SimpleAcl component tutorial
This component follows the traditional way of acl only slightly modifying it. In example there's an inheritance feature, which will help tremendously the access controlling because you don't have to specify every action in aros_acos-table.
Ok, here comes the component, from component you will find useful information of usage so I'm not going to re-explain them here.
And of course is there a working site using SimpleAcl where you can see SimpleAcl-running? Yeah I have is using it, but the deprecated version. I have done major improvements to SimpleAcl since I build that site.
And notice it's a small site I don't know how this component will scale to larger ones. So in that site is a deprecated version but at least it's also working.
These ones in app_controller
Copy only the necessary parts, don't replace your own with that.
Acos-table with sample data
Download code
Aros-table with sample data
Download code
Aros_aco-table
Download code
Ok what this component do?
What this component does not do?
Basic knowledge of SimpleAcl
Give me examples
Settings
Things to notice
And that's it, ask if you have some questions, proposals or feature requests.
And of course is there a working site using SimpleAcl where you can see SimpleAcl-running? Yeah I have is using it, but the deprecated version. I have done major improvements to SimpleAcl since I build that site.
And notice it's a small site I don't know how this component will scale to larger ones. So in that site is a deprecated version but at least it's also working.
Component Class:
Download code
<?php
/**
* SimpleAcl is using a well known acl-mechanics and slightly modifying
* it to more inheritable way. Which means that if you have access to house
* then you have access to its rooms as well unless you specify the rules.
*
* In general:
* I'm using a controllers names on url as they are in app.
* So Users in url is Users not users.
*
* Aros:
* I didn't find any sensible use of the "foreign_key" in aros-table so I gave it job to couch
* aros-type.
* ie.
* 0 => users_maingroup
* 1 => group
* 2 => user
*
* this is used only in presentation on admin_index so its kinda unnecessary field.
* And it could be safely removed for not having unwanted data on queries.
*
* Acos:
* Here the same case too I used that "object_id" as a type indicator
* ie.
* 0 => layer
* 1 => Controller
* 2 => action
* It could be safely removed.
*
* Aros_cos:
* They are handled normally, no any tricks are used.
*
* Specified:
* About Acos:
*
* It is possible to create more layers in acos where all permissions will
* inherit from a mother-node, then you put the bottom one in the check() and
* SimpleAcl finds its way to top.
*
* ie. main > layer#1 > layer#2 > /Controller > /Controller/action
*
* in check array("/Controller/action", "/Controller", "layer#2")
* Notice if you put instead layer#1 in check then layer#2 will be pass by layer#1 and layer#2's rules are not
* taken into account.
*
* Its even posible to create separate paths till you put the branch node
* as the bottom one in that array
*
* ie. main > layer#1#1 > layer#1#2 > /controller > /controller/action
* layer#2#1 > layer#2#2 > /controller > /controller/action <-- you want to test against this
*
* in check array("/Controller/action", "/Controller", "layer#2#2")
*
* However this makes no sense, since you have to dublicate same
* controllers/actions in different paths. So avoid this approach.
*
* About Aros:
*
* As I said there's no limit for groups.
* And notice only a user can ask permission for certain areas never group.
*
* @author unigue__
* @version 1.1
* @compability Developed for Cake 1.1.15.5144, dont know does it work on 1.2X
* @see Cakes own acls on http://manual.cakephp.org/chapter/acl
* @see Example of usage in checkAccessA-function
*/
class SimpleAclComponent extends Object
{
// {{{ Public
/**
* Class's name, ugly due to PHP4 issues on caps or smt
*
* @var string
*/
var $name = "SimpleAcl";
// }}}
// {{{ Private
/**
* Prefix of tables
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $table_prefix__;
/**
* acos tables name with prepends and appends
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $acos_table__;
/**
* acor tables name with prepends and appends
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $aros_table__;
/**
* axos table's name with prepends and appends
* !!! Not implemented yet !!! *
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $axos_table__;
/**
* aros_acos tables name with prepends and appends
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $arosacos_table__;
/**
* Settings for in general, keep this array in 1 dimensional in case of you want
* override existing values because array_merge can't merge deeper values.
