software-security

This skill provides comprehensive security guidance to help AI coding agents generate secure code and prevent common vulnerabilities. It is based on Project CodeGuard, an open-source, model-agnostic security framework that embeds secure-by-default practices into AI coding workflows.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be activated when:

• Writing new code in any language
• Reviewing or modifying existing code
• Implementing security-sensitive features (authentication, cryptography, data handling, etc.)
• Working with user input, databases, APIs, or external services
• Configuring cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, or containers
• Handling sensitive data, credentials, or cryptographic operations

How to Use This Skill

When writing or reviewing code:

1. Always-Apply Rules: Some rules MUST be checked on every code operation:

• codeguard-1-hardcoded-credentials.md - Never hardcode secrets, passwords, API keys, or tokens
• codeguard-1-crypto-algorithms.md - Use only modern, secure cryptographic algorithms
• codeguard-1-digital-certificates.md - Validate and manage digital certificates securely

2. Context-Specific Rules: Apply rules from /rules directory based on the language of the feature being implemented using the table given below:

| Language | Rule Files to Apply | |----------|---------------------| | apex | codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md | | c | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md, codeguard-0-data-storage.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-logging.md, codeguard-0-safe-c-functions.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | cpp | codeguard-0-safe-c-functions.md | | d | codeguard-0-iac-security.md | | docker | codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-supply-chain-security.md | | go | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-mcp-security.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | html | codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md | | java | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-mcp-security.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | javascript | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md, codeguard-0-cloud-orchestration-kubernetes.md, codeguard-0-data-storage.md, codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-logging.md, codeguard-0-mcp-security.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md, codeguard-0-privacy-data-protection.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-supply-chain-security.md | | kotlin | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md | | matlab | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md, codeguard-0-privacy-data-protection.md | | perl | codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md | | php | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | powershell | codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md | | python | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-mcp-security.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | ruby | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | rust | codeguard-0-mcp-security.md | | shell | codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md | | sql | codeguard-0-data-storage.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md | | swift | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md | | typescript | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authentication-mfa.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md, codeguard-0-file-handling-and-uploads.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-input-validation-injection.md, codeguard-0-mcp-security.md, codeguard-0-session-management-and-cookies.md | | vlang | codeguard-0-client-side-web-security.md | | xml | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-mobile-apps.md, codeguard-0-xml-and-serialization.md | | yaml | codeguard-0-additional-cryptography.md, codeguard-0-api-web-services.md, codeguard-0-authorization-access-control.md, codeguard-0-cloud-orchestration-kubernetes.md, codeguard-0-data-storage.md, codeguard-0-devops-ci-cd-containers.md, codeguard-0-framework-and-languages.md, codeguard-0-iac-security.md, codeguard-0-logging.md, codeguard-0-privacy-data-protection.md, codeguard-0-supply-chain-security.md |

3. Proactive Security: Don't just avoid vulnerabilities-actively implement secure patterns:

• Use parameterized queries for database access
• Validate and sanitize all user input
• Apply least-privilege principles
• Use modern cryptographic algorithms and libraries
• Implement defense-in-depth strategies

CodeGuard Security Rules

The security rules are available in the rules/ directory.

Usage Workflow

When generating or reviewing code, follow this workflow:

1. Initial Security Check

Before writing any code:

• Check: Will this handle credentials? → Apply codeguard-1-hardcoded-credentials
• Check: What language am I using? → Identify applicable language-specific rules
• Check: What security domains are involved? → Load relevant rule files

2. Code Generation

While writing code:

• Apply secure-by-default patterns from relevant Project CodeGuard rules
• Add security-relevant comments explaining choices

3. Security Review

After writing code:

• Review against implementation checklists in each rule
• Verify no hardcoded credentials or secrets
• Validate that all the rules have been successfully followed when applicable.
• Explain which security rules were applied
• Highlight security features implemented