Security Considerations

Security is a critical aspect of any protocol that enables tool access and execution. This section outlines key security considerations when implementing and using UTCP.

Authentication

UTCP supports several authentication methods across different provider types:

API Key Authentication

{
  "auth": {
    "auth_type": "api_key",
    "api_key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "var_name": "X-API-Key",
    "location": "header"
  }
}

The location field specifies where the API key is placed, and can be header, query, or cookie.

Best Practice: Store API keys securely and rotate them regularly
Risk: API keys in configuration files can be exposed if access controls are insufficient
Mitigation: Use environment variables or secure credential stores rather than hardcoding keys

Basic Authentication

{
  "auth": {
    "auth_type": "basic",
    "username": "user",
    "password": "pass"
  }
}

Best Practice: Always use HTTPS when using Basic Authentication
Risk: Credentials are only Base64 encoded, not encrypted
Mitigation: Use OAuth2 or API keys instead when possible

OAuth2 Authentication

{
  "auth": {
    "auth_type": "oauth2",
    "client_id": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
    "client_secret": "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET",
    "token_url": "https://auth.example.com/token",
    "scope": "read:tools"
  }
}

The scope field is optional and specifies the level of access that the client is requesting.

Best Practice: Implement proper token refresh and validation
Risk: Client secrets can be exposed in client-side applications
Mitigation: Use authorization code flow with PKCE for public clients

Tool Access Control

When exposing tools through UTCP, consider implementing these access controls:

Tool-Level Permissions: Define which users/agents can access specific tools
Parameter Constraints: Restrict parameter values to prevent abuse
Rate Limiting: Implement per-user/per-tool rate limits
Usage Quotas: Set maximum usage quotas for tools
Audit Logging: Log all tool calls for security monitoring

Provider-Specific Considerations

HTTP Provider

Always use HTTPS, never HTTP
Implement proper CORS policies if tools are called from browsers
Consider using request signing for additional security

CLI Provider

CLI providers pose significant security risks as they execute commands on the local system.

Validate and sanitize all input parameters
Run commands with the minimum necessary permissions
Implement allow-lists for permitted commands
Sandbox execution environments when possible

WebSocket Provider

Use secure WebSocket (WSS) connections
Implement message authentication to prevent spoofing
Consider using per-message signatures for critical operations

Data Protection

Data in Transit: Ensure all communications use TLS 1.2+ encryption
Data at Rest: Encrypt sensitive configuration data
Sensitive Data in Logs: Prevent logging of sensitive parameters
PII Handling: Implement proper controls for personal information

Secure Implementation Checklist

Use HTTPS/WSS for all network communications
Implement proper authentication for all tool providers
Validate all input against schemas before processing
Sanitize inputs to prevent injection attacks
Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse
Set appropriate timeouts for all operations
Log security-relevant events
Regularly update dependencies
Implement proper error handling that doesn’t leak sensitive information

Common Vulnerabilities to Avoid

Vulnerability	Prevention
Injection Attacks	Validate and sanitize all inputs
Credential Leakage	Use secure credential storage
Excessive Permissions	Follow the principle of least privilege
Man-in-the-Middle	Use certificate validation and pinning
Denial of Service	Implement rate limiting and timeouts
Information Disclosure	Ensure errors don’t leak sensitive data

Secure Development Lifecycle

Design: Conduct threat modeling during protocol design
Implementation: Follow secure coding practices
Testing: Perform security testing and code reviews
Deployment: Use secure deployment practices
Maintenance: Monitor for security issues and update regularly

By following these security considerations, UTCP implementations can minimize risks while enabling powerful tool integrations across various communication protocols.