*
* @var array
* @access private
*/
var $settings__ = array(
"case_sensitive" => true, // If false all acos and aros are handled in case insensitive way
// when they are strlowered before regex-checkes
"acos_table" => "acos",
"aros_table" => "aros",
"axos_table" => "axos",
"arosacos_table" => "aros_acos",
"main_aco" => "main",
"main_aro" => "users_maingroup",
"security_level" => 1,
"cut_admin_off" => true
);
/**
* If accessed from controller then it's link goes here
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $controller__;
/**
* A database link via SimpleAcl is able to execute queries
* this is only clean way to get data from tables since other solutions would be too messy
* in practical point of view. Notice that we're only fetching data so no other operations are executed.
* So this link-method can be considered as safe.
*
* @var object
* @access private
*/
var $db_link__;
/**
* This will map undenified cruds to a known cruds
* I'm using normal names for a cruds but if you do baking then you need to keep later commented things along.
*
* @var array
* @access private
*/
var $cruds__ = array(
'create' => '_create',
'read' => '_read',
'update' => '_update',
'delete' => '_delete',
// Additionals, add with care !!!
// basically this rips out the first prefix of the action
// ie. /Users/create => create, /Users/show_me_my_posts => show
// So make sure that crud is front of the action and not in the middle or somewhere
'add' => '_create', // If baked this is the crud
'edit' => '_update', // If baked
'delete' => '_delete', // If baked
'read' => '_read',
'examples' => '_read',
'view' => '_read', // If baked
);
/**
* Important: for security reasons set this to false.
* If the requested action is not in $this->cruds__ array then overwrite the crud to read.
* If false remember to put all action-prefixes in the $this->cruds__ array
*
* @var bool
* @access private
*/
var $override_to_read__= true;
/**
* Just a name of current controller
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $controller_name__ = "";
/**
* Just a name of current action
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $action_name__ = "";
/**
* Name of admin in your app
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $cake_admin__ = "admin";
/**
* Possibly one of the key in the cruds table, basically this is ripped off the action name
* ie. 1. /Users/create --> $check_aco__ = create
* 2. /Products/add_products_in_basket = add and so on
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $check_aco__ = "";
/**
* Checkin cruds initially denied of course
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $access_rules__ = array(
"_create" => 0,
"_read" => 0,
"_update" => 0,
"_delete" => 0
);
/**
* What's on top of the aco tree. Basically this is for helping
* access controlling and reducing data in aros_acos data.
* But few principles
* main
* > Controller
* > actions
*
* And if I give admin a full rights for the main-aco then all the rest acos will inherit those
* rules and no more aros_acos data is needed.
* If we want to deny admins access to some delicate ares that will be done by adding
* few rules on those acos.
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $main_aco__ = "main";
/**
* This will allow to cut the admin prefix off the url ie.
* if this is false
* in url "/Users/admin_index" controller is "/Users" and action "/admin_index"
* Notice thus the aco must be in form /Users/admin_index in table.
* this is what SimpleAcl presumes
* if this is true
* the url will mod to "/admin/Users/index" where controller is "/admin/Users" and action is "/index"
* This is must better rule because the urls are saved in acos-table as they appear
* on browser's address-field
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $cut_admin_off__ = true;
/**
* Top of the aros hierarchy
* Remeber there's no limits of groups in aros table or at least SimpleAcl is not bigoted about it.
