SECURITY.md

[IrankundaCatherine]

Supported Versions

Version	Supported
1.0.x	✅ yes

Reporting a Vulnerability

If you discover a security vulnerability in OpenCare-Core, please DO NOT create a public GitHub issue. Instead, follow this responsible disclosure process:

How to Report

1. Email: Send an email to security@opencare-africa.org
2. Subject Line: Use the format [Security] Vulnerability Report - [Brief Description]
3. Include:
   • Detailed description of the vulnerability
   • Steps to reproduce the issue
   • Potential impact assessment
   • Any proof-of-concept code or screenshots (if applicable)
   • Your contact information for follow-up

What to Expect

• Response Time: We will acknowledge your report within 48 hours
• Investigation: We will investigate the vulnerability and determine its severity
• Resolution: We will work on a fix and coordinate a release timeline
• Disclosure: We will publicly disclose the vulnerability after a fix is released
• Credit: With your permission, we will credit you in the security advisory

Security Best Practices for Contributors

When contributing to OpenCare-Core, please follow these security guidelines:

Code Security

• Never commit sensitive information (API keys, passwords, tokens)
• Use environment variables for configuration
• Implement proper input validation and sanitization
• Follow OWASP security guidelines
• Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection
• Implement proper authentication and authorization
• Use HTTPS for all external communications
• Validate and sanitize all user inputs

Dependencies

• Keep dependencies up to date
• Review security advisories for dependencies
• Use tools like pip-audit or safety to check for vulnerable packages
• Document any security-related dependency changes

Testing

• Write security tests for authentication and authorization
• Test for common vulnerabilities (XSS, SQL injection, CSRF)
• Use security scanning tools in CI/CD pipeline
• Perform regular security audits

Healthcare Data Protection

• Follow HIPAA and local healthcare data protection regulations
• Implement proper encryption for sensitive data at rest and in transit
• Log all access to patient health information (PHI)
• Implement proper audit trails
• Follow FHIR security guidelines for healthcare data exchange

Security Features in OpenCare-Core

OpenCare-Core includes several security features:

• Authentication: JWT-based authentication with secure token handling
• Authorization: Role-based access control (RBAC)
• Audit Logging: Comprehensive audit trails for PHI access
• Data Encryption: Encryption for sensitive data at rest and in transit
• Input Validation: Comprehensive input validation and sanitization
• CORS Configuration: Proper CORS configuration for API security
• Rate Limiting: Configurable rate limiting to prevent abuse
• Security Headers: Implementation of security best practice headers

Common Security Considerations

Authentication & Authorization

• All API endpoints require proper authentication
• Role-based access control ensures users can only access authorized resources
• Session management follows security best practices
• Password policies enforce strong passwords

Data Protection

• Patient health information (PHI) is encrypted at rest
• All data in transit is encrypted using TLS/SSL
• Audit logs track all access to sensitive data
• Data retention policies comply with healthcare regulations

API Security

• API documentation includes authentication requirements
• Rate limiting prevents API abuse
• Input validation prevents injection attacks
• Proper error handling doesn't expose sensitive information

Security Tools Used

We use several tools to maintain security:

• pip-audit: Checks for vulnerable dependencies
• bandit: Security linter for Python code
• safety: Checks for known security vulnerabilities
• OWASP ZAP: Web application security scanner
• pytest: Security-focused testing

Incident Response

In the event of a security incident:

1. Immediate Response: Contain the incident and prevent further damage
2. Investigation: Determine the scope and impact of the incident
3. Communication: Notify affected stakeholders as required
4. Remediation: Fix vulnerabilities and prevent recurrence
5. Documentation: Document the incident and lessons learned

Compliance

OpenCare-Core is designed to comply with:

• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation (where applicable)
• Local Regulations: African healthcare data protection laws
• FHIR Security: Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources security standards

Contact Information

For security-related inquiries:

• Security Issues: security@opencare-africa.org
• General Security Questions: support@opencare-africa.org
• Emergency Security Contact: [Available to registered security researchers]

Acknowledgments

We thank all security researchers who responsibly disclose vulnerabilities to help make OpenCare-Core more secure.

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Last Updated: April 22, 2026

Version: 1.0.0