convex-security-audit

# Convex Security Audit

Comprehensive security review patterns for Convex applications including authorization logic, data access boundaries, action isolation, rate limiting, and protecting sensitive operations.

## Documentation Sources

Before implementing, do not assume; fetch the latest documentation:

- Primary: https://docs.convex.dev/auth/functions-auth
- Production Security: https://docs.convex.dev/production
- For broader context: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt

## Instructions

### Security Audit Areas

1. **Authorization Logic** - Who can do what
2. **Data Access Boundaries** - What data users can see
3. **Action Isolation** - Protecting external API calls
4. **Rate Limiting** - Preventing abuse
5. **Sensitive Operations** - Protecting critical functions

### Authorization Logic Audit

#### Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

```typescript
// convex/lib/auth.ts
import { QueryCtx, MutationCtx } from "./_generated/server";
import { ConvexError } from "convex/values";
import { Doc } from "./_generated/dataModel";

type UserRole = "user" | "moderator" | "admin" | "superadmin";

const roleHierarchy: Record<UserRole, number> = {
  user: 0,
  moderator: 1,
  admin: 2,
  superadmin: 3,
};

export async function getUser(ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx): Promise<Doc<"users"> | null> {
  const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity();
  if (!identity) return null;
  
  return await ctx.db
    .query("users")
    .withIndex("by_tokenIdentifier", (q) => 
      q.eq("tokenIdentifier", identity.tokenIdentifier)
    )
    .unique();
}

export async function requireRole(
  ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx, 
  minRole: UserRole
): Promise<Doc<"users">> {
  const user = await getUser(ctx);
  
  if (!user) {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: "UNAUTHENTICATED",
      message: "Authentication required",
    });
  }
  
  const userRoleLevel = roleHierarchy[user.role as UserRole] ?? 0;
  const requiredLevel = roleHierarchy[minRole];
  
  if (userRoleLevel < requiredLevel) {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: "FORBIDDEN",
      message: `Role '${minRole}' or higher required`,
    });
  }
  
  return user;
}

// Permission-based check
type Permission = "read:users" | "write:users" | "delete:users" | "admin:system";

const rolePermissions: Record<UserRole, Permission[]> = {
  user: ["read:users"],
  moderator: ["read:users", "write:users"],
  admin: ["read:users", "write:users", "delete:users"],
  superadmin: ["read:users", "write:users", "delete:users", "admin:system"],
};

export async function requirePermission(
  ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx,
  permission: Permission
): Promise<Doc<"users">> {
  const user = await getUser(ctx);
  
  if (!user) {
    throw new ConvexError({ code: "UNAUTHENTICATED", message: "Authentication required" });
  }
  
  const userRole = user.role as UserRole;
  const permissions = rolePermissions[userRole] ?? [];
  
  if (!permissions.includes(permission)) {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: "FORBIDDEN",
      message: `Permission '${permission}' required`,
    });
  }
  
  return user;
}
```

### Data Access Boundaries Audit

```typescript
// convex/data.ts
import { query, mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { getUser, requireRole } from "./lib/auth";
import { ConvexError } from "convex/values";

// Audit: Users can only see their own data
export const getMyData = query({
  args: {},
  returns: v.array(v.object({
    _id: v.id("userData"),
    content: v.string(),
  })),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    const user = await getUser(ctx);
    if (!user) return [];
    
    // SECURITY: Filter by userId
    return await ctx.db
      .query("userData")
      .withIndex("by_user", (q) => q.eq("userId", user._id))
      .collect();
  },
});

// Audit: Verify ownership before returning sensitive data
export const getSensitiveItem = query({
  args: { itemId: v.id("sensitiveItems") },
  returns: v.union(v.object({
    _id: v.id("sensitiveItems"),
    secret: v.string(),
  }), v.null()),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const user = await getUser(ctx);
    if (!user) return null;
    
    const item = await ctx.db.get(args.itemId);
    
    // SECURITY: Verify ownership
    if (!item || item.ownerId !== user._id) {
      return null; // Don't reveal if item exists
    }
    
    return item;
  },
});

// Audit: Shared resources with access list
export const getSharedDocument = query({
  args: { docId: v.id("documents") },
  returns: v.union(v.object({
    _id: v.id("documents"),
    content: v.string(),
    accessLevel: v.string(),
  }), v.null()),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const user = await getUser(ctx);
    const doc = await ctx.db.get(args.docId);
    
    if (!doc) return null;
    
    // Public documents
    if (doc.visibility === "public") {
      return { ...doc, accessLevel: "public" };
    }
    
    // Must be authenticated for non-public
    if (!user) return null;
    
    // Owner has full access
    if (doc.ownerId === user._id) {
      return { ...doc, accessLevel: "owner" };
    }
    
    // Check shared access
    const access = await ctx.db
      .query("documentAccess")
      .withIndex("by_doc_and_user", (q) => 
        q.eq("documentId", args.docId).eq("userId", user._id)
      )
      .unique();
    
    if (!access) return null;
    
    return { ...doc, accessLevel: access.level };
  },
});
```

### Action Isolation Audit

```typescript
// convex/actions.ts
"use node";

import { action, internalAction } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { api, internal } from "./_generated/api";
import { ConvexError } from "convex/values";

// SECURITY: Never expose API keys in responses
export const callExternalAPI = action({
  args: { query: v.string() },
  returns: v.object({ result: v.string() }),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Verify user is authenticated
    const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity();
    if (!identity) {
      throw new ConvexE