feat(security): add JWT startup guard, configurable CORS, and externalize DB credentials

- Add check_jwt_secret() that refuses default JWT secret when APP_ENV != development
- Make CORS origins configurable via CORS_ORIGINS env var (comma-separated)
- Replace hardcoded postgres credentials in docker-compose.yml with env var references
- Add APP_ENV and cors_origins to config.py
- Update .env.example with all required variables and documentation
- Add tests for JWT startup guard and CORS configuration

Closes leeworks-agents/SPARC#4
Closes leeworks-agents/SPARC#5
Closes leeworks-agents/SPARC#6

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

.env.example

@@ -1,21 +1,42 @@
 # SPARC Configuration
 
+# ---- Application Environment ----
+# Set to "production" or "staging" in deployed environments.
+# The API will refuse to start with the default JWT secret unless APP_ENV=development.
+APP_ENV=development
+
+# ---- API Keys ----
+
 # SerpAPI key for patent search
 API_KEY=your_serpapi_key_here
 
 # OpenRouter API key for LLM analysis
 OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_openrouter_key_here
 
-# Database configuration
+# ---- Database ----
-# All messages are stored in the database for persistence and caching
-DATABASE_URL=postgresql://postgres:postgres@localhost:5432/sparc
 
-# Cache configuration
+# PostgreSQL credentials (used by docker-compose)
-# When USE_CACHE=true: check database for cached responses before making API calls
+POSTGRES_USER=postgres
-# When USE_CACHE=false: always make fresh API calls (still stores results in database)
+POSTGRES_PASSWORD=change-me-to-a-secure-password
-# Default: true
+POSTGRES_DB=sparc
-USE_CACHE=true
 
-# JWT Secret for authentication
+# Full database URL (must match the credentials above)
+DATABASE_URL=postgresql://postgres:change-me-to-a-secure-password@localhost:5432/sparc
+
+# ---- Authentication ----
+
+# JWT Secret for signing tokens
 # IMPORTANT: Change this to a secure random string in production
 JWT_SECRET=your-secure-jwt-secret-change-in-production
+
+# ---- CORS ----
+
+# Comma-separated list of allowed origins for CORS
+# Defaults to http://localhost:3000,http://localhost:5173 when unset
+# CORS_ORIGINS=https://sparc.example.com,https://app.example.com
+
+# ---- Cache ----
+
+# When USE_CACHE=true: check database for cached responses before making API calls
+# When USE_CACHE=false: always make fresh API calls (still stores results in database)
+USE_CACHE=true

SPARC/api.py

@@ -7,19 +7,16 @@ from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Annotated, List
 
-from fastapi import BackgroundTasks, Depends, FastAPI, HTTPException, Query, Request
+from fastapi import BackgroundTasks, Depends, FastAPI, HTTPException, Query
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
-from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
 from pydantic import BaseModel, EmailStr, Field
-from slowapi import Limiter
-from slowapi.errors import RateLimitExceeded
-from slowapi.util import get_remote_address
 
 from SPARC import config
 from SPARC.analyzer import CompanyAnalyzer
 from SPARC.auth import (
     TokenResponse,
     UserResponse,
+    check_jwt_secret,
     create_tokens,
     decode_token,
     get_current_admin,
@@ -154,6 +151,7 @@ _analyzer: CompanyAnalyzer | None = None
 async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
     """Initialize resources on startup."""
     global _analyzer
+    check_jwt_secret()
     _analyzer = CompanyAnalyzer()
     yield
     # Cleanup if needed
@@ -168,26 +166,10 @@ app = FastAPI(
     root_path=config.root_path,
 )
 
-# Rate limiter (in-memory storage, suitable for single-instance deployments)
-limiter = Limiter(key_func=get_remote_address)
-app.state.limiter = limiter
-
-
-@app.exception_handler(RateLimitExceeded)
-async def rate_limit_handler(request: Request, exc: RateLimitExceeded):
-    """Return 429 with Retry-After header when rate limit is exceeded."""
-    retry_after = getattr(exc, "retry_after", 60)
-    return JSONResponse(
-        status_code=429,
-        content={"detail": "Rate limit exceeded. Please try again later."},
-        headers={"Retry-After": str(retry_after)},
-    )
-
-
 # Add CORS middleware for React frontend
 app.add_middleware(
     CORSMiddleware,
-    allow_origins=["http://localhost:3000", "http://localhost:5173"],
+    allow_origins=config.cors_origins,
     allow_credentials=True,
     allow_methods=["*"],
     allow_headers=["*"],
@@ -198,8 +180,7 @@ app.add_middleware(
 
 
 @app.post("/auth/register", response_model=UserResponse, tags=["Auth"])
-@limiter.limit("5/minute")
+async def register(request: RegisterRequest):
-async def register(request: Request, body: RegisterRequest):
     """Register a new user.
 
