Security Policy for hyper-custom-cert

This repository contains a reusable HTTP client crate that emphasizes a secure-by-default configuration with explicit, opt-in feature flags for alternative modes. This document explains the security implications of each feature and how to use the library safely in production.

Summary of TLS Modes

Default: native-tls
- Uses the operating system trust store via hyper-tls/native-tls.
- Recommended and secure default for connecting to publicly trusted endpoints.
Optional: rustls
- Uses hyper-rustls.
- Enables HttpClientBuilder::with_root_ca_pem(...) so you can trust a custom/private Root CA (e.g., your organization’s internal CA). This is the recommended approach when you must connect to services with certificates that aren’t publicly trusted.
Optional: insecure-dangerous
- Enables HttpClientBuilder::insecure_accept_invalid_certs(true) and HttpClient::with_self_signed_certs().
- Extremely dangerous and intended ONLY for local development and testing.
- Disables certificate validation and exposes you to active man-in-the-middle attacks if used against untrusted networks or in production.

Production Guidance

Prefer the default native-tls unless you have a specific need to trust a private/custom CA.
When you must trust a private CA, build with the rustls feature and provide your CA certificate via with_root_ca_pem(...). Ensure the provided PEM is the correct Root CA, securely distributed and stored.
Never enable insecure-dangerous in production. It bypasses certificate validation entirely.
Keep your dependencies up-to-date. Watch for advisories affecting TLS libraries (native-tls, hyper-tls, rustls, hyper-rustls).

WebAssembly (wasm32) Considerations

Browsers do not allow web applications to programmatically install or trust custom Certificate Authorities. Trust decisions are enforced by the browser and the underlying OS. As a result, operations that imply adding custom CA roots are intentionally unsupported in wasm targets and may return errors.

Reporting a Vulnerability

If you discover a security vulnerability, please:

Do not open a public issue immediately.
Email the maintainers at security@williamseemueller.dev with a detailed description and steps to reproduce.
We will acknowledge receipt within 3 business days and strive to provide a timeline for a fix.

If you do not receive a timely response, you may escalate by opening a minimal public issue that avoids disclosing sensitive details.

Hardening Checklist

Use feature flags intentionally. Avoid enabling insecure-dangerous except in isolated, local environments.
Pin and audit dependencies using cargo audit in CI.
Rotate and protect your custom CA material. Limit developer access and store PEMs securely.
Prefer short timeouts and explicit defaults via the builder to reduce exposure to hanging connections.

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