---
description: Detect and prevent software and data integrity failures in Drupal as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A08
globs: *.php, *.install, *.module, *.inc, *.theme, *.yml, *.json
alwaysApply: false
---
# Drupal Software and Data Integrity Failures Standards (OWASP A08:2021)

This rule enforces security best practices to prevent software and data integrity failures in Drupal applications, as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A08.

## Rule Details

- **Name:** drupal_integrity_failures

- **Description:** Detect and prevent software and data integrity failures in Drupal as defined in OWASP Top 10:2021-A08

## Filters
- file extension pattern: `\\.(php|inc|module|install|theme|yml|json)$`
- file path pattern: `.*`

## Enforcement Checks
- Conditions:
  - pattern `unserialize\\(\\$|unserialize\\([^,]+\\$|php_unserialize\\(\\$` – Insecure PHP deserialization detected. Use safer alternatives like JSON for data interchange or implement proper validation before deserialization.
    - Pattern 1: Insecure deserialization
  - pattern `eval\\(|assert\\(|create_function\\(` – Potentially dangerous code execution function detected. Avoid dynamic code execution whenever possible.
    - Pattern 2: Unsafe use of eval or similar functions
  - pattern `module_load_include\\(\\$|require(_once)?\\s*\\(\\s*\\$|include(_once)?\\s*\\(\\s*\\$` – Dynamic inclusion of files based on user input is dangerous. Use validated, allowlisted paths only.
    - Pattern 3: Insecure plugin/module loading
  - pattern `update\\.settings\\.yml|function [a-zA-Z0-9_]+_update_[0-9]+\\(\\)` – Ensure update hooks validate the integrity of updates and data transformations to prevent unauthorized modifications.
    - Pattern 4: Missing update verification
  - pattern `ConfigImporter|\\$config_importer|config_import|cmci` – Validate configuration before import to ensure integrity and detect potentially malicious changes.
    - Pattern 5: Unsafe configuration imports
  - pattern `drupal_http_request\\(|\\\\Drupal::httpClient\\(\\)->get\\(|curl_exec\\(` – Always validate data from remote sources before processing or storing it. Implement integrity checks for remote content.
    - Pattern 6: Unchecked remote data
  - pattern `composer\\.json` – Verify you're using secure Composer practices: validate package signatures, pin dependencies, and use composer.lock.
    - Pattern 7: Insecure Composer usage
  - pattern `INSERT\\s+INTO|UPDATE\\s+[a-zA-Z0-9_]+\\s+SET|db_update\\(|->update\\(|->insert\\(` – Direct database modifications should implement validation to preserve data integrity. Prefer using entity API.
    - Pattern 8: Direct database modifications
  - pattern `file_save_data\\(|file_save_upload\\(|file_copy\\(|file_move\\(` – Implement file integrity checking for uploaded or manipulated files to prevent malicious content.
    - Pattern 9: Missing file integrity verification
  - pattern `\\$entity\\s*=\\s*new\\s+[A-Za-z]+\\(|::create\\(\\$` – Validate all input used to create entity objects to maintain data integrity and prevent creating malicious entities.
    - Pattern 10: Unsafe entity creation

## Suggestions
- Guidance:
**Drupal Data & Software Integrity Best Practices:**

1. **Secure Deserialization:**
   - Avoid PHP's unserialize() with untrusted data entirely
   - Use JSON or other structured formats for data interchange
   - When deserialization is necessary, implement allowlists and validation
   - Consider using Drupal's typed data API for structured data handling
   - Avoid serializing sensitive data that could be tampered with

2. **Update & Configuration Integrity:**
   - Validate data before and after migrations/updates
   - Implement checksums/hashing for critical configuration
   - Use Drupal's Configuration Management system properly
   - Monitor configuration changes for unauthorized modifications
   - Implement proper workflow for configuration management

3. **Dependency & Plugin Security:**
   - Verify the integrity of downloaded modules and themes
   - Use Composer with package signature verification
   - Pin dependencies to specific versions in production
   - Maintain awareness of security advisories
   - Implement proper validation for plugin/module loading

4. **CI/CD Pipeline Security:**
   - Sign build artifacts
   - Verify signatures during deployment
   - Implement proper secrets management
   - Control access to build and deployment systems
   - Validate code changes through code reviews

5. **Data Integrity Validation:**
   - Use database constraints to enforce data integrity
   - Implement validation at every layer of the application
   - Add integrity checks for critical data flows
   - Maintain audit logs for data modifications
   - Regularly verify data consistency

## Validation Checks
- Conditions:
  - pattern `json_encode|json_decode|\\\\Drupal::service\\('serialization\\.|->toArray\\(\\)` – Using safer serialization alternatives.
    - Check 1: Secure serialization alternatives
  - pattern `\\$entity->validate\\(\\)|\\$violations\\s*=\\s*\\$entity->validate\\(\\)` – Properly validating entity data.
    - Check 2: Proper entity validation
  - pattern `::validateSyncedConfig\\(|ConfigImporter::validate|->getUnprocessedConfiguration\\(\\)` – Implementing configuration validation.
    - Check 3: Config verification
  - pattern `file_validate_|FileValidatorInterface|\\$validators` – Using file validation mechanisms.
    - Check 4: Safe file handling

## Metadata
- Priority: high
- Version: 1.1
- Tags: security, drupal, integrity, deserialization, owasp, language:php, framework:drupal, category:security, subcategory:integrity, standard:owasp-top10, risk:a08-integrity-failures
## References
- https://owasp.org/Top10/A08_2021-Software_and_Data_Integrity_Failures/
- https://www.drupal.org/docs/develop/security-in-drupal/drupal-8-sanitizing-output
- https://www.drupal.org/docs/8/api/configuration-api/configuration-api-overview
- https://www.drupal.org/docs/develop/using-composer