MCAF: Security Baseline
Trigger On
- a change has security impact but does not need a full separate AppSec exercise
- the work touches auth, secrets, trust boundaries, data flow, or pipeline permissions
- the team needs secure-default guidance before implementing
Value
- produce a concrete project delta: code, docs, config, tests, CI, or review artifact
- reduce ambiguity through explicit planning, verification, and final validation skills
- leave reusable project context so future tasks are faster and safer
Do Not Use For
- a full standalone threat-modeling engagement
- generic code review with no security surface
Inputs
- the changed boundary, data flow, or integration
- auth, secret, and permission model for the affected path
- current security docs, ADRs, or CI rules
Quick Start
- Read the nearest
AGENTS.md and confirm scope and constraints.
- Run this skill's
Workflow through the Ralph Loop until outcomes are acceptable.
- Return the
Required Result Format with concrete artifacts and verification evidence.
Workflow
- Identify the security surface:
- authn and authz
- secrets
- external inputs
- storage and transport
- pipeline permissions
- Apply secure defaults and least privilege before adding behaviour.
- If the change introduces a trust boundary, update or add an ADR and link the reasoning.
- Pull the relevant security references, not the whole set.
Deliver
- security-aware design or implementation guidance
- updated security checkpoints in docs, ADRs, or CI
- the right threat-model references for the impacted area
Validate
- secrets are handled explicitly
- authn and authz assumptions are visible
- new trust boundaries are documented
- the change does not smuggle insecure defaults into the repo
Ralph Loop
Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work.
- Plan first (mandatory):
- analyze current state
- define target outcome, constraints, and risks
- write a detailed execution plan
- list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason
- Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta.
- Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes.
- Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps.
- Update the plan after each iteration.
- Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain.
- If a dependency is missing, bootstrap it or return
status: not_applicable with explicit reason and fallback path.
Required Result Format
status: complete | clean | improved | configured | not_applicable | blocked
plan: concise plan and current iteration step
actions_taken: concrete changes made
validation_skills: final skills run, or skipped with reasons
verification: commands, checks, or review evidence summary
remaining: top unresolved items or none
For setup-only requests with no execution, return status: configured and exact next commands.
Load References
- read
references/security.md first
- open
references/rules-of-engagement.md or references/threat-modelling.md only when they match the task
Example Requests
- "Review the security baseline for this new OAuth flow."
- "We are adding a webhook. What baseline security work is required?"
- "Tighten secrets and pipeline permissions for this repo."
1---2name: mcaf-security-baseline3description: Apply baseline engineering security guidance: secrets handling, secure defaults, threat modelling references, and review checkpoints for auth, data flow, pipelines, and external integrations. Use when a change has security impact but does not require a full standalone AppSec engagement.4---56# MCAF: Security Baseline78## Trigger On910- a change has security impact but does not need a full separate AppSec exercise11- the work touches auth, secrets, trust boundaries, data flow, or pipeline permissions12- the team needs secure-default guidance before implementing1314## Value1516- produce a concrete project delta: code, docs, config, tests, CI, or review artifact17- reduce ambiguity through explicit planning, verification, and final validation skills18- leave reusable project context so future tasks are faster and safer1920## Do Not Use For2122- a full standalone threat-modeling engagement23- generic code review with no security surface2425## Inputs2627- the changed boundary, data flow, or integration28- auth, secret, and permission model for the affected path29- current security docs, ADRs, or CI rules3031## Quick Start32331. Read the nearest `AGENTS.md` and confirm scope and constraints.342. Run this skill's `Workflow` through the `Ralph Loop` until outcomes are acceptable.353. Return the `Required Result Format` with concrete artifacts and verification evidence.3637## Workflow38391. Identify the security surface:40 - authn and authz41 - secrets42 - external inputs43 - storage and transport44 - pipeline permissions452. Apply secure defaults and least privilege before adding behaviour.463. If the change introduces a trust boundary, update or add an ADR and link the reasoning.474. Pull the relevant security references, not the whole set.4849## Deliver5051- security-aware design or implementation guidance52- updated security checkpoints in docs, ADRs, or CI53- the right threat-model references for the impacted area5455## Validate5657- secrets are handled explicitly58- authn and authz assumptions are visible59- new trust boundaries are documented60- the change does not smuggle insecure defaults into the repo6162## Ralph Loop6364Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work.65661. Plan first (mandatory):67 - analyze current state68 - define target outcome, constraints, and risks69 - write a detailed execution plan70 - list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason712. Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta.723. Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes.734. Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps.745. Update the plan after each iteration.756. Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain.767. If a dependency is missing, bootstrap it or return `status: not_applicable` with explicit reason and fallback path.7778### Required Result Format7980- `status`: `complete` | `clean` | `improved` | `configured` | `not_applicable` | `blocked`81- `plan`: concise plan and current iteration step82- `actions_taken`: concrete changes made83- `validation_skills`: final skills run, or skipped with reasons84- `verification`: commands, checks, or review evidence summary85- `remaining`: top unresolved items or `none`8687For setup-only requests with no execution, return `status: configured` and exact next commands.8889## Load References9091- read `references/security.md` first92- open `references/rules-of-engagement.md` or `references/threat-modelling.md` only when they match the task9394## Example Requests9596- "Review the security baseline for this new OAuth flow."97- "We are adding a webhook. What baseline security work is required?"98- "Tighten secrets and pipeline permissions for this repo."