HeliosDB Security Incident Response Plan

HeliosDB Security Incident Response Plan

1. Executive Summary

This document defines the procedures for responding to security incidents affecting HeliosDB deployments. It provides step-by-step guidance for detecting, containing, eradicating, and recovering from security breaches.

1.1 Objectives

• Minimize damage and impact of security incidents
• Preserve evidence for forensic analysis
• Restore normal operations quickly and safely
• Learn from incidents to improve security posture

1.2 Scope

This plan applies to all security incidents affecting:

• HeliosDB database servers
• Encryption key management systems
• Authentication and authorization systems
• Network infrastructure
• Data storage systems

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2. Incident Classification

2.1 Severity Levels

P0 - Critical

• Response Time: Immediate (< 15 minutes)
• Examples:
  • Active data breach
  • Encryption key compromise
  • Ransomware attack
  • Admin account compromise
  • Critical vulnerability exploitation

P1 - High

• Response Time: < 1 hour
• Examples:
  • Successful SQL injection
  • Privilege escalation
  • DDoS attack
  • Failed authentication spike
  • Suspicious admin activity

P2 - Medium

• Response Time: < 4 hours
• Examples:
  • Repeated failed login attempts
  • Minor policy violations
  • Suspicious query patterns
  • Configuration drift

P3 - Low

• Response Time: < 24 hours
• Examples:
  • Security scan alerts
  • Policy violations (non-critical)
  • Low-risk vulnerability detection

2.2 Incident Categories

1. Unauthorized Access

   • Authentication bypass
   • Stolen credentials
   • Privilege escalation
   • Session hijacking

2. Data Breach

   • Unauthorized data access
   • Data exfiltration
   • Data modification
   • Data deletion

3. Malware/Ransomware

   • Malicious code execution
   • System compromise
   • Data encryption by attacker

4. Denial of Service

   • DDoS attacks
   • Resource exhaustion
   • System unavailability

5. Insider Threat

   • Malicious insider activity
   • Accidental data exposure
   • Policy violations

---

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Incident Response Team

Incident Commander (IC)

• Overall incident coordination
• Communication with stakeholders
• Decision-making authority
• Resource allocation

Security Lead

• Technical security analysis
• Threat assessment
• Forensic investigation
• Remediation planning

Database Administrator (DBA)

• Database health monitoring
• Query analysis
• Data integrity verification
• Backup and recovery

Network Administrator

• Network isolation
• Traffic analysis
• Firewall rule management
• DDoS mitigation

Legal Counsel

• Regulatory compliance
• Breach notification requirements
• Evidence preservation
• Legal liability assessment

Communications Lead

• Internal communications
• External communications
• Customer notifications
• Media relations (if needed)

3.2 Contact Information

Emergency Hotline: +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX
Security Email: security@example.com
Pager: security-oncall@pagerduty.com

Incident Commander: ic@example.com
Security Lead: security-lead@example.com
DBA Lead: dba-lead@example.com
Legal: legal@example.com

---

4. Incident Response Phases

4.1 Phase 1: Preparation

Before an Incident

1. Maintain incident response tools:

   # Incident response toolkit
   /opt/security/ir-toolkit/
   ├── forensics/
   │ ├── memory-capture.sh
   │ ├── disk-image.sh
   │ └── log-collection.sh
   ├── containment/
   │ ├── isolate-server.sh
   │ ├── block-ip.sh
   │ └── lock-accounts.sh
   └── recovery/
       ├── restore-backup.sh
       ├── rotate-credentials.sh
       └── verify-integrity.sh

2. Ensure backup integrity:

   # Verify backups daily
   heliosdb-backup verify --all
   heliosdb-backup test-restore --latest

3. Review and update procedures:

   • Quarterly tabletop exercises
   • Annual full-scale drill
   • Update contact information
   • Test communication channels

4. Maintain monitoring and alerting:

   monitoring/alerts.yaml

   critical_alerts:
     - failed_auth_threshold: 10/5min
     - privilege_escalation: immediate
     - encryption_key_access: immediate
     - unusual_query_patterns: 5min
     - data_export_large: immediate

4.2 Phase 2: Detection and Analysis

Detection Methods

1. Automated Monitoring:

   # Security monitoring dashboard
   heliosdb-monitor security-dashboard
   
   # Real-time alerts
   tail -f /var/log/heliosdb/security-alerts.log

2. Manual Detection:

   • User reports
   • Security scan results
   • Audit log review
   • Anomaly detection

Initial Analysis

1. Triage (< 5 minutes):

   # Quick assessment script
   #!/bin/bash
   
   echo "=== Incident Triage ==="
   echo "Timestamp: $(date)"
   
