Database Security

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  1. Database Security

Introduction

Database security is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information stored within a MediaWiki installation. As your wiki grows, it accumulates valuable data – revisions, user information, configuration settings, and potentially sensitive content. Protecting this data from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction is paramount. This article provides a comprehensive overview of database security principles and practices applicable to MediaWiki, particularly within the context of version 1.40, but largely applicable across versions. Understanding these concepts is essential for wiki administrators, developers, and anyone involved in maintaining a secure online environment. A compromised database can lead to data loss, reputational damage, legal liabilities, and disruption of service.

Understanding the Threat Landscape

Before diving into specific security measures, it's crucial to understand the types of threats facing databases. These threats can originate from various sources:

  • **SQL Injection:** This is arguably the most common and dangerous database attack. Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in application code (like wiki extensions or poorly written queries) to inject malicious SQL code into database queries. Successful SQL injection can allow attackers to bypass authentication, steal data, modify data, or even execute arbitrary commands on the database server. See [1](OWASP Top Ten) for more information.
  • **Brute-Force Attacks:** Attackers attempt to guess database credentials (username and password) by systematically trying numerous combinations. This is more effective against weak or default passwords.
  • **Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks:** While not directly targeting the database itself, DoS attacks can overload the database server, making it unavailable to legitimate users. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks amplify this effect. [2](Cloudflare's DDoS explanation)
  • **Insider Threats:** Malicious or negligent actions by individuals with authorized access to the database (e.g., disgruntled employees, compromised accounts).
  • **Malware:** Viruses, worms, and Trojans can compromise the database server and steal or corrupt data.
  • **Data Breaches:** Accidental exposure of sensitive data due to misconfigured security settings or vulnerabilities.
  • **Privilege Escalation:** An attacker gains higher-level access privileges than they are authorized to have.
  • **Physical Security Breaches:** Unauthorized physical access to the server hosting the database. While less common for hosted solutions, it’s vital for self-hosted instances.

Core Security Principles

Several core principles underpin effective database security:

  • **Least Privilege:** Grant users and applications only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks. Avoid granting administrative privileges unless absolutely required.
  • **Defense in Depth:** Implement multiple layers of security controls. If one layer fails, others are in place to provide protection.
  • **Regular Updates:** Keep the database software, operating system, and all related components (including extensions) up to date with the latest security patches. Vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered and patched.
  • **Strong Authentication:** Enforce strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regularly review user accounts and permissions.
  • **Data Encryption:** Encrypt sensitive data both in transit (while being transmitted between the application and the database) and at rest (while stored on the database server).
  • **Regular Backups:** Create frequent and reliable backups of the database. Backups are essential for disaster recovery and can mitigate the impact of data loss or corruption. [3](Backblaze Backup Strategy)
  • **Auditing and Monitoring:** Track database activity and monitor for suspicious behavior. Auditing logs can help identify and investigate security incidents.
  • **Secure Configuration:** Configure the database server and application according to security best practices. Disable unnecessary features and services.

MediaWiki-Specific Database Security Considerations

MediaWiki relies heavily on its database. Here's how to secure it within the MediaWiki context:

  • **`$wgSecretKey`:** This is *critical*. The `$wgSecretKey` in `LocalSettings.php` is used for various security-sensitive operations, including session management and password hashing. It *must* be a long, random, and unpredictable string. Change it regularly. [4](Random.org for key generation).
  • **`$wgDBuser` and `$wgDBpassword`:** The database username and password used by MediaWiki should be dedicated to MediaWiki and have limited privileges. Do *not* use a root or administrative database account. Use a strong, unique password.
  • **Database User Permissions:** The MediaWiki database user should only have the necessary permissions to read, write, and update data within the MediaWiki database. Avoid granting privileges like creating or dropping databases.
  • **`$wgSessionPublicKeys`:** This setting, introduced in newer MediaWiki versions, controls how session IDs are generated and validated. Ensure it's configured correctly to prevent session hijacking.
  • **Extension Security:** Carefully vet all extensions before installing them. Only install extensions from trusted sources and review their code for potential security vulnerabilities. Outdated extensions are a significant security risk. [5](MediaWiki Extension Security)
  • **Regularly Update MediaWiki:** Keeping MediaWiki itself up to date is vital. Updates often include security patches that address newly discovered vulnerabilities.
  • **Secure `LocalSettings.php`:** The `LocalSettings.php` file contains sensitive configuration information, including database credentials. Protect this file from unauthorized access. Set appropriate file permissions (e.g., 600 or 640).
  • **HTTPS:** Always use HTTPS (SSL/TLS) to encrypt communication between users’ browsers and the MediaWiki server. This protects sensitive data, such as passwords and session cookies, from eavesdropping. [6](Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates)
  • **CAPTCHA and Anti-Spam Measures:** Implement CAPTCHA or other anti-spam measures to prevent automated attacks, such as account creation bots and spam submissions.
  • **Rate Limiting:** Implement rate limiting to restrict the number of requests a user can make within a given timeframe. This can help mitigate brute-force attacks and DoS attacks.
  • **Web Application Firewall (WAF):** A WAF can help protect against common web attacks, including SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). [7](Cloudflare WAF example)
  • **Database Firewall:** A database firewall monitors and blocks malicious database traffic.

