Although security patterns contain security expert knowledge to support software developers, these patterns may be inappropriately applied because most developers are not security specialists, leading to threats and vulnerabilities. Here we propose a validation method for security design patterns in the implementation phase of software development. Our method creates a test template from a security design pattern, which consists of the "aspect test template" to observe the internal processing and the "test case template". Providing design information creates a test from the test template. Because a test template is recyclable, it can create easily a test, which can validate the security design patterns. As a case study, we applied our method to a web system. The result shows that our method can test repetition in the early stage of implementation, verify pattern applications, and assess whether vulnerabilities are resolved.
Security patterns are intended to support software developers as the patterns encapsulate security expert knowledge. However, these patterns may be inappropriately applied because most developers are not security experts, leading to threats and vulnerabilities. Here we propose a support method for security design patterns in the implementation phase of software development. Our method creates a test template from a security design pattern, consisting of an "aspect test template" to observe the internal processing and a "test case template". Providing design information creates a test from the test template with a tool. Because our test template is reusable, it can easily perform a test to validate a security design pattern. In an experiment involving four students majoring in information sciences, we confirm that our method can realize an effective test, verify pattern applications, and support pattern implementation.
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