   # Check active connections
   echo "\n=== Active Connections ==="
   heliosdb-cli list-connections
   
   # Check recent auth failures
   echo "\n=== Recent Failed Logins ==="
   heliosdb-cli audit-query --event=auth_failure --since="1 hour"
   
   # Check privilege changes
   echo "\n=== Recent Privilege Changes ==="
   heliosdb-cli audit-query --event=privilege_change --since="1 hour"
   
   # Check unusual queries
   echo "\n=== Suspicious Queries ==="
   heliosdb-cli audit-query --pattern="DROP|DELETE|UPDATE" --since="1 hour"

2. Determine Severity:

   • Impact assessment
   • Scope determination
   • Classification (P0-P3)
   • Escalation decision

3. Document Everything:

   # Create incident log
   INCIDENT_ID="INC-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
   mkdir -p /secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}
   
   # Start incident log
   cat > /secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}/incident.log <<EOF
   Incident ID: ${INCIDENT_ID}
   Detected: $(date)
   Detected By: ${USER}
   Initial Classification: P0
   Description: Suspected data breach - unusual data export activity
   EOF

4.3 Phase 3: Containment

Short-term Containment (< 30 minutes)

1. Isolate Affected Systems:

   # Network isolation script
   #!/bin/bash
   
   INCIDENT_ID=$1
   AFFECTED_SERVER=$2
   
   # Block incoming connections
   iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5432 -j DROP
   
   # Allow only IR team access
   iptables -I INPUT -s 10.0.100.0/24 -p tcp --dport 5432 -j ACCEPT
   
   # Log containment action
   echo "$(date) - Network isolation applied to ${AFFECTED_SERVER}" \
       >> /secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}/actions.log

2. Preserve Evidence:

   # Evidence collection script
   #!/bin/bash
   
   INCIDENT_ID=$1
   EVIDENCE_DIR="/secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}/evidence"
   mkdir -p ${EVIDENCE_DIR}
   
   # Capture memory dump
   echo "Capturing memory dump..."
   dd if=/dev/mem of=${EVIDENCE_DIR}/memory.dump
   
   # Copy audit logs
   echo "Preserving audit logs..."
   cp -a /var/log/heliosdb/audit* ${EVIDENCE_DIR}/
   
   # Export current connections
   echo "Capturing connection state..."
   heliosdb-cli list-connections --detailed > ${EVIDENCE_DIR}/connections.txt
   
   # Query log snapshot
   echo "Capturing query log..."
   heliosdb-cli export-query-log --last=24h > ${EVIDENCE_DIR}/queries.log
   
   # Compute checksums
   cd ${EVIDENCE_DIR}
   sha256sum * > checksums.txt

3. Lock Compromised Accounts:

   # Lock user accounts
   heliosdb-cli lock-user suspicious_user
   heliosdb-cli revoke-all-sessions suspicious_user
   
   # Log action
   echo "$(date) - Locked account: suspicious_user" \
       >> /secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}/actions.log

Long-term Containment

1. Deploy Patches:

   • Apply security updates
   • Fix exploited vulnerabilities
   • Harden configurations

2. Rotate Credentials:

   # Emergency credential rotation
   heliosdb-cli rotate-all-passwords --force
   heliosdb-cli rotate-all-keys --emergency
   
   # Generate new API keys
   heliosdb-cli regenerate-api-keys

3. Enhanced Monitoring:

   # Enable verbose auditing
   heliosdb-cli set audit_level VERBOSE
   
   # Add temporary alerting rules
   heliosdb-cli add-alert --condition="ANY suspicious activity" \
       --action="page security-oncall"

4.4 Phase 4: Eradication

1. Remove Malicious Artifacts:

   # Search for backdoors
   heliosdb-cli scan-for-backdoors
   
   # Remove malicious stored procedures
   heliosdb-cli list-procedures --suspicious
   heliosdb-cli drop-procedure malicious_proc
   
   # Clean up malicious data
   heliosdb-cli sanitize-data --table=compromised_table

2. Fix Vulnerabilities:

   • Patch exploited vulnerabilities
   • Reconfigure security settings
   • Update security policies

3. Verify System Integrity:

   # Integrity verification
   heliosdb-cli verify-system-integrity
   heliosdb-cli verify-data-integrity --all-tables
   heliosdb-cli verify-encryption-keys

