Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator

Damien Doligez; Christèle Faure; Thérèse Hardin; Manuel Maarek

doi:10.1109/ICSE.2015.149

Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator

Damien Doligez, Christèle Faure, Thérèse Hardin, Manuel Maarek

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

5 Citations (Scopus)

146 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

While the use of XML is pervading all areas of IT, security challenges arise when XML files are used to transfer security data such as security policies. To tackle this issue, we have developed a lightweight secure XML validator and have chosen to base the development on the strongly typed functional language OCaml. The initial development took place as part of the LaFoSec Study which aimed at investigating the impact of using functional languages for security. We then turned the validator into an industrial application, which was successfully evaluated at EAL4+ level by independent assessors. In this paper, we explain the challenges involved in processing XML data in a critical context, we describe our choices in designing a secure XML validator, and we detail how we used features of functional languages to enforce security requirements.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE/ACM 37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE)
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	209-218
Number of pages	10
Volume	2
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479919345
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSE.2015.149
Publication status	Published - 17 Aug 2015
Event	37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering 2015 - Florence, Italy Duration: 16 May 2015 → 24 May 2015

Conference

Conference	37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering 2015
Abbreviated title	ICSE 2015
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Florence
Period	16/05/15 → 24/05/15

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10.1109/ICSE.2015.149

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Manuel Maarek
- M.Maarekhw.acuk
- School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences - Associate Professor
- School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Computer Science - Associate Professor
Person: Academic (Research & Teaching)

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title = "Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator",

abstract = "While the use of XML is pervading all areas of IT, security challenges arise when XML files are used to transfer security data such as security policies. To tackle this issue, we have developed a lightweight secure XML validator and have chosen to base the development on the strongly typed functional language OCaml. The initial development took place as part of the LaFoSec Study which aimed at investigating the impact of using functional languages for security. We then turned the validator into an industrial application, which was successfully evaluated at EAL4+ level by independent assessors. In this paper, we explain the challenges involved in processing XML data in a critical context, we describe our choices in designing a secure XML validator, and we detail how we used features of functional languages to enforce security requirements.",

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Doligez, D, Faure, C, Hardin, T & Maarek, M 2015, Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator. in 2015 IEEE/ACM 37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE). vol. 2, IEEE, pp. 209-218, 37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering 2015, Florence, Italy, 16/05/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSE.2015.149

Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator. / Doligez, Damien; Faure, Christèle; Hardin, Thérèse et al.
2015 IEEE/ACM 37th IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE). Vol. 2 IEEE, 2015. p. 209-218.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Avoiding Security Pitfalls with Functional Programming: A Report on the Development of a Secure XML Validator

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