CII Status: RICAPP



Last Update: January 2021


Basics (12 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)


RICAPP - Q1 2021
CriteriaResult / Proof point 
Identification

What is the human-readable name of the project?

Met

ORAN-SC RICAPP

O-RAN = Open RAN

RAN = Radio Access Network

SC = software community

RIC = RAN Intelligent Controller (Near real time RIC)

APP = application, specifically an xApp that runs on the nearRT RIC

What is a brief description of the project?

MetThis project develops xApps to support the OSC e2e use cases as well as demo xApps to demonstrate the use of the nearRT RIC platform and xApp SDK.

What is the URL for the project (as a whole)?

Met

RICAPP Wiki

What is the URL for the version control repository (it may be the same as the project URL)?

Met

Gerrit (Multiple):

  • ric-app/..
  • scp/ric-app/..

Find detailed list and short explanation here: RICAPP Wiki

What programming language(s) are used to implement the project?

MetC++, Go, Python

What is the Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) name for the project (if it has one)?


no CPE

Basic project website content 

The project website MUST succinctly describe what the software does (what problem does it solve?Met

RICAPP wiki

The project website MUST provide information on how to: obtain, provide feedback (as bug reports or enhancements), and contribute to the software.Met

OSC guidelines for reporting bugs

Mailing list: https://lists.o-ran-sc.org/g/discussdiscuss@lists.o-ran-sc.org 

  • Please use hashtag #ricapp

RICAPP Jira

The information on how to contribute MUST explain the contribution process (e.g., are pull requests used?) (URL required)Met

See OSC guidelines: Project Developer Wiki

The information on how to contribute SHOULD include the requirements for acceptable contributions (e.g., a reference to any required coding standard). (URL required) UnmetNote: OSC should provide common requirements.

FLOSS license

What license(s) is the project released under?MetApache 2.0, O-RAN Software license
The software produced by the project MUST be released as FLOSS. ?Yes, for Apache 1.0. ? for O-RAN Software license
It is SUGGESTED that any required license(s) for the software produced by the project be approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).?Is O-RAN Software license OSI approved?
The project MUST post the license(s) of its results in a standard location in their source repository. MetReferenced in all code & repos
Documentation
The project MUST provide basic documentation for the software produced by the project. Met

Docs: RICAPP documentation

(but could be improved for some xApps)

The project MUST provide reference documentation that describes the external interface (both input and output) of the software produced by the project.UnmetMessages exchanged between the xApps in the traffic steering use case are documented in use case documents but no systematic documentation for all xApps is missing.
Other
The project sites (website, repository, and download URLs) MUST support HTTPS using TLS.Met
  • All support HTTPS
The project MUST have one or more mechanisms for discussion (including proposed changes and issues) that are searchable, allow messages and topics to be addressed by URL, enable new people to participate in some of the discussions, and do not require client-side installation of proprietary software.Met
The project SHOULD provide documentation in English and be able to accept bug reports and comments about code in English.Met

Change Control (9 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)


RICAPP - Q1 2021
CriteriaResult / Proof point 

Public version-controlled source repository

The project MUST have a version-controlled source repository that is publicly readable and has a URL.

Metgerrit. The list of individual repos in the RICAPP project can be found on RICAPP wiki.

The project's source repository MUST track what changes were made, who made the changes, and when the changes were made.

Metgerrit

To enable collaborative review, the project's source repository MUST include interim versions for review between releases; it MUST NOT include only final releases.

Metgerrit

It is SUGGESTED that common distributed version control software be used (e.g., git) for the project's source repository.

Metgerrit

Unique version numbering



The project results MUST have a unique version identifier for each release intended to be used by users

MetReleases can be found in O-RAN SC Nexus

It is SUGGESTED that the Semantic Versioning (SemVer) format be used for releases.

Met

It is SUGGESTED that projects identify each release within their version control system. For example, it is SUGGESTED that those using git identify each release using git tags. 

Metnamed branches

Release notes

The project MUST provide, in each release, release notes that are a human-readable summary of major changes in that release to help users determine if they should upgrade and what the upgrade impact will be. The release notes MUST NOT be the raw output of a version control log (e.g., the "git log" command results are not release notes). Projects whose results are not intended for reuse in multiple locations (such as the software for a single website or service) AND employ continuous delivery MAY select "N/A". (URL required) 

Partially met
  • The release notes are an expected part of the documentation for each xApp (RICAPP documentation) but unfortunately all xApps are not compliant yet.

The release notes MUST identify every publicly known vulnerability with a CVE assignment or similar that is fixed in each new release, unless users typically cannot practically update the software themselves. If there are no release notes or there have been no publicly known vulnerabilities, choose "not applicable" (N/A).