4.5 Phase 5: Recovery

1. Restore from Clean Backup (if needed):

   # Recovery script
   #!/bin/bash
   
   INCIDENT_ID=$1
   BACKUP_DATE=$2
   
   # Stop database
   systemctl stop heliosdb
   
   # Backup current state (for forensics)
   tar -czf /secure/incidents/${INCIDENT_ID}/pre-restore-state.tar.gz \
       /var/lib/heliosdb
   
   # Restore from clean backup
   heliosdb-backup restore --date=${BACKUP_DATE} --verify
   
   # Rotate all keys
   heliosdb-cli rotate-all-keys --force
   
   # Start database
   systemctl start heliosdb
   
   # Verify recovery
   heliosdb-cli health-check
   heliosdb-cli verify-data-integrity

2. Gradual Service Restoration:

   # Phased restoration
   
   # Phase 1: Internal testing
   heliosdb-cli set maintenance_mode on
   heliosdb-cli allow-ip 10.0.100.0/24 # IR team only
   
   # Phase 2: Limited users
   heliosdb-cli allow-ip 10.0.0.0/16 # Internal network
   
   # Phase 3: Full restoration
   heliosdb-cli set maintenance_mode off
   heliosdb-cli remove-all-ip-restrictions

3. Post-Recovery Validation:

   # Validation checklist
   heliosdb-cli verify-all-checksums
   heliosdb-cli test-authentication
   heliosdb-cli test-authorization
   heliosdb-cli test-encryption
   heliosdb-cli run-security-tests

4.6 Phase 6: Post-Incident Activity

1. Forensic Analysis:

   # Detailed forensic investigation
   
   # Timeline reconstruction
   heliosdb-forensics timeline --incident=${INCIDENT_ID}
   
   # Attack vector analysis
   heliosdb-forensics analyze-attack-vector --incident=${INCIDENT_ID}
   
   # Impact assessment
   heliosdb-forensics assess-impact --incident=${INCIDENT_ID}

2. Post-Incident Report:

   # Incident Report: ${INCIDENT_ID}
   
   ## Executive Summary
   - Incident Type: [Data Breach / Unauthorized Access / etc.]
   - Severity: [P0 / P1 / P2 / P3]
   - Detection Date: [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM]
   - Resolution Date: [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM]
   - Total Duration: [X hours]
   
   ## Incident Timeline
   - [Time]: Incident detected
   - [Time]: IR team notified
   - [Time]: Containment initiated
   - [Time]: Eradication completed
   - [Time]: Services restored
   
   ## Root Cause
   [Detailed analysis of how the incident occurred]
   
   ## Impact Assessment
   - Affected Systems: [List]
   - Compromised Data: [Description]
   - Financial Impact: [Estimate]
   - Reputational Impact: [Assessment]
   
   ## Response Actions Taken
   1. [Action 1]
   2. [Action 2]
   3. [Action 3]
   
   ## Lessons Learned
   - What worked well
   - What could be improved
   - Gaps identified
   
   ## Recommendations
   1. [Recommendation 1]
   2. [Recommendation 2]
   3. [Recommendation 3]
   
   ## Follow-up Actions
   - [ ] Action item 1 (Owner: X, Due: Y)
   - [ ] Action item 2 (Owner: X, Due: Y)

3. Lessons Learned Meeting:

   • Schedule within 1 week of resolution
   • Involve all IR team members
   • Document improvements
   • Update procedures

4. Implement Improvements:

   • Address identified gaps
   • Update security controls
   • Enhance monitoring
   • Improve training

---

5. Communication Protocols

5.1 Internal Communication

War Room Setup

# Create dedicated Slack channel
slack-admin create-channel "incident-${INCIDENT_ID}"

# Add IR team members
slack-admin add-members "incident-${INCIDENT_ID}" @ir-team

# Set up conference bridge
zoom create-meeting --recurring --title="Incident ${INCIDENT_ID}"

• Frequency: Every 30 minutes during active incident
• Format:

  Incident State Update - [TIME]
  
  Incident ID: ${INCIDENT_ID}
  Severity: P0
  
  Current Situation:
  - [Update 1]
  - [Update 2]
  
  Actions Taken:
  - [Action 1]
  - [Action 2]
  
  Next Steps:
  - [Next step 1]
  - [Next step 2]
  
  ETA to Resolution: [Estimate]

5.2 External Communication

Customer Notification

When Required:

• Data breach confirmed
• Personal information compromised
• Service disruption > 4 hours
• Regulatory requirement

Notification Template:

Subject: Important Security Notice - HeliosDB Incident

Dear Valued Customer,

We are writing to inform you of a security incident affecting HeliosDB
services. We take the security of your data very seriously and want to
provide you with transparent information about this situation.

