Permissionbolt

Middleware for keeping track of users, login states and permissions.

Uses Bolt for the database. For using Redis as a backend instead, look into permissions2.

Features and limitations

• Uses secure cookies and stores user information in a Bolt database.
• Suitable for using Bolt database file (in a similar fashion to SQLite), registering/confirming users and managing public/user/admin pages.
• Supports registration and confirmation via generated confirmation codes.
• Tries to keep things simple.
• Only supports "public", "user" and "admin" permissions out of the box, but offers functionality for implementing more fine grained permissions, if so desired.
• Supports Negroni, Martini, Gin, Goji and plain net/http.
• Should also work with other frameworks, since the standard http.HandlerFunc is used everywhere.
• The default permissions can be cleared with the Clear() function.

Requirements

• Go 1.17 or later.

Example for Negroni

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "strings"

    "github.com/codegangsta/negroni"
    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
)

func main() {
    n := negroni.Classic()
    mux := http.NewServeMux()

    // New permissionbolt middleware
    perm, err := permissionbolt.New()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalln(err)
    }

    // Blank slate, no default permissions
    //perm.Clear()

    // Get the userstate, used in the handlers below
    userstate := perm.UserState()

    mux.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Has user bob: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Logged in on server: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Is confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Username stored in cookies (or blank): %v\n", userstate.Username(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *user rights*: %v\n", userstate.UserRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *admin rights*: %v\n", userstate.AdminRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nTry: /register, /confirm, /remove, /login, /logout, /makeadmin, /clear, /data and /admin")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/register", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.AddUser("bob", "hunter1", "bob@zombo.com")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was created: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/confirm", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.MarkConfirmed("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/remove", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.RemoveUser("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was removed: %v\n", !userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/login", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Login(w, "bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged in: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/logout", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Logout("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged out: %v\n", !userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/makeadmin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.SetAdminStatus("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now administrator: %v\n", userstate.IsAdmin("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/clear", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.ClearCookie(w)
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Clearing cookie")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/data", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "user page that only logged in users must see!")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/admin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "super secret information that only logged in administrators must see!\n\n")
        if usernames, err := userstate.AllUsernames(); err == nil {
            fmt.Fprintf(w, "list of all users: "+strings.Join(usernames, ", "))
        }
    })

    // Custom handler for when permissions are denied
    perm.SetDenyFunction(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        http.Error(w, "Permission denied!", http.StatusForbidden)
    })

    // Enable the permissionbolt middleware
    n.Use(perm)

    // Use mux for routing, this goes last
    n.UseHandler(mux)

    // Serve
    n.Run(":3000")
}

Example for Martini

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "strings"

    "github.com/go-martini/martini"
    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
)

func main() {
    m := martini.Classic()

    // New permissionbolt middleware
    perm, err := permissionbolt.New()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalln(err)
    }

    // Blank slate, no default permissions
    //perm.Clear()

    // Get the userstate, used in the handlers below
    userstate := perm.UserState()

    m.Get("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Has user bob: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Logged in on server: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Is confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Username stored in cookies (or blank): %v\n", userstate.Username(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *user rights*: %v\n", userstate.UserRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *admin rights*: %v\n", userstate.AdminRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nTry: /register, /confirm, /remove, /login, /logout, /makeadmin, /clear, /data and /admin")
    })

    m.Get("/register", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.AddUser("bob", "hunter1", "bob@zombo.com")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was created: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/confirm", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.MarkConfirmed("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/remove", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.RemoveUser("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was removed: %v\n", !userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/login", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.Login(w, "bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged in: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/logout", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.Logout("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged out: %v\n", !userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/makeadmin", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.SetAdminStatus("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now administrator: %v\n", userstate.IsAdmin("bob"))
    })

    m.Get("/clear", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        userstate.ClearCookie(w)
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Clearing cookie")
    })

    m.Get("/data", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "user page that only logged in users must see!")
    })

    m.Get("/admin", func(w http.ResponseWriter) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "super secret information that only logged in administrators must see!\n\n")
        if usernames, err := userstate.AllUsernames(); err == nil {
            fmt.Fprintf(w, "list of all users: "+strings.Join(usernames, ", "))
        }
    })

    // Set up a middleware handler for Martini, with a custom "permission denied" message.
    permissionHandler := func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, c martini.Context) {
        // Check if the user has the right admin/user rights
        if perm.Rejected(w, req) {
            // Deny the request
            http.Error(w, "Permission denied!", http.StatusForbidden)
            // Reject the request by not calling the next handler below
            return
        }
        // Call the next middleware handler
        c.Next()
    }

    // Enable the permissionbolt middleware
    m.Use(permissionHandler)

    // Serve
    m.Run()
}

Example for Gin

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "strings"

    "github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
)

func main() {
    g := gin.New()

    // New permissionbolt middleware
    perm, err := permissionbolt.New()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalln(err)
    }

    // Blank slate, no default permissions
    //perm.Clear()