Unmet

Reporting (8 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)


RICAPP - Q1 2021
CriteriaResult / Proof point 

Bug-reporting process

The project MUST provide a process for users to submit bug reports (e.g., using an issue tracker or a mailing list). (URL required) Met

Anybody can report bugs on the mailing list OSC "discusshttps://lists.o-ran-sc.org/g/discussdiscuss@lists.o-ran-sc.org (use hashtag #ricapp) or Jira (link)

The project SHOULD use an issue tracker for tracking individual issues.Met
The project MUST acknowledge a majority of bug reports submitted in the last 2-12 months (inclusive); the response need not include a fix.Met
The project SHOULD respond to a majority (>50%) of enhancement requests in the last 2-12 months (inclusive).Met
The project MUST have a publicly available archive for reports and responses for later searching. (URL required)Partially met

Jira should be used to track bugs and their resolution https://jira.o-ran-sc.org/projects/RICAPP/issues

Vulnerability report process

The project MUST publish the process for reporting vulnerabilities on the project site. (URL required)

Partially

met

Anybody can report vulnerabilities on the mailing list OSC "discusshttps://lists.o-ran-sc.org/g/discussdiscuss@lists.o-ran-sc.org (use hashtag #ricapp) or Jira (link)

If private vulnerability reports are supported, the project MUST include how to send the information in a way that is kept private. (URL required) 

Examples include a private defect report submitted on the web using HTTPS (TLS) or an email encrypted using OpenPGP. If vulnerability reports are always public (so there are never private vulnerability reports), choose "not applicable" (N/A).

UnmetIf somebody needs to report vulnerability privately, please email the PTL or join one of the project meetings.

The project's initial response time for any vulnerability report received in the last 6 months MUST be less than or equal to 14 days. 

If there have been no vulnerabilities reported in the last 6 months, choose "not applicable" (N/A).

N/A


Quality (13 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)



CriteriaResult / Proof point 

Working build system

If the software produced by the project requires building for use, the project MUST provide a working build system that can automatically rebuild the software from source code. MetLF jenkins
It is SUGGESTED that common tools be used for building the software.MetLF jenkins
The project SHOULD be buildable using only FLOSS tools.Met

Automated test suite

The project MUST use at least one automated test suite that is publicly released as FLOSS (this test suite may be maintained as a separate FLOSS project).?

Do unit tests included in the repo suffice

A test suite SHOULD be invocable in a standard way for that language.
For example, "make check", "mvn test", or "rake test" (Ruby).
?
It is SUGGESTED that the test suite cover most (or ideally all) the code branches, input fields, and functionality.

It is SUGGESTED that the project implement continuous integration (where new or changed code is frequently integrated into a central code repository and automated tests are run on the result).Partially met

Many xApp repos have automated Sonar scans:

Sonar reports

New functionality testing

The project MUST have a general policy (formal or not) that as major new functionality is added to the software produced by the project, tests of that functionality should be added to an automated test suite. 
As long as a policy is in place, even by word of mouth, that says developers should add tests to the automated test suite for major new functionality, select "Met.
Partially metInformal expectation but needs to be communicated better to new teams.
The project MUST have evidence that the test_policy for adding tests has been adhered to in the most recent major changes to the software produced by the project.
Major functionality would typically be mentioned in the release notes. Perfection is not required, merely evidence that tests are typically being added in practice to the automated test suite when new major functionality is added to the software produced by the project.


It is SUGGESTED that this policy on adding tests (see test_policy) be documented in the instructions for change proposals. 
However, even an informal rule is acceptable as long as the tests are being added in practice.


Warning flags

The project MUST enable one or more compiler warning flags, a "safe" language mode, or use a separate "linter" tool to look for code quality errors or common simple mistakes, if there is at least one FLOSS tool that can implement this criterion in the selected language.Met
  • Sonar is used in development environment and automatically triggered by Jenkins during CI/CD process
The project MUST address warnings.Unmet

It is SUGGESTED that projects be maximally strict with warnings in the software produced by the project, where practical.

Some warnings cannot be effectively enabled on some projects. What is needed is evidence that the project is striving to enable warning flags where it can, so that errors are detected early.

Unmet

Security (16 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)


RICAPP - Q1 2021
CriteriaResult / Proof point 

Secure development knowledge

The project MUST have at least one primary developer who knows how to design secure software. (See ‘details’ for the exact requirements.)UnmetVery hard for RICAPP since different xApps are developed by different teams in different companies.
At least one of the project's primary developers MUST know of common kinds of errors that lead to vulnerabilities in this kind of software, as well as at least one method to counter or mitigate each of them.Unmet

