies to an attacker who gains root / admin access rights.

### Fake Server with different user rights

```
 ,----------.      ,--------.
 | Attacker | <==> | Client |
 `----------'      `--------'
```

If no real JSON Adapter runs an attacker can create a fake server that
pretends to be a legitimate JSON Adapter. It creates its own server token
file, with different and conspicuous access rights, but a limited
JavaScript client might be unable to detect the file permissions.

This fake server cannot access the private key of the user but it might
get sensitive plaintext data the client wants to encrypt. The fake server
cannot sign the encrypted data so the fake would be conspicuous, too. But
that would be too late, because the sensitive plaintext data could
already be leaked by the fake server.

This attack needs a user's home directory that is writable by someone else
(to create a ~/.pEp/ directory) or a foreign-writable ~/.pEp/ directory.

The pEpEngine creates a ~/.pEp/ directory (if not yet exists) and sets the
permissions to 0700 explicitly.


### Man-in-the-middle with different user rights

```
 ,---------------------.      ,----------.      ,--------.
 | JSON Server Adapter | <==> | Attacker | <==> | Client |
 `---------------------'      `----------'      `--------'
```

* The attacker cannot read "client token file" nor "server token file".
* The server cannot check "who" connects to it, until the client
  authenticates itself, which might be relayed by the attacker from the
  original client.
* The attacker has to convince the client that it is a legitimate server. It
  has to create a fake "server token file" to divert the client to the
  attacker's port. But that fake file cannot contain the right server token
  because the attacker does not know it.
  * if the server started before the attacker the "server token file"'s
    access rights should prevent this (no write access for the attacker, no
    "delete" right in common TEMP dir (sticky bit on the directory)
  * if the attacker starts before the server it can write a fake toke file.
    The server could detect it but is unable to notice the legitimate
    client. The client could detect it when it can check the file access
    rights.
    There might be race conditons...

* Is it possible for the attacker to let the client send the right server
  token to him, at least temporarily (e.g. within a race condition)?
  * As long as the server runs, the attacker cannot bind to the same address
    & port. Finding and binding of the port is done by the server before the
    server token file is created and filled.
  * When the server that created the "server token file" dies, its port
    becomes available for the attacker, but the server token is no longer
    valid and no longer useful for the attacker.
* there _might_ be a very _small_ chance for a race condition:
  1. The attacker opens a connection to the running server but does not
    use it. To find the server it cannot read the server configuration
    file, but it can ask the OS for ports that are open in "listen" mode.
    Normally the JSON Adapter listens on 4223 or some port numbers above
    that. That means: guessing the server's address is quite easy.
  2. when the server shuts down, the attacker immediately binds itself to
    that port. If a client connects just in this moment it sends the server
    token to the attacker, not to the server. But the attacker can use that
    token now to the server via the already opened TCP connection.
  3. To prevent this the server should call shutdown(2) on its listening
    socket to block any new client connection, but still block the port.
    (is that the case on all platforms?) Than close(2) all TCP connections
    to the clients (if any) and than also delete the server token file.
    Finally call close(2) on the listening socket.