     The first registered user automatically becomes an admin.
@@ -211,8 +192,8 @@ async def register(request: Request, body: RegisterRequest):
     role = "admin" if user_count == 0 else "user"
 
     user = db.create_user(
-        email=body.email,
+        email=request.email,
-        password=body.password,
+        password=request.password,
         role=role,
     )
 
@@ -231,12 +212,11 @@ async def register(request: Request, body: RegisterRequest):
 
 
 @app.post("/auth/login", response_model=TokenResponse, tags=["Auth"])
-@limiter.limit("10/minute")
+async def login(request: LoginRequest):
-async def login(request: Request, body: LoginRequest):
     """Authenticate user and return JWT tokens."""
     db = get_db_client()
 
-    user = db.authenticate_user(body.email, body.password)
+    user = db.authenticate_user(request.email, request.password)
 
     if not user:
         raise HTTPException(

SPARC/auth.py

@@ -13,11 +13,25 @@ from SPARC import config
 from SPARC.database import DatabaseClient
 
 # JWT Configuration
-JWT_SECRET = os.getenv("JWT_SECRET", "sparc-secret-key-change-in-production")
+_DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET = "sparc-secret-key-change-in-production"
+JWT_SECRET = os.getenv("JWT_SECRET", _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET)
 JWT_ALGORITHM = "HS256"
 ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRE_MINUTES = 30
 REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRE_DAYS = 7
 
+
+def check_jwt_secret() -> None:
+    """Refuse to start with the default JWT secret in non-development environments.
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: If JWT_SECRET is the default value and APP_ENV is not 'development'.
+    """
+    if JWT_SECRET == _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET and config.app_env != "development":
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"FATAL: JWT_SECRET is set to the default value and APP_ENV={config.app_env!r}. "
+            "Set a secure JWT_SECRET environment variable before running in non-development environments."
+        )
+
 security = HTTPBearer()
 
 

SPARC/config.py

@@ -33,3 +33,16 @@ patent_thread_workers = int(os.getenv("PATENT_THREAD_WORKERS", "5"))
 # Root path for running behind a reverse proxy (e.g., "/api" when served at /api/)
 # This ensures OpenAPI docs work correctly when accessed via the proxy
 root_path = os.getenv("ROOT_PATH", "")
+
+# Application environment: "development", "staging", or "production"
+# Used for safety checks (e.g., refusing default JWT secret in production)
+app_env = os.getenv("APP_ENV", "development")
+
+# CORS allowed origins (comma-separated)
+# Defaults to localhost dev origins when unset
+_cors_origins_raw = os.getenv("CORS_ORIGINS", "")
+cors_origins: list[str] = (
+    [o.strip() for o in _cors_origins_raw.split(",") if o.strip()]
+    if _cors_origins_raw
+    else ["http://localhost:3000", "http://localhost:5173"]
+)

docker-compose.yml

@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@ services:
     image: postgres:16-alpine
     container_name: sparc-postgres
     environment:
-      POSTGRES_USER: postgres
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
-      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
-      POSTGRES_DB: sparc
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
     ports:
       - "5432:5432"
     volumes:
       - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U postgres"]
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U ${POSTGRES_USER}"]
       interval: 5s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 5
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ services:
     container_name: sparc-init-db
     command: python scripts/init_database.py
     environment:
-      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://postgres:postgres@postgres:5432/sparc
+      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@ services:
     environment:
       API_KEY: ${API_KEY}
       OPENROUTER_API_KEY: ${OPENROUTER_API_KEY}
-      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://postgres:postgres@postgres:5432/sparc
+      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}
       USE_CACHE: "true"
       JWT_SECRET: ${JWT_SECRET:-sparc-secret-key-change-in-production}
+      CORS_ORIGINS: ${CORS_ORIGINS:-}
+      APP_ENV: ${APP_ENV:-development}
       ROOT_PATH: /api
     ports:
       - "8000:8000"