Use basic good cryptographic practices



The software produced by the project MUST use, by default, only cryptographic protocols and algorithms that are publicly published and reviewed by experts (if cryptographic protocols and algorithms are used).These cryptographic criteria do not always apply because some software has no need to directly use cryptographic capabilities.Met No cryptographic protocols or algorithms used.
If the software produced by the project is an application or library, and its primary purpose is not to implement cryptography, then it SHOULD only call on software specifically designed to implement cryptographic functions; it SHOULD NOT re-implement its own.MetNo cryptographic protocols or algorithms used.
All functionality in the software produced by the project that depends on cryptography MUST be implementable using FLOSS. See the Open Standards Requirement for Software by the Open Source Initiative.MetNo cryptographic protocols or algorithms used.
The security mechanisms within the software produced by the project MUST use default keylengths that at least meet the NIST minimum requirements through the year 2030 (as stated in 2012). It MUST be possible to configure the software so that smaller keylengths are completely disabled.These minimum bitlengths are: symmetric key 112, factoring modulus 2048, discrete logarithm key 224, discrete logarithmic group 2048, elliptic curve 224, and hash 224 (password hashing is not covered by this bitlength, more information on password hashing can be found in the crypto_password_storage criterion). See https://www.keylength.com for a comparison of keylength recommendations from various organizations. The software MAY allow smaller keylengths in some configurations (ideally it would not, since this allows downgrade attacks, but shorter keylengths are sometimes necessary for interoperability).MetNo keys used.
The default security mechanisms within the software produced by the project MUST NOT depend on broken cryptographic algorithms (e.g., MD4, MD5, single DES, RC4, Dual_EC_DRBG), or use cipher modes that are inappropriate to the context, unless they are necessary to implement an interoperable protocol (where the protocol implemented is the most recent version of that standard broadly supported by the network ecosystem, that ecosystem requires the use of such an algorithm or mode, and that ecosystem does not offer any more secure alternative). The documentation MUST describe any relevant security risks and any known mitigations if these broken algorithms or modes are necessary for an interoperable protocol.MetNo cryptographic algorithms used.
The default security mechanisms within the software produced by the project SHOULD NOT depend on cryptographic algorithms or modes with known serious weaknesses (e.g., the SHA-1 cryptographic hash algorithm or the CBC mode in SSH).MetNo cryptographic algorithms used.
The security mechanisms within the software produced by the project SHOULD implement perfect forward secrecy for key agreement protocols so a session key derived from a set of long-term keys cannot be compromised if one of the long-term keys is compromised in the future. MetNo key agreement protocols used.
If the software produced by the project causes the storing of passwords for authentication of external users, the passwords MUST be stored as iterated hashes with a per-user salt by using a key stretching (iterated) algorithm (e.g., Argon2id, Bcrypt, Scrypt, or PBKDF2). See also OWASP Password Storage Cheat Sheet).MetNo passwords for external users stored by xApps.
The security mechanisms within the software produced by the project MUST generate all cryptographic keys and nonces using a cryptographically secure random number generator, and MUST NOT do so using generators that are cryptographically insecure.MetNo keys or nonces used.

Secured delivery against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks

The project MUST use a delivery mechanism that counters MITM attacks. Using https or ssh+scp is acceptable.?Probably not applicable but xApps are not supposed to know who will receive a message they send - the message routing is done by the RIC platform and operator.
A cryptographic hash (e.g., a sha1sum) MUST NOT be retrieved over http and used without checking for a cryptographic signature. N/ANo cryptographic has used.

Publicly known vulnerabilities fixed

There MUST be no unpatched vulnerabilities of medium or higher severity that have been publicly known for more than 60 days. Probably metTo my knowledge
Projects SHOULD fix all critical vulnerabilities rapidly after they are reported. Probably met

Publicly known vulnerabilities fixed



is intended to limit public access. A project MAY leak "sample" credentials for testing and unimportant databases, as long as they are not intended to limit public access.MetAll sample/provided credentials are for test/demo purposes only.

Analysis (8 Points) 

(Result/Proof point (column A: enter Met/Unmet; Column B: enter relevant URLs/comments)


RICAPP - Q1 2021
CriteriaResult / Proof point 

Static code analysis

At least one static code analysis tool (beyond compiler warnings and "safe" language modes) MUST be applied to any proposed major production release of the software before its release, if there is at least one FLOSS tool that implements this criterion in the selected language.Met
  • Sonar is used in development environment and automatically triggered by Jenkins during CI/CD process
It is SUGGESTED that at least one of the static analysis tools used for the static_analysis criterion include rules or approaches to look for common vulnerabilities in the analyzed language or environment.Met
  • Sonar is used in development environment and automatically triggered by Jenkins during CI/CD process
All medium and higher severity exploitable vulnerabilities discovered with static code analysis MUST be fixed in a timely way after they are confirmed. 

It is SUGGESTED that static source code analysis occur on every commit or at least daily.MetSonar is used in development environment and automatically triggered by Jenkins during CI/CD process (at least weekly)

Dynamic code analysis

It is SUGGESTED that at least one dynamic analysis tool be applied to any proposed major production release of the software before its release.Mostly metSonar is used on most xApp repos. (Note: None of the xApps are used for "production" release - so far they are simply demonstrating use cases.
It is SUGGESTED that if the software produced by the project includes software written using a memory-unsafe language (e.g., C or C++), then at least one dynamic tool (e.g., a fuzzer or web application scanner) be routinely used in combination with a mechanism to detect memory safety problems such as buffer overwrites. If the project does not produce software written in a memory-unsafe language, choose "not applicable" (N/A).N/AxApps written in C++ do not provide external (e.g., HTTP) interfaces.
It is SUGGESTED that the software produced by the project include many run-time assertions that are checked during dynamic analysis.

All medium and higher severity exploitable vulnerabilities discovered with dynamic code analysis MUST be fixed in a timely way after they are confirmed.N/ANo explotable vulnerabilities to my knowledge.