Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) System

Overview

The Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) system provides granular security controls that determine user access to various features and properties within the Gustaffo Reservations platform. This system ensures that users can only access the resources they are authorized to use based on their assigned roles and permissions.

RBAC Architecture

Core Components

1. User Management

   • User registration and authentication
   • Profile management
   • Password policies and recovery

2. Role Management

   • Role definition and configuration
   • Role assignment and revocation
   • Role hierarchy and inheritance

3. Permission Management

   • Feature-specific permissions
   • Property-specific permissions
   • Operation-level permissions (read, write, delete)

4. Access Control Enforcement

   • Request authorization
   • UI component visibility
   • API endpoint protection

Role Hierarchy

The system implements a hierarchical role structure:

1. System Administrator

   • Complete system access
   • User and role management
   • System configuration

2. Property Owner

   • Access to assigned properties
   • Configuration of property settings
   • Management of property-level users

3. Reservation Manager

   • Booking and offer management
   • Guest communication
   • Inventory and rate management

4. Front Desk Agent

   • Check-in/check-out operations
   • Guest profile management
   • Basic reservation handling

5. Read-Only User

   • View-only access to assigned resources
   • Report generation
   • No modification capabilities

Permission Types

The RBAC system supports several permission types:

1. Feature Permissions

   • Access to specific functional modules
   • Permission to use specific features
   • Function-level authorization

2. Data Permissions

   • Access to specific data entities
   • Property-specific data access
   • Guest data visibility

3. Operation Permissions

   • Create operations
   • Read operations
   • Update operations
   • Delete operations

4. Administrative Permissions

   • User management
   • Role assignment
   • System configuration
   • Audit log access

Authentication Flow

1. User Login

   • User provides credentials
   • System authenticates user identity
   • JWT token is generated

2. Token Validation

   • JWT token is validated on each request
   • Token expiration is checked
   • Token signature is verified

3. Role and Permission Resolution

   • User's roles are retrieved
   • Role permissions are resolved
   • Permission inheritance is applied

4. Access Control Decision

   • Request is checked against required permissions
   • Access is granted or denied
   • Decision is logged for audit purposes

Implementation

The RBAC system is implemented using the following components:

1. Spring Security

   • Authentication handling
   • Authorization framework
   • Security filters

2. Custom Authorization Providers

   • Role-based authorization
   • Permission evaluation
   • Access decision voting

3. JWT Token Management

   • Token generation
   • Token validation
   • Token refresh

4. Database Schema

   • User entity
   • Role entity
   • Permission entity
   • User-Role mapping
   • Role-Permission mapping

Security Considerations

1. Principle of Least Privilege

   • Users are granted minimal necessary permissions
   • Default permissions are restrictive
   • Explicit permission grants are required

2. Separation of Duties

   • Critical operations require multiple roles
   • Administrative functions are segregated
   • System actions require appropriate authorization

3. Access Auditing

   • Authentication attempts are logged
   • Authorization decisions are recorded
   • Permission changes are tracked
   • Audit logs are protected

4. Session Management

   • Token expiration and renewal
   • Concurrent session control
   • Session termination capabilities

Administration Interface

The system provides administrative interfaces for managing RBAC components:

1. User Management Interface

   • Create, update, and delete users
   • Assign roles to users
   • Reset passwords
   • Enable/disable accounts

2. Role Management Interface

   • Define and configure roles
   • Assign permissions to roles
   • Establish role hierarchies
   • Manage role constraints

3. Permission Management Interface

   • Create and manage permissions
   • Assign permissions to roles
   • Configure permission parameters
   • Set permission dependencies

4. Audit Interface

   • View authentication events
   • Review authorization decisions
   • Monitor permission changes
   • Generate security reports

Best Practices

1. Role Assignment

   • Assign roles based on job responsibilities
   • Implement role review processes
   • Document role assignments
   • Periodically review role memberships

2. Permission Management

   • Follow principle of least privilege
   • Regularly audit permissions
   • Remove unnecessary permissions
   • Document permission changes

3. Access Reviews

   • Conduct periodic access reviews
   • Verify appropriate access levels
   • Remove access when no longer needed
   • Document review results

4. Security Monitoring

   • Monitor authentication attempts
   • Alert on suspicious activities
   • Review access patterns
   • Investigate security incidents