*
* @var string
* @access private
*/
var $main_aro__ = "users_maingroup";
/**
* Controls the security level of SimpleAcl
*
* @var integer
* 0 is highest
* 1 is lowest
* @access private
*/
var $security_level__ = 1;
// }}}
// {{{ Functions
/**
* Setup for controller Cakes stuff
*/
function startup(&$controller)
{
$this->controller__ = $controller;
}
/**
* Initialize SimpleAcls vars
* NOTICE! If your tables has different prefixes, leave $table_prefix empty and
* write full table names for each table
*
* @param array settings
* @param object db-link
* @param array params
*/
function init($settings, $db_link, $params)
{
$this->settings__ = array_merge($this->settings__, $settings);
$this->table_prefix__ = $this->settings__["table_prefix"];
$this->acos_table__ = $this->settings__["table_prefix"].$this->settings__["acos_table"];
$this->aros_table__ = $this->settings__["table_prefix"].$this->settings__["aros_table"];
$this->axos_table__ = $this->settings__["table_prefix"].$this->settings__["axos_table"];
$this->arosacos_table__ = $this->settings__["table_prefix"].$this->settings__["arosacos_table"];
$this->security_level__ = $this->settings__["security_level"];
$this->cut_admin_off__ = $this->settings__["cut_admin_off"];
$this->main_aco__ = $this->settings__["main_aco"];
$this->main_aro__ = $this->settings__["main_aro"];
$this->db_link__ = $db_link;
$this->controller_name__ = $params['controller'];
$this->action_name__ = $params['action'];
// Make sure that admin is correct
if(defined('CAKE_ADMIN')) {
$this->cake_admin__ = CAKE_ADMIN;
}
}
/**
* (*1) Results are returned in form:
*
* array(
* Number => array(
* [parent] => array(
* [aro_id] => Number,
* )
* ),
* ...
* );
*
* @param string A Calling aro usually users name
* @return array See (1*)
*/
function getAroTree__($aro)
{
if(!$this->settings__["case_sensitive"]) {
$aro = strtolower($aro);
}
$aro_access_query = "
SELECT parent.id as aro_id, parent.alias
FROM {$this->aros_table__} AS node,
{$this->aros_table__} AS parent
WHERE node.lft BETWEEN parent.lft AND parent.rght
AND node.alias = '{$aro}'
ORDER BY parent.lft;";
$aro_tree = $this->db_link__->query(($aro_access_query));
return $aro_tree;
}
/**
* Get leaf aco tree
*
* Results are in form
* (*1)
* Array(
* [Number] => Array
* (
* [parent] => Array
* (
* [aco_id] => Number
* )
* ),
* ...
* );
*
* @param array array( most bottom, ... , top one ) ie. array( 'controller/action', 'controller' )
* @return array See (*1) Aco-tree if wild_card_acos is empty null is returned
*/
function getAcoTree__($wild_card_acos)
{
// Checking that aco really exist
$aro_exist_query = "";
// Start from which exist
$exist_aco = null;
$aco_tree = null;
if(empty($wild_card_acos) || !is_array($wild_card_acos)) {
return null;
}
else {
/**
* So it starts traversing from the bottom to the top and when it finds an exist one aco it
* register it to var and breaks the loop
*/
foreach($wild_card_acos as $wild_card_aco) {
// If there's typoes caps in the acos
if(!$this->settings__["case_sensitive"]) {
$wild_card_aco = low($wild_card_aco);
}
$aco_exist_query = "SELECT * FROM {$this->acos_table__} as aco WHERE aco.alias = '{$wild_card_aco}'";
$does_aco_exist = $this->db_link__->query($aco_exist_query);
if(!empty($does_aco_exist)) {
$exist_aco = $wild_card_aco;
break;
}
}
// Aco exists, then take the tree based on that
if($exist_aco != null) {
$aco_access_query = "
SELECT parent.id as aco_id, parent.alias
FROM {$this->acos_table__} AS node,
{$this->acos_table__} AS parent
WHERE node.lft BETWEEN parent.lft AND parent.rght
AND node.alias = '{$exist_aco}'
ORDER BY parent.lft;";
$aco_tree = $this->db_link__->query($aco_access_query);
}
return $aco_tree;
}
}
/**
* !!! Not implemented yet !!!
* Gets all defined axos
* $aro_tree =
* array(
* Number => array(
* [parent] => array(
* [aro_id] => Number,
* )
* ),
* ...
