Securely Documenting CMake with Sphinx and moderncmakedomain

Documentation plays a vital role in the software development lifecycle, providing essential information for developers, users, and maintainers. When it comes to documenting CMake projects, Sphinx is a popular choice due to its flexibility and extensibility. In this article, we will explore how to securely document CMake projects using Sphinx and the moderncmakedomain plugin.

Introduction to moderncmakedomain

The moderncmakedomain is a Sphinx domain specifically designed for documenting CMake domain entities. It provides directives and references to document CMake variables, functions, environment variables, modules, and more. This domain follows the approach used by Kitware, ensuring consistency and compatibility with their documentation standards.

Installation

To start using moderncmakedomain, you have two installation options: PyPI and Git.

PyPI Installation

The easiest way to install moderncmakedomain is through PyPI using the pip package manager. Simply run the following command:

#
$ pip install sphinxcontrib-moderncmakedomain

You can also include moderncmakedomain in your project’s dependency management system, such as setup.py, pyproject.toml, or requirements.txt.

Git Installation

If you prefer to install moderncmakedomain from the Git repository, you can use the git+https syntax with pip. Run the following command:

#
$ pip install git+https://github.com/scikit-build/moderncmakedomain.git

Usage

To use moderncmakedomain in your Sphinx documentation, follow these steps:

1. Open your conf.py file.
2. Find the extensions variable.
3. Add 'sphinxcontrib.moderncmakedomain' to the list of extensions.

Here’s an example:

#python
extensions = [..., 'sphinxcontrib.moderncmakedomain', ...]

After enabling the moderncmakedomain extension, you can start using the provided directives and references.

Directives and References

moderncmakedomain offers a set of directives and references to document CMake domain entities. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Directives

| Directive | Description |
|——————–|————————————————|
| cmake:variable:: | Document a basic variable in CMake |
| cmake:command:: | Document a function in CMake |
| cmake-module:: | Extract documentation from a CMake module file |
| cmake:envvar:: | Document an environment variable in CMake |

To declare any of the references found below, they must be placed into a directory with the same name under the Sphinx SOURCEDIR/master doc.

References

moderncmakedomain provides references for various CMake entities. Here are some examples:

| Reference | Description |
|—————-|——————————————————-|
| :variable: | Reference to a CMake variable |
| :command: | Reference to a CMake command |
| :envvar: | Reference to an environment variable in CMake |
| :cpack_gen: | Reference to CPack generators |
| :generator: | Reference to a build file generator |
| :genex: | Reference to a generator expression |
| :guide: | Reference to a “guide” page |
| :manual: | Reference to a “manual” page (like cmake(1)) |
| :policy: | Reference to CMake Policies |
| :module: | Reference to CMake Modules |
| :prop_tgt: | Reference to target properties in CMake |
| :prop_test: | Reference to test properties in CMake |
| :prop_sf: | Reference to source file properties in CMake |
| :prop_gbl: | Reference to global properties in CMake |
| :prop_dir: | Reference to directory properties in CMake |
| :prop_inst: | Reference to installed file properties in CMake |
| :prop_cache: | Reference to cache properties in CMake |

Security Considerations

While moderncmakedomain enhances the experience of documenting CMake projects, it’s essential to consider potential security threats and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. Here are three popular security tools that can help assess, monitor, and validate security:

1. Static Code Analysis: Tools like Fortify, Checkmarx, and SonarQube can analyze your CMake codebase for security vulnerabilities, potential threats, and poor coding practices.
2. Dependency Scanning: Utilize tools such as OWASP Dependency-Check or Snyk to regularly scan your project’s dependencies for known vulnerabilities and update them to the latest secure versions.
3. Penetration Testing: Conduct regular penetration testing on your CMake project to identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Tools like Metasploit can assist in simulating real-world attack scenarios.

Security Hardening Recommendations

To enhance the security of your CMake project, consider implementing the following hardening recommendations:

1. Secure Configuration: Ensure that you have secure configurations for your development and production environments. Avoid storing sensitive information, such as credentials or API keys, in the CMake codebase or documentation repositories.
2. Access Control: Implement proper access controls and permissions to restrict the visibility and modification rights of your documentation and code repositories. Make use of user roles and multi-factor authentication to enforce secure access.
3. Regular Updates: Keep your Sphinx, moderncmakedomain, and other dependencies up to date to benefit from the latest security patches and bug fixes. Subscribe to security mailing lists or vulnerability databases to stay informed about any security advisories related to the tools you use.

By following these security practices, you can ensure that your CMake documentation remains secure and your project is protected against potential cyber threats.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the usage of moderncmakedomain, a Sphinx domain for documenting CMake projects. We discussed the installation process, directives, and references provided by moderncmakedomain. Additionally, we highlighted the importance of considering security measures and provided recommendations for assessing, tracking, monitoring, verifying, and validating the security of your CMake documentation.

Remember, while moderncmakedomain simplifies the documentation process, it’s crucial to prioritize security to protect your project and users from potential risks and vulnerabilities.

Stay informed, stay secure, and happy documenting!

Categories: Technology, Cybersecurity
Tags: CMake, documentation, Sphinx, moderncmakedomain, security, risk assessment, hardening, cybersecurity specialist