PROTOS-1 is a security enforcement layer designed to provide access control, data validation, and consensus mechanisms for AI agent systems. However, it is not a complete security solution and should be used as part of a defense-in-depth strategy.

PROTOS-1 provides protection against:

1. Unauthorized Access - The Sanctuary directive validates source identifiers against an allowlist, preventing unauthorized entities from accessing protected resources.

2. Malformed Data - The Synthesis directive validates packet structure and integrity, rejecting incomplete or malformed requests before they reach core processing logic.

3. Lack of Consensus - The Logic directive ensures distributed systems reach sufficient agreement before accepting multi-node responses.

4. Path Traversal Attacks - All file paths are validated to prevent escape from the configured base directory.

5. Accidental Privilege Escalation - The system is designed to run without elevated privileges and validates all operations.

PROTOS-1 has limitations and does not protect against:

1. Network-Level Attacks - PROTOS-1 operates at the application layer and does not provide network security (DDoS, MITM, etc.).

2. Compromised Dependencies - If the Python interpreter or standard library is compromised, PROTOS-1's guarantees are void.

3. Social Engineering - PROTOS-1 cannot prevent authorized users from making poor security decisions.

4. Side-Channel Attacks - Timing attacks, cache attacks, and other side-channel vulnerabilities are out of scope.

5. Bugs in Application Code - PROTOS-1 enforces its directives correctly, but cannot prevent vulnerabilities in code that integrates it.

1. Protect the Allowlist - The config/sanctuary.conf file controls access. Protect it with appropriate file system permissions (read-only for the application user).

2. Use Strong Identifiers - Source identifiers should be non-spoofable. Avoid using IP addresses if they can be forged in your environment.

3. Review AI-Generated Code - When using PROTOS-1 with AI agents, always review generated code before execution.

4. Monitor Enforcement Failures - Log and monitor when Sanctuary, Synthesis, or Logic checks fail, as repeated failures may indicate an attack.

5. Keep Dependencies Updated - Although PROTOS-1 has no external dependencies, keep your Python installation and OS updated.

1. Never Bypass Enforcement - Always use the gateway functions (enforce_sanctuary, enforce_synthesis, enforce_logic). Do not instantiate the enforcer directly unless you fully understand the implications.

2. Fail Closed - If you extend PROTOS-1, ensure all new checks fail closed (deny access on errors).

3. No Secrets in Code - Never hardcode secrets, API keys, or credentials. Use environment variables or secure secret management.

4. Validate All Inputs - PROTOS-1 validates its own inputs, but your application must validate data before passing it to PROTOS-1.

5. Test Security Properties - Write tests that verify enforcement checks actually deny unauthorized access.

Enable these features on your PROTOS-1 repository:

1. Secret Scanning - Detects accidentally committed secrets
2. Dependabot Alerts - Monitors for vulnerable dependencies (though PROTOS-1 has none)
3. Code Scanning - Identifies potential security vulnerabilities
4. Two-Factor Authentication - Require 2FA for all contributors
5. Branch Protection - Require reviews before merging to main
6. Signed Commits - Verify commit authenticity with GPG signatures

If you discover a security vulnerability in PROTOS-1, please report it responsibly:

1. Do NOT open a public GitHub issue for security vulnerabilities
2. Email: Create a private security advisory via GitHub's Security tab, or contact the maintainer directly
3. Include:
   • Description of the vulnerability
   • Steps to reproduce
   • Potential impact
   • Suggested fix (if any)

• Acknowledgment: Within 48 hours
• Assessment: Within 7 days
• Fix Timeline: Depends on severity
  • Critical: 24-72 hours
  • High: 1-2 weeks
  • Medium: 2-4 weeks
  • Low: Next release cycle

• We follow coordinated disclosure
• Security fixes are released before public disclosure
• Credit is given to reporters (unless anonymity is requested)
• CVE IDs are requested for significant vulnerabilities

Security updates are released as:

• Patch versions (e.g., 1.0.1) for minor security fixes
• Minor versions (e.g., 1.1.0) for significant security improvements
• Major versions (e.g., 2.0.0) for breaking security changes

Subscribe to GitHub releases to receive security notifications.

• v1.0.0 (2026-02-06): Initial release, no known vulnerabilities

• GitHub: @sashasmith-syber
• Security Advisories: Use GitHub Security tab for private reporting

Remember: PROTOS-1 is a security layer, not a complete solution. Use it as part of a comprehensive security strategy.