Technical Analysis and Indicators

Monitoring database activity and analyzing logs are crucial for detecting and responding to security incidents. Here are some key indicators to watch for:

  • **Failed Login Attempts:** A high number of failed login attempts, especially from the same IP address, could indicate a brute-force attack.
  • **Suspicious Queries:** Look for unusual or unexpected SQL queries in the database logs. Pay attention to queries that attempt to access sensitive data or modify database schema. [8](Imperva SQL Injection explanation)
  • **Unexpected Data Modifications:** Monitor for unauthorized changes to data, such as modifications to user accounts or important wiki content.
  • **Unusual Network Activity:** Monitor network traffic to and from the database server for suspicious patterns.
  • **Privilege Escalation Attempts:** Look for attempts to gain higher-level access privileges.
  • **Access from Unusual Locations:** Monitor for access attempts from unexpected geographical locations.
  • **Large Data Transfers:** Unusual large data transfers from the database could indicate data exfiltration.
  • **Error Logs:** Regularly review the database error logs for any suspicious messages.
  • **Slow Query Performance:** A sudden slowdown in query performance could indicate a DoS attack or a malicious query.

Tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) systems can automate the process of monitoring and analyzing database activity. [9](Snort IDS) [10](Splunk SIEM)

Trends in Database Security

Database security is a constantly evolving field. Here are some current trends:

  • **Database Activity Monitoring (DAM):** DAM solutions provide real-time visibility into database activity and help detect and prevent security threats.
  • **Data Masking and Tokenization:** These techniques protect sensitive data by replacing it with masked or tokenized values.
  • **Database Encryption with Bring Your Own Key (BYOK):** BYOK allows organizations to manage their own encryption keys, providing greater control over their data.
  • **Automated Vulnerability Assessment:** Automated tools can scan databases for known vulnerabilities and provide recommendations for remediation. [11](Qualys vulnerability assessment)
  • **AI and Machine Learning:** AI and machine learning are being used to detect anomalous database activity and predict potential security threats.
  • **Zero Trust Security:** A security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This is gaining prominence in database security. [12](NIST Zero Trust Architecture)
  • **Cloud Database Security:** Securing databases in cloud environments requires specialized security measures and tools. [13](AWS Database Security)

Disaster Recovery and Backups

Regular database backups are fundamental to database security. A well-defined disaster recovery plan can minimize downtime and data loss in the event of a security incident or other disaster.

  • **Backup Frequency:** The frequency of backups should be determined based on the rate of data change and the organization's recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO).
  • **Backup Storage:** Backups should be stored in a secure location, separate from the primary database server. Consider offsite storage or cloud-based backup services.
  • **Backup Testing:** Regularly test backups to ensure they can be restored successfully.
  • **Retention Policy:** Establish a retention policy to determine how long backups should be retained.

Conclusion

Database security is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring, assessment, and improvement. By implementing the principles and practices outlined in this article, you can significantly reduce the risk of a security breach and protect the valuable data stored within your MediaWiki installation. Remember to stay informed about the latest security threats and best practices. Don't underestimate the importance of security audits, penetration testing, and regular security training for all personnel involved in managing the wiki and its database. A proactive approach to database security is essential for maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of your wiki's information. Consider consulting with a security professional for a comprehensive assessment of your security posture. Also, review the Security policy within your MediaWiki installation.

Database administration User rights management Extension development Server security Firewall configuration Backup procedures Disaster recovery Security audit Extension review process LocalSettings.php configuration

[[14](OWASP)] [[15](SANS Institute)] [[16](NIST Cybersecurity)] [[17](NIST Computer Security Resource Center)] [[18](CERT Coordination Center)] [[19](Dark Reading)] [[20](Threatpost)] [[21](SecurityWeek)] [[22](InfoSecurity Magazine)] [[23](TechRepublic Security)] [[24](ZDNet Security)] [[25](Kaspersky)] [[26](Symantec)] [[27](McAfee)] [[28](FireEye)] [[29](CrowdStrike)] [[30](Palo Alto Networks)] [[31](Fortinet)] [[32](Checkpoint)] [[33](Trend Micro)] [[34](Sophos)] [[35](Rapid7)] [[36](Tenable)] [[37](Qualys)] [[38](Imperva)] [[39](Cloudflare)]

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