* );
*/
function getAxos__($aro_tree)
{
}
/**
* Get aros_acos-tree for given acos. So you get rules for acos that you have
* putted in check array
*
* (*1) Results are in form:
*
* Array (
* [Number] => Array
* (
* [aro_aco] => Array
* (
* [id] => Number
* [aro_id] => Number
* [aco_id] => Number
* [_create] => Number
* [_read] => Number
* [_update] => Number
* [_delete] => Number
* )
*
* ),
* ...
* );
*
* @param array ids in form [NUMBER][parent][aro_id]
* @param array ids in form [NUMBER][parent][aco_id]
* @return array see (*1) Aco-tree, in case of in wild_card_acos is empty then null is returned
*/
function getArosAcos__($aro_tree, $aco_tree)
{
$aros_acos_ids = array();
if(empty($aro_tree) || empty($aco_tree)) {
return null;
}
/**
* This will give an aro_id and aco_id's in array separated by "AND"
*
* If you have 3 wildcard-acos and 3 aros then this will loop 9 times and
* the bigger number you give the more this would work. But this is an cpu
* not traffic-issue
*/
foreach( $aro_tree as $aro_alias ) {
foreach($aco_tree as $aco_alias) {
$aros_acos_ids[] = " aro_id = ".$aro_alias["parent"]["aro_id"]."
AND aco_id = ".$aco_alias["parent"]["aco_id"];
}
}
/**
* Next get all aros_acos that are associated
* to earlier mentioned aro_id and aco_id's group
*/
$aros_acos_query = "SELECT * FROM {$this->arosacos_table__} as aro_aco
WHERE ".implode( " OR ", $aros_acos_ids );
$aros_acos_rows = $this->db_link__->query( $aros_acos_query );
return $aros_acos_rows;
}
/**
* This is a motor of this component, it gathers aro/aco-trees and get an aros_acos by
* using them and returns a rule whether access or not
*
* @param string aro usually a user
* @param array array( most bottom, ... , top one ) ie. array( 'controller/action', 'controller' )
* @param array Settings for future usage, not yet implemented
* @return bool whether user has access or not - 1/0
*/
function check($aro, $settings=array())
{
/**
* Put admin on front of the controller
* Because this is how they are saved in acl-tables,
* Otherwise do your own logic here
*/
if($this->cut_admin_off__ && eregi("^".$this->cake_admin__."_", $this->action_name__)) {
$this->controller_name__ = "{$this->cake_admin__}/{$this->controller_name__}";
/**
* Take cake_admin prefix off of the action
* Because the urls are saved in the db in form "admin/posts/create"
*/
$this->action_name__ = eregi_replace("^".$this->cake_admin__."_", "", $this->action_name__);
}
list($check_crud) = split('[_]', $this->action_name__);
$this->check_aco__ = $check_crud;
$wild_card_acos = array(
"/{$this->controller_name__}/{$this->action_name__}", // ie. /Users/login
"/{$this->controller_name__}", // ie. /login
$this->main_aco__ // Whatever you have on top in act-tbl
);
// Highest, test only against current url
if($this->security_level__ == 0) {
$wild_card_acos = array("/{$this->controller_name__}/{$this->action_name__}");
}
$aro_tree = $this->getAroTree__($aro);
$aco_tree = $this->getAcoTree__($wild_card_acos);
// Sanitaze, return 0 as no access if one of is empty
if(empty($aco_tree) || empty($aro_tree)) {
return 0;
}
$aros_acos = $this->getArosAcos__($aro_tree, $aco_tree);
// We have to start traversing from the top because child nodes inherit rules and specifies them.