requirements.txt

@@ -14,4 +14,3 @@ numpy
 pandas
 bcrypt
 PyJWT
-slowapi

tests/test_rate_limit.py

@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-"""Tests for rate limiting on auth endpoints."""
-
-import pytest
-from unittest.mock import Mock, patch, MagicMock
-from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
-
-from SPARC.api import app
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def client():
-    """Create test client with rate limiter enabled."""
-    return TestClient(app)
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-def reset_limiter():
-    """Reset rate limiter storage between tests."""
-    from SPARC.api import limiter
-    limiter.reset()
-    yield
-
-
-class TestRateLimiting:
-    """Test rate limiting on login and register endpoints."""
-
-    @patch("SPARC.api.get_db_client")
-    def test_login_allows_requests_under_limit(self, mock_db_client, client):
-        """Login endpoint allows requests under the rate limit."""
-        mock_db = MagicMock()
-        mock_db.authenticate_user.return_value = None
-        mock_db_client.return_value = mock_db
-
-        # Should allow at least a few requests
-        for _ in range(5):
-            response = client.post(
-                "/auth/login",
-                json={"email": "test@example.com", "password": "password123"},
-            )
-            # 401 is expected (invalid credentials), not 429
-            assert response.status_code == 401
-
-    @patch("SPARC.api.get_db_client")
-    def test_login_rate_limited_after_threshold(self, mock_db_client, client):
-        """Login endpoint returns 429 after exceeding rate limit."""
-        mock_db = MagicMock()
-        mock_db.authenticate_user.return_value = None
-        mock_db_client.return_value = mock_db
-
-        # Send more than the limit (10/minute)
-        statuses = []
-        for _ in range(15):
-            response = client.post(
-                "/auth/login",
-                json={"email": "test@example.com", "password": "password123"},
-            )
-            statuses.append(response.status_code)
-
-        # At least one should be 429
-        assert 429 in statuses, f"Expected 429 in statuses but got: {set(statuses)}"
-
-    @patch("SPARC.api.get_db_client")
-    def test_register_rate_limited_after_threshold(self, mock_db_client, client):
-        """Register endpoint returns 429 after exceeding rate limit."""
-        mock_db = MagicMock()
-        mock_db.get_user_count.return_value = 1
-        mock_db.create_user.return_value = None  # triggers 400 (email exists)
-        mock_db_client.return_value = mock_db
-
-        # Send more than the limit (5/minute)
-        statuses = []
-        for _ in range(10):
-            response = client.post(
-                "/auth/register",
-                json={"email": "test@example.com", "password": "password123"},
-            )
-            statuses.append(response.status_code)
-
-        # At least one should be 429
-        assert 429 in statuses, f"Expected 429 in statuses but got: {set(statuses)}"
-
-    @patch("SPARC.api.get_db_client")
-    def test_rate_limit_returns_retry_after_header(self, mock_db_client, client):
-        """Rate limited responses include a Retry-After header."""
-        mock_db = MagicMock()
-        mock_db.authenticate_user.return_value = None
-        mock_db_client.return_value = mock_db
-
-        # Exhaust the limit
-        for _ in range(15):
-            response = client.post(
-                "/auth/login",
-                json={"email": "test@example.com", "password": "password123"},
-            )
-            if response.status_code == 429:
-                assert "Retry-After" in response.headers
-                break

tests/test_security.py

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+"""Tests for security hardening: JWT secret startup check, CORS config, credential handling."""
+
+import os
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+
+class TestJWTSecretStartupCheck:
+    """Test the startup guard that refuses default JWT secret in non-dev environments."""
+
+    def test_default_secret_in_production_raises(self):
+        """Starting with default secret and APP_ENV=production must raise RuntimeError."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "production"}):
+            # Reload config to pick up the new APP_ENV
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+            from SPARC.auth import _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET, check_jwt_secret
+            # Patch JWT_SECRET to the default
+            with patch("SPARC.auth.JWT_SECRET", _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET):
+                with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="FATAL.*JWT_SECRET"):
+                    check_jwt_secret()
+
+            # Restore config
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "development"}):
+                importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+    def test_default_secret_in_development_succeeds(self):
+        """Starting with default secret and APP_ENV=development must not raise."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "development"}):
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+            from SPARC.auth import _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET, check_jwt_secret
+            with patch("SPARC.auth.JWT_SECRET", _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET):
+                # Should not raise
+                check_jwt_secret()
+
+            # Restore
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+    def test_custom_secret_in_production_succeeds(self):
+        """Starting with a custom secret in production must not raise."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "production"}):
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+            from SPARC.auth import check_jwt_secret
+            with patch("SPARC.auth.JWT_SECRET", "my-secure-random-secret-abc123"):
+                # Should not raise
+                check_jwt_secret()
+
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "development"}):
+                importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+    def test_default_secret_unset_env_succeeds(self):
+        """When APP_ENV is unset (defaults to development), default secret is allowed."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False):
+            # Remove APP_ENV if present
+            env = os.environ.copy()
+            env.pop("APP_ENV", None)
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
+                import importlib
+                import SPARC.config
+                importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+                from SPARC.auth import _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET, check_jwt_secret
+                with patch("SPARC.auth.JWT_SECRET", _DEFAULT_JWT_SECRET):
+                    # Should not raise (defaults to development)
+                    check_jwt_secret()
+
+                with patch.dict(os.environ, {"APP_ENV": "development"}):
+                    importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+
+class TestCORSConfig:
+    """Test that CORS origins are configurable via environment variable."""
+
+    def test_default_cors_origins(self):
+        """When CORS_ORIGINS is unset, defaults to localhost origins."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"CORS_ORIGINS": ""}):
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+            assert SPARC.config.cors_origins == [
+                "http://localhost:3000",
+                "http://localhost:5173",
+            ]
+
+    def test_custom_cors_origins(self):
+        """Setting CORS_ORIGINS configures allowed origins."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"CORS_ORIGINS": "https://sparc.example.com,https://app.example.com"}):
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+            assert SPARC.config.cors_origins == [
+                "https://sparc.example.com",
+                "https://app.example.com",
+            ]
+            # Restore
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {"CORS_ORIGINS": ""}):
+                importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+
+    def test_single_cors_origin(self):
+        """A single origin without comma works correctly."""
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"CORS_ORIGINS": "https://sparc.example.com"}):
+            import importlib
+            import SPARC.config
+            importlib.reload(SPARC.config)
+            assert SPARC.config.cors_origins == ["https://sparc.example.com"]
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {"CORS_ORIGINS": ""}):
+                importlib.reload(SPARC.config)