How to Secure Your Web MVC Application with an Access Control List (ACL)?

How to Implement an Access Control List in Your Web MVC Application

Implementing an ACL

Using a Decorator Pattern

A decorator pattern involves wrapping an object within another object, providing enhanced functionality. It addresses the issue of extensibility without modifying the original class. Here's an example:

class SecureContainer
{
    protected $target;
    protected $acl;

    public function __construct( $target, $acl )
    {
        $this->target = $target;
        $this->acl = $acl;
    }

    public function __call( $method, $arguments )
    {
        if ( 
             method_exists( $this->target, $method )
          &&& $this->acl->isAllowed( get_class($this->target), $method )
        ){
            return call_user_func_array( 
                array( $this->target, $method ),
                $arguments
            );
        }
    }
}

$acl = new AccessControlList( $currentUser );
$controller = new SecureContainer( $controller, $acl );
$controller->actionIndex(); // Execute method with ACL checking

This approach:

• Can be applied to any object, not just controllers.
• Enforces access control outside the target object, adhering to the Single Responsibility Principle.
• Allows you to inject secured instances seamlessly.
• Can be wrapped and used like the original object.

Role-Based Access Control for Objects

To check access for Domain Objects with defined owners:

Option 1 (Law of Demeter aware):

$this->acl->isAllowed( get_class($this->target), $method )

Option 2 (Requesting relevant details):

$command = array( get_class($this->target), $method );
$this->acl->isAllowed( $this->target->getPermissions(), $command )

Consider these videos for further understanding:

• [Inheritance, Polymorphism, & Testing](link)
• [Don't Look For Things!](link)

Misconceptions about Models

Model in MVC is not a class. It encompasses a layer containing:

Domain Business Logic: Deals with computation, condition checking, and business rule implementation.

Data Access and Storage: Handles data-related operations, such as database interaction.

Services: Abstractions that simplify controller code, often juggling domain objects, components, and mappers.

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