    // Set up a middleware handler for Gin, with a custom "permission denied" message.
    permissionHandler := func(c *gin.Context) {
        // Check if the user has the right admin/user rights
        if perm.Rejected(c.Writer, c.Request) {
            // Deny the request, don't call other middleware handlers
            c.AbortWithStatus(http.StatusForbidden)
            fmt.Fprint(c.Writer, "Permission denied!")
            return
        }
        // Call the next middleware handler
        c.Next()
    }

    // Logging middleware
    g.Use(gin.Logger())

    // Enable the permissionbolt middleware, must come before recovery
    g.Use(permissionHandler)

    // Recovery middleware
    g.Use(gin.Recovery())

    // Get the userstate, used in the handlers below
    userstate := perm.UserState()

    g.GET("/", func(c *gin.Context) {
        msg := ""
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Has user bob: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Logged in on server: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Is confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Username stored in cookies (or blank): %v\n", userstate.Username(c.Request))
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *user rights*: %v\n", userstate.UserRights(c.Request))
        msg += fmt.Sprintf("Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *admin rights*: %v\n", userstate.AdminRights(c.Request))
        msg += fmt.Sprintln("\nTry: /register, /confirm, /remove, /login, /logout, /makeadmin, /clear, /data and /admin")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, msg)
    })

    g.GET("/register", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.AddUser("bob", "hunter1", "bob@zombo.com")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("User bob was created: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/confirm", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.MarkConfirmed("bob")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("User bob was confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/remove", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.RemoveUser("bob")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("User bob was removed: %v\n", !userstate.HasUser("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/login", func(c *gin.Context) {
        // Headers will be written, for storing a cookie
        userstate.Login(c.Writer, "bob")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("bob is now logged in: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/logout", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.Logout("bob")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("bob is now logged out: %v\n", !userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/makeadmin", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.SetAdminStatus("bob")
        c.String(http.StatusOK, fmt.Sprintf("bob is now administrator: %v\n", userstate.IsAdmin("bob")))
    })

    g.GET("/clear", func(c *gin.Context) {
        userstate.ClearCookie(c.Writer)
        c.String(http.StatusOK, "Clearing cookie")
    })

    g.GET("/data", func(c *gin.Context) {
        c.String(http.StatusOK, "user page that only logged in users must see!")
    })

    g.GET("/admin", func(c *gin.Context) {
        c.String(http.StatusOK, "super secret information that only logged in administrators must see!\n\n")
        if usernames, err := userstate.AllUsernames(); err == nil {
            c.String(http.StatusOK, "list of all users: "+strings.Join(usernames, ", "))
        }
    })

    // Serve
    g.Run(":3000")
}

Example for Goji

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "strings"

    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
    "github.com/zenazn/goji"
)

func main() {
    // New permissions middleware
    perm, err := permissionbolt.New()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalln(err)
    }

    // Blank slate, no default permissions
    //perm.Clear()

    // Get the userstate, used in the handlers below
    userstate := perm.UserState()

    goji.Get("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Has user bob: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Logged in on server: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Is confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Username stored in cookies (or blank): %v\n", userstate.Username(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *user rights*: %v\n", userstate.UserRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *admin rights*: %v\n", userstate.AdminRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nTry: /register, /confirm, /remove, /login, /logout, /makeadmin, /clear, /data and /admin")
    })

    goji.Get("/register", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.AddUser("bob", "hunter1", "bob@zombo.com")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was created: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/confirm", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.MarkConfirmed("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/remove", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.RemoveUser("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was removed: %v\n", !userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/login", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Login(w, "bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged in: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/logout", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Logout("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged out: %v\n", !userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/makeadmin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.SetAdminStatus("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now administrator: %v\n", userstate.IsAdmin("bob"))
    })

    goji.Get("/clear", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.ClearCookie(w)
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Clearing cookie")
    })

    goji.Get("/data", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "user page that only logged in users must see!")
    })

    goji.Get("/admin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "super secret information that only logged in administrators must see!\n\n")
        if usernames, err := userstate.AllUsernames(); err == nil {
            fmt.Fprintf(w, "list of all users: "+strings.Join(usernames, ", "))
        }
    })

    // Custom "permissions denied" message
    perm.SetDenyFunction(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        http.Error(w, "Permission denied!", http.StatusForbidden)
    })

    // Permissions middleware for Goji
    permissionHandler := func(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
        return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
            // Check if the user has the right admin/user rights
            if perm.Rejected(w, req) {
                // Deny the request
                perm.DenyFunction()(w, req)
                return
            }
            // Serve the requested page
            next.ServeHTTP(w, req)
        })
    }

    // Enable the permissions middleware
    goji.Use(permissionHandler)

    // Goji will listen to port 8000 by default
    goji.Serve()
}

Example for just net/http

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "strings"
    "time"

