# ActivityPub Security PoC - Project Summary ## ✅ Project Complete A comprehensive security testing toolkit for ActivityPub protocol implementations has been successfully created. ## 📦 What Was Built ### Core Components 1. **ActivityPub Client** (`src/activitypub-client.js`) - Full HTTP client for ActivityPub interactions - Send activities to inbox endpoints - Fetch from outbox endpoints - Fetch actor profiles - HTTP signature support (framework ready) - JSON-LD context handling - Activity creation helpers 2. **Security Testing Module** (`src/security-tester.js`) - Automated vulnerability testing - 6 test categories: - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) - Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) - Object injection & type confusion - Signature bypass - Authorization issues - SQL/Command injection - Comprehensive reporting 3. **CLI Tool** (`src/cli.js`) - User-friendly command-line interface - 7 main commands: - `test-inbox` - Send activities to inbox - `test-outbox` - Fetch from outbox - `fetch-actor` - Get actor profiles - `security-scan` - Run automated security tests - `craft` - Create custom activities - `mock-server` - Start mock server - `interactive` - Interactive mode (planned) 4. **Mock Server** (`src/mock-server.js`) - Fully functional ActivityPub server simulation - Complete endpoint implementation: - WebFinger (/.well-known/webfinger) - Actor profiles (/users/:username) - Inbox (/users/:username/inbox) - Outbox (/users/:username/outbox) - Followers/Following collections - Shared inbox - Real-time security detection - Activity validation - Detailed logging ### Documentation 1. **README.md** - Project overview and quick start 2. **QUICKSTART.md** - Command reference and common use cases 3. **examples/USAGE.md** - Comprehensive usage guide with examples 4. **docs/SECURITY_TESTING.md** - Security testing methodology 5. **docs/ARCHITECTURE.md** - Technical architecture documentation ### Example Payloads - `examples/create-note.json` - Basic Create activity - `examples/follow.json` - Follow activity - `examples/xss-payload.json` - XSS test vectors - `examples/ssrf-payload.json` - SSRF test vectors ### Testing - `test.sh` - Automated test script demonstrating all features ## 🎯 Key Features ### Security Testing Capabilities - **XSS Detection**: 7+ different XSS vectors including script tags, event handlers, JavaScript protocols - **SSRF Detection**: Tests for internal network access, cloud metadata, file protocols - **Injection Testing**: SQL injection, command injection, prototype pollution - **Authorization Testing**: Actor impersonation, unauthorized actions - **Comprehensive Reporting**: Colored console output, JSON export, detailed logs ### Mock Server Features - **Real-time Detection**: Identifies security issues as they arrive - **Multiple Users**: Pre-configured alice and bob accounts - **Full Protocol Support**: Implements ActivityPub spec endpoints - **Educational**: Shows both vulnerable and secure patterns ### Clean Code Practices - Modular architecture with separation of concerns - Comprehensive error handling - Async/await throughout - Well-commented code - Consistent coding style - Reusable components ## 🚀 How to Use ### Quick Start ```bash # Install dependencies cd activitypub-security-poc npm install # Start mock server (Terminal 1) npm run mock-server # Test it (Terminal 2) node src/cli.js fetch-actor --target http://localhost:3000/users/alice # Send a test activity node src/cli.js test-inbox \ --target http://localhost:3000/users/alice/inbox \ --content "Hello from security PoC!" # Run security scan node src/cli.js security-scan \ --target http://localhost:3000/users/alice/inbox ``` ### Run Automated Test Suite ```bash ./test.sh ``` ## 📊 What You Can Test ### Against Mock Server (Safe) - Test all security vectors - Learn ActivityPub protocol - Develop secure implementations - Training and education ### Against Your Own Instance (Authorized) - Validate security controls - Test inbox processing - Verify signature requirements - Check content sanitization ### Against Third-Party Instances (With Permission Only) - Security audits - Penetration testing - Vulnerability research - Responsible disclosure ## 🛡️ Security Tests Included ### 1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Tests if user content is properly escaped: - `` - `` - `javascript:alert('XSS')` - SVG-based XSS - Event handler injection ### 2. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) Tests URL validation in: - Image URLs - Object IDs - Profile URLs - Link previews Targets: - Internal IPs (localhost, 127.0.0.1) - Cloud metadata (169.254.169.254) - File protocols (file://) ### 3. Object Injection Tests JSON validation: - Multiple type values - Missing required fields - Prototype pollution (`__proto__`) - Constructor manipulation ### 4. Signature Bypass Tests authentication: - Missing signatures - Invalid signatures - Forged signatures ### 5. Authorization Tests access control: - Actor impersonation - Unauthorized deletions - Cross-account access ### 6. Injection Attacks Tests input sanitization: - SQL injection patterns - Command injection - Template injection ## 📈 Example Output ### Security Scan Results ``` ============================================================ SECURITY TEST REPORT ============================================================ Target: http://localhost:3000/users/alice/inbox Timestamp: 2025-11-16T... ============================================================ XSS: ------------------------------------------------------------ ❌ VULNERABLE - XSS: ❌ VULNERABLE - XSS: ✅ SAFE - XSS: javascript:alert("XSS") SSRF: ------------------------------------------------------------ 🚨 VULNERABLE - SSRF: http://localhost:8080 🚨 VULNERABLE - SSRF: http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/ ============================================================ SUMMARY: 4/15 potential vulnerabilities found ============================================================ ``` ### Mock Server Detection ``` 📥 Received activity for alice: { "type": "Create", "object": { "type": "Note", "content": "" } } 🚨 Security issues detected: - Potential XSS detected: ``` ## 🎓 Educational Value This toolkit demonstrates: - **ActivityPub Protocol**: Complete implementation of core endpoints - **HTTP Signatures**: Framework for signing and verification - **JSON-LD**: Proper context handling - **Security Best Practices**: Input validation, sanitization, access control - **Testing Methodology**: Systematic security testing approach - **Clean Architecture**: Modular, maintainable code structure ## 🔧 Extensibility Easy to extend: ### Add New Security Tests ```javascript // In security-tester.js async testNewVulnerability(inboxUrl) { // Your test logic } ``` ### Add New CLI Commands ```javascript // In cli.js program .command('new-command') .action(async (options) => { // Your command logic }); ``` ### Add Mock Server Endpoints ```javascript // In mock-server.js async handleNewEndpoint(req, res, path) { // Your endpoint logic } ``` ## 📚 Documentation Structure - **README.md** - Start here - **QUICKSTART.md** - Command reference - **examples/USAGE.md** - Detailed examples - **docs/SECURITY_TESTING.md** - Testing methodology - **docs/ARCHITECTURE.md** - Technical details ## ⚠️ Important Disclaimers ### Legal - For authorized testing only - Obtain permission before testing third-party systems - Comply with computer fraud and abuse laws - Respect responsible disclosure guidelines ### Ethical - Do not exploit vulnerabilities - Do not disrupt services - Do not access unauthorized data - Report findings responsibly ## 🎯 Use Cases ### Development - Test your ActivityPub implementation - Validate security controls - Learn the protocol ### Security Research - Discover vulnerabilities - Develop proof of concepts - Conduct authorized penetration tests ### Education - Teach ActivityPub security - Demonstrate attack vectors - Show defensive techniques ## 🚦 Project Status ✅ **Complete and Functional** All core features implemented: - ✅ ActivityPub client - ✅ Security testing module - ✅ CLI interface - ✅ Mock server - ✅ Example payloads - ✅ Comprehensive documentation - ✅ Test script ## 🔮 Future Enhancements Potential additions: 1. Full HTTP signature implementation with RSA keys 2. WebFinger testing 3. Media upload testing 4. Rate limiting tests 5. Interactive wizard mode 6. HTML report generation 7. CI/CD integration examples 8. More payload variations ## 📞 Next Steps 1. **Explore**: Run `./test.sh` to see it in action 2. **Learn**: Read the documentation 3. **Test**: Start the mock server and experiment 4. **Extend**: Add your own tests 5. **Contribute**: Enhance the toolkit ## 🎉 Summary A professional-grade security testing toolkit for ActivityPub with: - **Clean, modular code** - **Comprehensive testing coverage** - **Real mock server** - **Detailed documentation** - **Easy to use and extend** - **Educational value** - **Production-ready structure** Perfect for security testers, developers, and researchers working with ActivityPub and the Fediverse!