The JOC Cockpit has been designed from the beginning to ensure that it is suitable for use in security-sensitive environments.
Architecture
The architecture introduced with the JOC Cockpit ensures that users are restricted to only being able to directly access the JOC Cockpit as illustrated in the diagram below. The JOC Cockpit then calls the Web Service which, in turn, has access to the JobScheduler Masters themselves.
See the JOC Cockpit - Architecture article for more information.
Security for System Administrators
HTTP / HTTPS Communication
As indicated in the schematic architecture diagram above, communication between the JOC Cockpit, the Web Service and the JobScheduler Masters and Agents can be carried out using both HTTP and HTTPS protocols. By default after installation HTTP will be used. However, HTTPS should be implemented by system administrators for all communication steps when the JobScheduler is to be used in sensitive environments.
- Information about the configuration of the Jetty Web Server delivered with the JOC Cockpit for HTTPS can be found from the JOC Cockpit - HTTPS Authentication article and on the Jetty Web Site.
- Information about setting up a secure connection between the JOC Cockpit - Web Service and the JobScheduler Master can be found from the JOC Cockpit - HTTPS Authentication article.
- Consider JobScheduler Universal Agent - HTTPS Agent and Master Authentication for securing the connections between a JobScheduler Master and Agents.
Authorization Tokens
Separate authorization tokens are used for each communication step between the JOC Cockpit, the JobScheduler Web Service and the JobScheduler Masters and Agents. This means that if an attacker is able to take over and use a token they will only be able to bypass a part of the communication chain.
Authorization Token for the JOC Cockpit
The JOC Cockpit generates an authorization token each time a user logs on and saves this token either in the browser's local storage, if Remember Me is set on logging in, or in the browser's session storage, if Remember Me is not set. Note that there are situations where users can leave a valid authorization token on their file system although they are no longer working with the JOC Cockpit:
| Situation | Remember Me | Remember Me |
|---|---|---|
| User logs out, browser reverts to Log In page | Authorization token is invalidated by the logout | Authorization token is deleted with the session storage |
| Session expires, browser reverts to Log In page | Authorization token is deleted | Authorization token is deleted with the session storage |
| Browser tab is closed during session and then reopened by opening recent tab (Firefox) | Authorization token remains in browser's local storage and is not invalidated as a logout has not taken place. The token will then remain valid until the timeout period set in the shiro.ini configuration file has elapsed. | Authorization token remains in browser's session storage and is not invalidated as a logout has not taken place. The token will then remain valid until the timeout period set in the shiro.ini configuration file has elapsed. |
Browser tab is closed during session and then reopened by opening login page | Authorization token remains in browser's local storage and is not invalidated as a logout has not taken place. The token will then remain valid until the timeout period set in the shiro.ini configuration file has elapsed. | Authorization token is deleted with the session storage |
Note that:
- the browser's local storage will not be emptied after a period of time when Remember Me is set and a user does not log in again.
Session Timeout
The JOC Cockpit uses the timeout period set in the shiro.ini configuration file for user sessions:
securityManager.sessionManager.globalSessionTimeout = 900000
The default value of 900.000 milliseconds translates to 15 minutes. To apply changes to this value the JOC Cockpit has to be restarted.
If a user does not logout from the JOC Cockpit but, for example, closes their browser or browser tab then:
- the authorization token will remain valid for the specified period since the last user activity;
- the user session in the JOC Cockpit will be closed but the JobScheduler Web Service will still accept the authorization token for the specified period.
Default User Account
The JOC Cockpit ships with a default setting in the shiro.ini configuration file for the account "root" with the password "root" and with permissions to carry out all operations with the JOC Cockpit.
Please adjust the account and password to be used. For a secure configuration it is recommended that LDAP access to a directory service is implemented for users with roles configured in the shiro.ini. This would guarantee that general policies such as frequency of password change or password complexity are considered when using the JOC Cockpit.
See the Authentication and Authorization - Configuration article for more information.
Audit Log
The Audit Log allows compliance and operations reporting requirements for job scheduling activities to be met by providing an automatic and secure record of all actions that users of the JobScheduler Web Service - including JOC Cockpit users and external applications - perform on job-related objects. The Audit Log lists the relevant JobScheduler objects - Jobs, Job Chains, Orders, etc. - and any actions that modify their status.
Security for Users
Use of the Log In Form Remember Me Checkbox
The Remember Me setting in the JOC Cockpit Log In form shown below is a convenient function for users working in "normal" environments. However it should be used with caution in security-sensitive environments as it could allow unauthorized personnel access to the scheduling environment when the user does not rigorously lock their computer.
The behavior of the JOC Cockpit when Remember Me is set or not set depends on the situation. This behavior is specified in the following table:
| Situation | Remember Me | Remember Me |
|---|---|---|
| User logs out, browser reverts to Log In page | Log In information shown, credentials are available | Log In form is empty, input of credentials required |
| Session expires, browser reverts to Log In page | Log In information shown | Log In form is empty, input of credentials required |
| Browser is closed during session and then reopened; Log In page is opened by user | User is automatically logged in | Log In form is empty, input of credentials required |
Note that:
- The Log In form will not be emptied after a period of time when Remember Me is set and a user does not log in again,
- The behavior specified in the table above is independent of whether or not the browser is set to save login information.
Password Reset and Password Change
A user password cannot be reset or changed with the JOC Cockpit. Depending on the configuration set in the shiro.ini configuration file:
- users should ask their system administrator to modify their password in the shiro.ini file if local configuration is used;
- any password changes effected for a directory service are automatically considered when using the JOC Cockpit if LDAP configuration is used.
See also
- How To - Security
- for information about how to securely configure all JobScheuler components