realtime-security-framework

Bridging the gap between real-time system design and application security

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Overview

This project is an OWASP-aligned security framework focused on modeling and mitigating client-side trust vulnerabilities in real-time applications such as multiplayer systems and collaborative platforms.

Real-time applications operate in inherently untrusted environments, where clients can manipulate memory, network traffic, and application logic. Despite this, secure design guidance for these systems is limited and often fragmented.

This project addresses that gap by providing structured, developer-focused security resources.

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Goals

• Formalize client-side exploits as application security vulnerabilities
• Map real-time attack patterns to OWASP Top 10 and ASVS
• Provide reusable threat models for real-time systems
• Deliver practical secure design guidelines
• Demonstrate vulnerabilities and mitigations through examples

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Features

Threat Model Library

• 5–8 structured attack scenarios
• Includes preconditions, impact, and mitigations
• Mapped to OWASP Top 10 and ASVS

Attack Classification Framework

• Taxonomy of real-time security issues
• Covers trust boundaries, input validation, and integrity failures

Secure Design Guidelines

• Server-authoritative architecture patterns
• Input validation strategies
• Replay protection mechanisms
• Session integrity enforcement

Practical Demonstrations

• 2–3 working examples
• Vulnerable vs secure implementations
• Clear explanation of underlying issues

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Example Problem Areas

• Client-authoritative logic
• Unvalidated RPC/API calls
• Replay attacks
• Packet manipulation
• Invalid state transitions

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Technologies

• GDScript (Godot) for real-time system examples
• Python for lightweight simulations
• OWASP Top 10, ASVS, and Cheat Sheets for security alignment

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Project Structure (Planned)

threat-models/
classification/
guidelines/
examples/
docs/

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Motivation

This project is inspired by practical issues observed while contributing to Godot’s multiplayer documentation, where insecure patterns such as client-authoritative logic and unvalidated RPC usage are common.

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Long-Term Vision

• OWASP Cheat Sheet for real-time application security
• Integration with OWASP testing methodologies
• Expansion into XR, IoT, and distributed systems

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Status

🚧 Initial development (GSoC project)

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License

MIT

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Contributing

Contributions and feedback are welcome. This project aims to evolve with community input and align with OWASP standards.