if(!empty($aros_acos)) {
/*
[0] => Array
(
[parent] => Array
(
[aro_id] => 1
[alias] => users_maingroup
)
)
*/
// Aros
foreach($aro_tree as $aro) {
/*
[0] => Array
(
[parent] => Array
(
[aco_id] => 7
[alias] => main
)
)
*/
// Acos
foreach($aco_tree as $aco) {
/*
[0] => Array
(
[aro_aco] => Array
(
[id] => 25
[aro_id] => 37
[aco_id] => 8
[_create] => 0
[_read] => 1
[_update] => 0
[_delete] => 0
)
)
*/
// Aros_acos
foreach($aros_acos as $aro_aco) {
if($aro["parent"]["aro_id"] == $aro_aco["aro_aco"]["aro_id"]
&& $aco["parent"]["aco_id"] == $aro_aco["aro_aco"]["aco_id"]) {
$this->access_rules__["_create"] = $aro_aco[ "aro_aco" ]["_create"];
$this->access_rules__["_read"] = $aro_aco[ "aro_aco" ]["_read"];
$this->access_rules__["_update"] = $aro_aco[ "aro_aco" ]["_update"];
$this->access_rules__["_delete"] = $aro_aco[ "aro_aco" ]["_delete"];
}
}
}
}
}
/**
* 1. 1 0 allow to overwrite to read if not in array
* 2. 0 0 not allowed to overwrite and not in the array return 0
* These will pass by without taken care:
* 3-4. * 1 in array
*/
if($this->security_level__ != 0 && $this->override_to_read__
&& !in_array($this->check_aco__, array_keys($this->cruds__))) {
$this->check_aco__ = "read";
}
else if($this->security_level__ == 0 || !$this->override_to_read__
&& !in_array($this->check_aco__, array_keys($this->cruds__))) {
// Tight rules not allowed
return 0;
}
// $this->check_aco__ = "read/create/update/delete/view/add/..."
// $this->cruds__ = "read/create/update/delete/view/add/..." => "_read/_create/_update/_delete"
// $this->access_rules__ = "_read/_create/_update/_delete" => 0/1
return $this->access_rules__[$this->cruds__[$this->check_aco__]];
}
// }}}
}
?>
These ones in app_controller
Copy only the necessary parts, don't replace your own with that.
Controller Class:
Download code
<?php
class AppController extends Controller
{
var $beforeFilter = array('checkAccessA');
var $helpers = array('Session');
var $components = array('SimpleAcl');
var $uses = array('User');
var $table_prefix = "psc_";
/**
* Used with SimpleAcl-component, basically this handles acl's in your app
* You can customize its actions when unauthorized things happen at
* the last lines of this function.
*
* Usage: In app_controller --> var $beforeFilter = array('checkAccessA');
*
* @author unigue__
* @version 1.0
* @compability Developed for Cake 1.1.15.5144, dont know does it work on 1.2
* @see SimpleAcl-component
* @see Cakes acl-tutorial on http://manual.cakephp.org/chapter/acl
*/
function checkAccessA()
{
if(empty($this->params['controller']) || empty($this->params['action'])) {
return;
}
else if (!empty($this->params) && !empty($this->User)) {
// Setting ups for SimpleAcl
$settings = array(
"table_prefix" => $this->table_prefix, // Needed
"case_sensitive" => true, // Unnecessary others are already in SimpleAcl
"acos_table" => "acos",
"aros_table" => "aros",
"axos_table" => "axos",
"arosacos_table" => "aros_acos",
"main_aco" => "main",
"main_aro" => "users_maingroup",
"security_level" => 1,
"cut_admin_off" => true
);
// Initialization
$this->SimpleAcl->init($settings, $this->User, $this->params);
// Finally access or not
$access = $this->SimpleAcl->check($this->Session->read('User.user_name'));
/**
* If no access, redirect to login or whatever
* Normally user cant get 0 if he's following showed links properly,
* otherwise he's hijacking for a weak spots or smt.
