BSc: Secure System Development

Secure development

• Course name: Secure development
• Code discipline: XXX
• Subject area: Security and Networks

Short Description

The course is aimed to cover security aspects of development. It covers security architecture, secure coding, security assurance, security operation and basic security concepts. We would go from the deepest kernel (ASLR, NX/DEP, CET, KPTI against ROP, UAF, etc) to theoretical high (access models, Biba and Bell-LaPadula model, security principles), from practical design (NIST recommendations and security by design) to day-by-day operations (OSA practices). We would discuss fuzzing, stat analyzers power and SIEM. The course would be extremely useful for security architects. We would discuss not only security, but also safety topics because the mitigations for them are intersecting. The examples would be given based on Linux OS

Prerequisites

Prerequisite subjects

• CSE101: Introduction to Programming
• CSE112: Software Systems Analysis and Design

Prerequisite topics

• Basic programming skills, C/C++ is recommended
• Software design or software architecture
• Basics of compilers

Course Topics

Course Sections and Topics

Section	Topics within the section
Basics of security	Security and safety Security and code quality Maintainability and security Why it is so hard to develop a secure system and what approaches may be applied? When it makes sense to drive system secure?
Security architecture	NIST recommendations Security principles Theoretical security: access matrix and security models Secure by design
Secure coding	Security on the code level SDL Main binary vulnerabilities and their mitigations
Secure operating	Security monitoring DevSecOps Dealing with 3rd parties
Security assurance	Pen testing Fuzzing Bug Bounty programs
Linux security	Keep it all together and see how Linux kernel deals with that. SELinux GrSec patches Why Linux is not safety system

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

What is the main purpose of this course?

The main purpose of this course is to give students a security vision from up to down, because the security principle of weakest link insist that the weakest part of the process/system would be the one to be attacked.

ILOs defined at three levels

Level 1: What concepts should a student know/remember/explain?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

• Remember main security principles
• List SDL stages
• Describe the difference between security and safety
• Explain basic binary vulnerabilities
• Specify the required security assurance
• Describe the key elements of SOC systems
• Explain why fuzzing is not the same as unit or integration testing

Level 2: What basic practical skills should a student be able to perform?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

• Perform Threat Modeling
• Review code to find insecure patterns
• Deal with open source code securely
• Explain the value of bug bounty programme and find the right moment to start it

Level 3: What complex comprehensive skills should a student be able to apply in real-life scenarios?

By the end of the course, the students should be able to ...

• Suggest hardenings and architecture drifts to achieve required level of s&s
• Propose process improvement in a cost-effective manner that would drastically improve the security and safety level.

Grading

Course grading range

Grade	Range	Description of performance
A. Excellent	80-100	-
B. Good	60-79	-
C. Satisfactory	40-59	-
D. Fail	0-39	-

Course activities and grading breakdown

Activity Type	Percentage of the overall course grade
Assignment/Labs	70
Final quiz	30

Recommendations for students on how to succeed in the course

Participation is important. Showing up is the key to success in this course.
If you don’t have a corresponding technical background, please do not hesitate to ask lecturer. If you feel that the gap is deep, request for extra reading.
Reading the recommended literature is optional, and will give you a deeper understanding of the material.

Resources, literature and reference materials

Open access resources

• Owasp.com
• MITRE SOC Operations https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/publications/11-strategies-of-a-world-class-cybersecurity-operations-center.pdf
• MISRA, AUTOSAR, SEI CERT
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl

Closed access resources

• Matt Bishop, (2018) “Computer Security: Art and Science”
• D Deougun, DB Jonhsson, D Sawano (2019) “Secure by design”
• D LeBlanc, Michael Howard (2002) “Writing secure code”

Software and tools used within the course

• Some static analyser
• AFL

Teaching Methodology: Methods, techniques, & activities

Activities and Teaching Methods

Teaching and Learning Methods within each section

Teaching Techniques	Section 1	Section 2	Section 3	Section 4	Section 5	Section 6
Problem-based learning (students learn by solving open-ended problems without a strictly-defined solution)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Modular learning (facilitated self-study)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Differentiated learning (provide tasks and activities at several levels of difficulty to fit students needs and level)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Contextual learning (activities and tasks are connected to the real world to make it easier for students to relate to them);	1	1	1	1	1	1
Business game (learn by playing a game that incorporates the principles of the material covered within the course).	1	1	1	1	1	1

Activities within each section

Learning Activities	Section 1	Section 2	Section 3	Section 4	Section 5	Section 6
Lectures	1	1	1	1	1	1
Lab exercises	1	1	1	1	1	1

Formative Assessment and Course Activities

Ongoing performance assessment

Section 1

Activity Type	Content	Is Graded?
Individual Assignments	A2: Product Ideation and Market Research Find all weakness in the code snippet. Suggest how to fix them in a secure way. What is your recommendation for the code author?	1

Final assessment

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

The retake exam

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6