Skip to content

Security Architecture Documentation ​

Overview ​

This document details the security architecture, measures, and best practices implemented in the RecceLabs LLM Dashboard. It covers authentication flows, data protection, infrastructure security, and monitoring practices.

Authentication Flow ​

1. Initial Authentication ​

  • User submits credentials (email/password) via login form
  • Backend validates credentials against MongoDB
  • Upon successful validation:
    • User data stored in localStorage for client-side access
    • Authentication token (base64 encoded user data) set in HTTP-only cookie
    • Token includes username and email information
    • Cookie set with 7-day expiration

2. Route Protection (Next.js Middleware) ​

  • Middleware intercepts all requests to protected routes
  • Checks for presence of 'auth-token' cookie
  • Public routes (/, /login) accessible without authentication
  • Authenticated users redirected from public routes to /dashboard
  • Unauthenticated users redirected to login page
  • Route matcher configured for specific paths (/, /dashboard/:path*)

3. Session Management ​

  • Cookie-based session tracking
  • Server-side validation of auth token
  • Automatic session expiration after 7 days
  • Client-side state management with localStorage

Security Measures ​

1. Authentication & Authorization ​

  • JWT-based token authentication
  • HTTP-only cookies for token storage
  • Role-based access control (root/member roles)
  • Protected route middleware
  • Session timeout mechanisms
  • Secure password handling

2. Data Protection ​

  • Input validation using Zod schema
  • Email format verification
  • Password length restrictions
  • Form data sanitization
  • Case normalization for emails
  • Trimmed input values

3. Frontend Security ​

  • Client-side form validation
  • Error message sanitization
  • Loading state management
  • Protected route navigation
  • Secure credential handling
  • CSRF protection via tokens

4. API Security ​

  • Request validation
  • Error handling and logging
  • Rate limiting
  • CORS protection
  • Request size limits
  • Secure headers

5. Infrastructure Security ​

  • Container isolation
  • Environment variable protection
  • Nginx reverse proxy
  • SSL/TLS termination
  • Network segmentation
  • Service-specific ports

6. Error Handling ​

  • Graceful error recovery
  • User-friendly error messages
  • Secure error logging
  • Failed login attempt handling
  • Session recovery mechanisms

7. Monitoring & Auditing ​

  • Authentication attempt logging
  • Access log monitoring
  • Error tracking
  • Security event logging
  • User activity tracking
  • Real-time alerts

Security Best Practices ​

1. Password Security ​

  • Minimum length requirements
  • Complexity validation
  • Secure storage
  • Hashing mechanisms
  • Salt implementation

2. Session Security ​

  • Secure cookie flags
  • Session timeout
  • Token rotation
  • Concurrent session handling
  • Logout mechanisms

3. API Security ​

  • Authentication headers
  • Request validation
  • Response sanitization
  • Error handling
  • Rate limiting

4. Infrastructure ​

  • Regular security updates
  • Dependency scanning
  • Container security
  • Network policies
  • Access controls

Security Incident Response ​

1. Detection ​

  • Automated monitoring systems
  • Log analysis
  • Anomaly detection
  • User reports
  • Security alerts

2. Response Procedures ​

  • Immediate containment actions
  • Investigation process
  • Evidence collection
  • Stakeholder notification
  • System recovery

3. Prevention ​

  • Regular security audits
  • Vulnerability assessments
  • Penetration testing
  • Security training
  • Policy updates

Compliance and Regulations ​

1. Data Protection ​

  • User data handling
  • Privacy policies
  • Data retention
  • Access controls
  • Encryption standards

2. Audit Trail ​

  • System access logs
  • Change management
  • Security events
  • User activities
  • Configuration changes

Security Updates and Maintenance ​

1. Regular Updates ​

  • Security patches
  • Dependency updates
  • Configuration reviews
  • Policy updates
  • Documentation maintenance

2. Security Testing ​

  • Automated security testing
  • Manual penetration testing
  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Configuration validation
  • Access control verification