LiteCommerce:AdvancedSecurity

Introduction

LiteCommerce Advanced Security add-on module is highly recommended for the shop owners who are going to store credit card numbers in the database or include them in email notifications. The module supports strong encryption of credit card numbers and email messages with Gnu Privacy Guard (GnuPG) technology.

GnuPG encrypts information using asymmetric keypairs individually generated by GnuPG users. Each pair consists of a private key and a public key. Information encrypted using the private key can be decrypted by using the public key and vice versa. For more information go to GnuPG home page: http://www.gnupg.org.

Once the add-on is installed, properly configured and encryption is enabled neither unauthorized database access nor intercepted email messages with sensitive data would cause any security problems. To access the encrypted data from the admin menu a private key password is required.

Gnu Privacy Guard is freeware encryption software not included in Advanced Security package. GnuPG v1.2.3 or newer needs to be installed on your system in order for the add-on to work. Please visit GnuPG download page to choose a package for your platform.

Note: Since we are using an external utility (GnuPG), the functions "exec" and "popen" should be enabled on your web server. If necessary, ask your hosting provider to remove open_basedir restriction for accessing the GnuPG executable.

To make working with GnuPG easier, many special applications can be used. One of the most comprehensive is Gpg4win. Gpg4win is an installer package for Windows (95/98/ME/2000/XP/2003) with computer programs and handbooks for email and file encryption. Gpg4win and the software included with Gpg4win are Free Software. The package may consist of several applications, including:

• GnuPG: The core; this is the actual encryption tool
• WinPT: A key manager and helper for various encryption matters. The documentation can be found here: http://encoderx.eu/security/winpt.php
• GPA: Another key manager
• GPGol: A plugin for Microsoft Outlook 2003 (email encryption)
• GPGee: A plugin for Microsoft Explorer (file encryption)
• Sylpheed-Claws: A complete email program including the plugin for GnuPG

GnuPG software for Mac OS X can be found at http://macgpg.sourceforge.net.

Installing the Module

To successfully install Advanced Security add-on module your shopping system requires LiteCommerce shopping cart software version 2.x to be installed at your online store.

Note: Since we are using an external utility (GnuPG), the functions "exec" and "popen" should be enabled on your web server. If necessary, ask your hosting provider to remove open_basedir restriction for accessing the GnuPG executable.

Select the 'Modules' section in the 'Settings' menu of the Administrator Zone. The list of currently installed modules will appear. To install a module (Advanced Security in our case) click on the 'Browse…' button, select the module's '.tar' file and click on the 'Install' button to add the module to your store setup.

'Advanced Security' module will appear in the list of the installed modules; it will be activated automatically.

To deactivate the module, unselect the 'Active' check box against the module title and click on the 'Update' button. To completely uninstall the module, click on the 'Uninstall' button.

Generating keys

First, you need to create your keys. There is a number of desktop applications, which make the process simple and easy. For example, software for Windows called WinPT. For information about WinPT, installation, use and key generation visit http://winpt.sourceforge.net/en/.

Here is what the process of generating keys might look like if you are using a command-line version of GnuPG. In our example we are using a fake name and email address - John Smith <john_smith@example.com>:

1. Start key generation:

gpg --gen-key

2. Select the key types you want - The default is good.

Please select what kind of key you want:

(1) DSA and ElGamal (default)
(2) DSA (sign only)
(4) ElGamal (sign and encrypt)

Your selection? 1

3. Select your key size:

DSA keypair will have 1024 bits.

ELG-E keys may be between 1024 and 2048 bits long.

What keysize do you want? (2048)

Requested keysize is 2048 bits

4. Set the lifetime of this key:

Please specify how long the key should be valid.

0 = key does not expire
<n>  = key expires in n days
<n>w = key expires in n weeks
<n>m = key expires in n months
<n>y = key expires in n years

Key is valid for? (0) 1m
Key expires at Fri Jun 10 14:39:04 2005 MSD

Is this correct (y/n)? y

5. Enter your name and email address(es)...

Real name: John Smith <return>
Email address: john_smith@example.com<return>
Comment:
You selected this USER-ID:
"John Smith <john_smith@example.com>"

Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit?  O

6. Choose a passphrase. It should be long and very difficult to guess. It should be something you won't forget. If you forget your passphrase, you cannot recover your key.

Note: Since this information is very private, do not place the directory containing your keys inside the shop directory, which is accessible from the outside web. If you still choose to have it there, make sure you protect it from unauthorized access, for example, by renaming it or using an .htaccess file.

After you have generated your public and secret keys, go to Advanced Security configuration page.

Configuring the Module

To ensure security of mail traveling over the Internet from the store to the orders department, LiteCommerce allows you to use GnuPG encryption for order details stored in the database and admin order email notifications. GNU Privacy Guard software version 1.2.3 or better has to be installed on your hosting. Detailed information on GnuPG is available here:

• http://www.gnupg.org
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Privacy_Guard

GnuPG settings

These are the general settings for correct GnuPG operation adjusted on the Advanced Security module configuration page:

Home directory where GnuPG public and secret keys will be stored: If no value is specified, "GNUPGHOME" environment variable is used.

WARNING! Make sure that home directory is not available from the outside web!

GnuPG executable path: If no value is specified, Advanced Security module will attempt to find GnuPG executable in your system automatically. Your hosting provider might need to remove the open_basedir restriction for this directory path. Example:

• c:\gnupg\gpg.exe - for Windows
• /usr/local/bin/gpg - for UNIX

GnuPG user id: This is the user id your GnuPG public and secret keys were generated for. Example: john smith <john_smith@example.com>

Clear master password after login and logoff: select this check box to make sure that no one can use your master password. It will be deleted after you login and logoff. Leave the check box empty to remember master password.

If the option is disabled, the master password lifetime is determined by the session duration. If you are the only store admin and you are working with the orders logging in and off frequently, it might be a good idea to disable the option so you will not have to enter the master password after every login.

If you work with a partner or have other staff members to whom you would like to restrict access to customers credit card information, enable the option so only the person who knows the password can view decrypted data.

After you have entered all the settings, click 'Update' to be able to move to the 'GnuPG keyring settings' step.

GnuPG keyring settings

If you have ssh access to the web server and have used it to generate the keys, there is no need to upload them. Configure GnuPG settings and the module will automatically find and use the public and private keys. If you have generated the keys elsewhere, you can use the 'Install keypair' section.

Before uploading the keys please set 0777 permissions for the directory containing the two key files pubring.gpg and secring.gpg (by default the files get put in your home directory in a directory called .gnupg.) and 0666 the files inside it. After the keys have been uploaded (if necessary) to the server and you have made sure that the module is configured and operates correctly, change the permissions to 0755 and 0644 accordingly.

Use the 'Install keypair' section: click 'Browse', locate the necessary files and click 'Upload'.

After you have uploaded your keypair, it is displayed on the module configuration page:

To remove the keys click 'Delete keypair(s)'. Remember that all the encrypted data will be unavailable after you delete the keypair used to encrypt it. Make sure you decrypt the data before deleting the keys.

Testing configuration

In the 'Test Advanced Security configuration' section enter the master password and click 'Test configuration' to see if everything is set up and works correctly. The results of the test are displayed as a table. When everything is fine, all the settings are marked OK.

If something is wrong, a corresponding warning sign appears in the Status column and a more detailed explanation is displayed in the Reason column.