What Happened:
[Brief description of the incident]

What Information Was Involved:
[Description of compromised data, if any]

What We Are Doing:
[Description of response actions]

What You Can Do:
[Recommended actions for customers]

More Information:
For questions or concerns, please contact:
Email: security-response@example.com
Phone: +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we
work to resolve this matter.

Sincerely,
[Security Team]

Regulatory Notification

• GDPR: Within 72 hours of discovery
• CCPA: Without unreasonable delay
• HIPAA: Within 60 days
• SOX: Immediate for material incidents

---

6. Incident Playbooks

6.1 Data Breach Playbook

data-breach-response.sh

#!/bin/bash
INCIDENT_ID="INC-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
echo "Data Breach Response - ${INCIDENT_ID}"

# Step 1: Immediate containment
echo "Step 1: Immediate containment"
heliosdb-cli block-all-connections --except=ir-team
heliosdb-cli enable-enhanced-logging

# Step 2: Identify scope
echo "Step 2: Identifying scope"
heliosdb-cli audit-query --event=data_export --since="7 days"
heliosdb-cli identify-compromised-data

# Step 3: Preserve evidence
echo "Step 3: Preserving evidence"
/opt/security/ir-toolkit/forensics/log-collection.sh ${INCIDENT_ID}

# Step 4: Notify stakeholders
echo "Step 4: Notifying stakeholders"
/opt/security/ir-toolkit/notify-incident.sh ${INCIDENT_ID} P0

# Step 5: Rotate credentials
echo "Step 5: Rotating credentials"
heliosdb-cli rotate-all-credentials --force

# Step 6: Enhanced monitoring
echo "Step 6: Enhanced monitoring"
heliosdb-cli set audit_level PARANOID

echo "Initial response complete. Continue with investigation."

6.2 SQL Injection Playbook

sql-injection-response.sh

#!/bin/bash
INCIDENT_ID="INC-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
SUSPICIOUS_IP=$1

echo "SQL Injection Response - ${INCIDENT_ID}"

# Step 1: Block attacking IP
echo "Step 1: Blocking attacker"
iptables -A INPUT -s ${SUSPICIOUS_IP} -j DROP

# Step 2: Review injected queries
echo "Step 2: Analyzing attack"
heliosdb-cli audit-query --source-ip=${SUSPICIOUS_IP} --since="1 hour"

# Step 3: Check for data exfiltration
echo "Step 3: Checking for data exfiltration"
heliosdb-cli analyze-data-export --source-ip=${SUSPICIOUS_IP}

# Step 4: Verify parameterized queries
echo "Step 4: Verifying query safety"
heliosdb-cli scan-query-patterns --unsafe

# Step 5: Patch if needed
echo "Step 5: Applying fixes"
# Deploy fix for vulnerability

echo "SQL injection response complete."

6.3 Ransomware Playbook

ransomware-response.sh

#!/bin/bash
INCIDENT_ID="INC-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"

echo "Ransomware Response - ${INCIDENT_ID}"

# Step 1: IMMEDIATE isolation
echo "Step 1: ISOLATING SYSTEM"
systemctl stop heliosdb
iptables -A INPUT -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -j DROP

# Step 2: DO NOT restart or shutdown
echo "Step 2: Preserving system state"
# Keep system running for forensics

# Step 3: Identify ransomware variant
echo "Step 3: Identifying ransomware"
/opt/security/ir-toolkit/forensics/ransomware-identify.sh

# Step 4: Notify authorities
echo "Step 4: Notifying authorities"
# Contact FBI, local law enforcement

# Step 5: Restore from backup
echo "Step 5: Preparing restoration"
# Restore from clean backup on NEW hardware

echo "DO NOT PAY RANSOM. Proceed with recovery plan."

---

7. Testing and Training

7.1 Incident Response Drills

Quarterly Tabletop Exercise

• Duration: 2 hours
• Participants: All IR team members
• Scenario: Simulated incident
• Objectives: Test decision-making, communication, procedures

Annual Full-Scale Drill

• Duration: 4 hours
• Participants: Extended team including management
• Scenario: Complex multi-stage attack
• Objectives: Test complete IR capability

7.2 Training Requirements

• New Team Members: Complete IR training within 30 days
• Annual Refresher: All team members
• Post-Incident Training: After each real incident

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8. Continuous Improvement

8.1 Metrics

• Time to detect (TTD)
• Time to respond (TTR)
• Time to contain (TTC)
• Time to recover (TTRec)
• Number of incidents by severity
• False positive rate

8.2 Review Schedule

• Monthly: Incident metrics review
• Quarterly: Procedure updates
• Annually: Complete plan revision

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Version: 1.0 Next Review: 2025-04-02