* Again put your own logic here
*/
if(!$access) {
$this->flash("You need to login first.", "/Users/login", 1);
exit;
}
}
else {
$this->flash("You need to login first.", "/Users/login", 1);
exit;
}
}
}
?>
Acos-table with sample data
Download code
CREATE TABLE `psc_acos` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`object_id` int(11) default NULL,
`alias` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
`lft` int(11) default NULL,
`rght` int(11) default NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
--
-- Dumping data for table `psc_acos`
--
INSERT INTO `psc_acos` (`id`, `object_id`, `alias`, `lft`, `rght`) VALUES
(7, 0, 'main', 1, 6),
(15, 1, '/Users', 2, 3),
(16, 1, '/Search', 4, 5),
Aros-table with sample data
Download code
CREATE TABLE `psc_aros` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`foreign_key` int(11) default NULL,
`alias` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
`lft` int(11) default NULL,
`rght` int(11) default NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
--
-- Dumping data for table `psc_aros`
--
INSERT INTO `psc_aros` (`id`, `foreign_key`, `alias`, `lft`, `rght`) VALUES
(1, 0, 'users_maingroup', 1, 22),
(20, 1, 'customers_group', 2, 5),
(39, 2, 'test_user', 3, 4),
(21, 1, 'admins_group', 6, 9),
(52, 2, 'test_admin', 7, 8),
(37, 1, 'anonymous_group', 10, 13),
(38, 2, 'visitor', 11, 12);
Aros_aco-table
Download code
CREATE TABLE `psc_aros_acos` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`aro_id` int(11) default NULL,
`aco_id` int(11) default NULL,
`_create` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`_read` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`_update` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`_delete` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
Ok what this component do?
It control the access to a certain areas by asking does Aro(User-Tim) has access to
Aco(url-/Users/view/3) if it does then SimpleAcl will return a true as a granted access otherwise the permission is
denied.
What this component does not do?
Within it you can't handle your permission data, it is designed to answer to one simple question does someone
has access to somewhere that's it. My methods on this handling area are not polished yet so
I can't give any mature enough code for this so it's your job to make it work.
Basic knowledge of SimpleAcl
Lets assume you have a "main > Controllers > actions " aco-tree then you give
a rule 1111(_create, _read, _update, _delete) for admin-Joe to main-aco.
Now Joe goes to url /admin/Carts/view which is not in acos-table so now
SimpleAcl first lookup for the "/admin/Carts/view"-aco, so it didn't exists.
next "/admin/Carts"-aco it does not either
and the last hope "main"-aco here SimpleAcl finds rules 1111 and access is granted.
I'm not going to give anymore examples of that because web is filled up with acl-info.
Give me examples
This line "$access = $this->SimpleAcl->check($this->Session->read('User.user_name'));"
is all you need, here Aro(User) is asking for a permission to certain page.
Settings
Here is all necessary settings, they are pretty self explanatory so I'll comment a couple of them
"main_aco" => "main",
This is a mother of all acos
"main_aro" => "users_maingroup",
this is a mother of all aros
"table_prefix" => $this->table_prefix, // Needed
"case_sensitive" => true, // Unnecessary others are already in SimpleAcl
"acos_table" => "acos",
"aros_table" => "aros",
"axos_table" => "axos",
"arosacos_table" => "aros_acos",
"main_aco" => "main",
"main_aro" => "users_maingroup",
"security_level" => 1,
"cut_admin_off" => true
Things to notice
How this component handles the acos on which access is asked for? In component you'll find a "wild_card_acos" variable which contains array("main_layer", "/Controller", "/Controller/action") so if one is granted to "/Profiles/view"-aco, could he see other osers profiles as well? SimpleAcl doesn't take care of that, in your Profiles-controller action's "view" you of course fetch data by user.id(which is stored into session) so it impossible to get other users delicate data.
It is possible to add a fourth layer(fine grained aco) in acos-table ie.
1. main - mother node of all
2. /Controllers - just a group of controllers
3. /Controllers/actions
4. /Controller/action/params
that fourth layer would be params["url"]["url"]
and it has to be added at the bottom in "wild_card_acos" variable.
However I didn't find this useful, but that's up to you.
And that's it, ask if you have some questions, proposals or feature requests.
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