    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
    "github.com/xyproto/pinterface"
)

type permissionHandler struct {
    // perm is a Permissions structure that can be used to deny requests
    // and acquire the UserState. By using `pinterface.IPermissions` instead
    // of `*permissionbolt.Permissions`, the code is compatible with not only
    // `permissionbolt`, but also other modules that uses other database
    // backends, like `permissions2` which uses Redis.
    perm pinterface.IPermissions

    // The HTTP multiplexer
    mux *http.ServeMux
}

// Implement the ServeHTTP method to make a permissionHandler a http.Handler
func (ph *permissionHandler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
    // Check if the user has the right admin/user rights
    if ph.perm.Rejected(w, req) {
        // Let the user know, by calling the custom "permission denied" function
        ph.perm.DenyFunction()(w, req)
        // Reject the request by not calling the next handler below
        return
    }
    // Serve the requested page if permissions were granted
    ph.mux.ServeHTTP(w, req)
}

func main() {
    mux := http.NewServeMux()

    // New permissionbolt middleware
    perm, err := permissionbolt.New()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal("Could not open Bolt database")
    }

    // Blank slate, no default permissions
    //perm.Clear()

    // Get the userstate, used in the handlers below
    userstate := perm.UserState()

    mux.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Has user bob: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Logged in on server: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Is confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Username stored in cookies (or blank): %v\n", userstate.Username(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *user rights*: %v\n", userstate.UserRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Current user is logged in, has a valid cookie and *admin rights*: %v\n", userstate.AdminRights(req))
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nTry: /register, /confirm, /remove, /login, /logout, /makeadmin, /clear, /data and /admin")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/register", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.AddUser("bob", "hunter1", "bob@zombo.com")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was created: %v\n", userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/confirm", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.MarkConfirmed("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was confirmed: %v\n", userstate.IsConfirmed("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/remove", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.RemoveUser("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "User bob was removed: %v\n", !userstate.HasUser("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/login", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Login(w, "bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged in: %v\n", userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/logout", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.Logout("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now logged out: %v\n", !userstate.IsLoggedIn("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/makeadmin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.SetAdminStatus("bob")
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "bob is now administrator: %v\n", userstate.IsAdmin("bob"))
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/clear", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        userstate.ClearCookie(w)
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Clearing cookie")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/data", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "user page that only logged in users must see!")
    })

    mux.HandleFunc("/admin", func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "super secret information that only logged in administrators must see!\n\n")
        if usernames, err := userstate.AllUsernames(); err == nil {
            fmt.Fprintf(w, "list of all users: "+strings.Join(usernames, ", "))
        }
    })

    // Custom handler for when permissions are denied
    perm.SetDenyFunction(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
        http.Error(w, "Permission denied!", http.StatusForbidden)
    })

    // Configure the HTTP server and permissionHandler struct
    s := &http.Server{
        Addr:           ":3000",
        Handler:        &permissionHandler{perm, mux},
        ReadTimeout:    10 * time.Second,
        WriteTimeout:   10 * time.Second,
        MaxHeaderBytes: 1 << 20,
    }

    log.Println("Listening for requests on port 3000")

    // Start listening
    s.ListenAndServe()
}

Default permissions

• The /admin path prefix has admin rights by default.
• These path prefixes have user rights by default: /repo and /data
• These path prefixes are public by default: /, /login, /register, /style, /img, /js, /favicon.ico, /robots.txt and /sitemap_index.xml

The default permissions can be cleared with the Clear() function.

Password hashing

• bcrypt is used by default for hashing passwords. sha256 is also supported.
• By default, all new password will be hashed with bcrypt.
• For backwards compatibility, old password hashes with the length of a sha256 hash will be checked with sha256. To disable this behavior, and only ever use bcrypt, add this line: userstate.SetPasswordAlgo("bcrypt")

Coding style

• log.Fatal or panic shall only be used for problems that may occur when starting the application, like not being able to connect to the database. The rest of the functions should return errors instead, so that they can be handled.
• The code shall always be formatted with go fmt.

Online API Documentation

godoc.org

Retrieving the underlying Bolt database

Here is a short example application for retrieving the underlying Bolt database:

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "github.com/coreos/bbolt"
    "github.com/xyproto/permissionbolt/v2"
    "os"
)

func main() {
    perm, err := permissionbolt.NewWithConf("/tmp/_tmp_bolt.db")
    if err != nil {
        fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Could not open Bolt database: %s\n", err)
        os.Exit(1)
    }
    ustate := perm.UserState()

    // A bit of checking is needed, since the database backend is interchangeable
    pustate, ok := ustate.(*permissionbolt.UserState)
    if !ok {
        fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Not using the BoltDB database backend!")
        os.Exit(1)
    }

    // Retrieve the Bolt Database from the permissionbolt.UserState
    db := (*bolt.DB)(pustate.Database())

    fmt.Printf("%v (%T)\n", db, db)
}

General information

• Version: 2.6.3
• License: BSD-3
• Alexander F. Rødseth <xyproto@archlinux.org>