If you're looking to conduct code and architecture reviews with a focus on security, here’s a structured approach tailored for HKIT Security (or similar security-driven contexts):

Preparation

1. Understand the Context
   • Objective : Clarify the purpose of the review (e.g., identifying vulnerabilities, improving architecture resilience).
   • Scope : Define the boundaries of the review (specific modules, entire codebase, or architecture diagrams).
   • Compliance Standards : Identify any regulatory or organizational standards (e.g., OWASP, ISO 27001, NIST).
2. Gather Resources
   • Documentation : Architectural diagrams, data flow diagrams, and design specifications.
   • Codebase : Full access to the code repository and build processes.
   • Tools : Select static analysis tools (e.g., SonarQube, Checkmarx) and dynamic testing tools (e.g., OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite).
   • Access : Permissions to test environments and sandbox systems.

Architecture Review

Key Focus Areas

1. Threat Modeling
   • Assess risks and potential attack vectors using frameworks like STRIDE or PASTA.
   • Identify critical assets and entry points for attackers.
2. Design Principles
   • Separation of Concerns : Ensure logical isolation between components.
   • Least Privilege : Verify that roles, components, and services operate with minimum required permissions.
   • Fail-Safe Defaults : Evaluate how the system responds to unexpected conditions.
3. Data Protection
   • Evaluate how sensitive data is stored, transmitted, and processed.
   • Verify encryption standards (e.g., AES-256, TLS 1.2+).
4. Authentication and Authorization
   • Ensure robust identity management mechanisms (e.g., OAuth2, SSO).
   • Validate session handling, including expiration and invalidation processes.
5. Scalability and Resilience
   • Assess system's ability to handle load under DoS or DDoS scenarios.
   • Review disaster recovery plans.

Code Review

Automated Analysis

• Run static analysis tools to detect vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL Injection, XSS, insecure deserialization).
• Use dependency scanners to identify outdated or vulnerable libraries (e.g., Snyk, Dependabot).

Manual Review

Focus on:

1. Input Validation
   • Check all inputs for validation and sanitization.
   • Use allowlists where possible.
2. Error Handling
   • Review error messages to ensure they don’t expose sensitive data.
   • Validate proper logging of exceptions.
3. Authentication & Session Management:
   • Ensure passwords are hashed using secure algorithms (e.g., bcrypt).
   • Review session cookies for secure, HttpOnly, and SameSite attributes.
4. Data Handling:
   • Validate secure data storage (e.g., encryption of PII).
   • Ensure sensitive data isn't logged.
5. Third-Party Interactions:
   • Verify API calls and ensure proper authentication (e.g., API keys, tokens).
   • Evaluate the security of external libraries and dependencies.

Reporting

Deliverables

1. Findings Document
   • Prioritize vulnerabilities based on impact (e.g., CVSS scores).
   • Highlight architectural risks and improvement suggestions.
2. Recommendations
   • Include actionable steps for mitigation.
   • Propose enhancements aligned with best practices.
3. Executive Summary
   • Provide high-level insights for stakeholders.
   • Focus on business risks and strategic improvements.

Post-Review Actions

• Mitigation : Work with development teams to fix identified vulnerabilities.
• Revalidation : Perform follow-up reviews to verify fixes.
• Continuous Monitoring : Implement tools and processes for ongoing security checks.