The following versions of the HUMMBL Unified Tier Framework are currently supported with security updates:

The HUMMBL Unified Tier Framework is a documentation and methodology project. It consists of:

• Markdown documentation files
• Conceptual frameworks and methodologies
• Assessment protocols and guidelines
• No executable code or software applications
• No data collection or processing systems
• No user authentication or authorization systems

While this is primarily a documentation project, potential security concerns include:

1. Intellectual Property Protection

   • Unauthorized use of proprietary components
   • Misattribution or plagiarism
   • License violations

2. Documentation Integrity

   • Malicious modifications to framework content
   • Injection of misleading information
   • Tampering with attribution or citations

3. Repository Security

   • Unauthorized access to repository
   • Malicious pull requests or commits
   • Social engineering attacks on maintainers

4. Link Security

   • Malicious links injected into documentation
   • Phishing attempts via external links
   • Compromised external resources

Please report security vulnerabilities if you discover:

• Critical Issues:

  • Unauthorized access to repository or systems
  • Malicious code or content injection
  • Compromised maintainer accounts
  • Data breaches or leaks

• Important Issues:

  • Suspicious pull requests or contributions
  • Phishing attempts targeting community members
  • Malicious external links in documentation
  • License violations or IP theft

• Moderate Issues:

  • Broken security-related links
  • Outdated security information
  • Potential social engineering vectors

For Security Vulnerabilities:

1. DO NOT open a public GitHub issue
2. DO NOT disclose the vulnerability publicly until it has been addressed

Instead, report privately via:

Primary Contact:
HUMMBL, LLC
GitLab: https://gitlab.com/hummbl-dev-group/hummbl-dev-project
Subject: [SECURITY] Brief description

What to Include:

• Type of vulnerability
• Steps to reproduce (if applicable)
• Potential impact
• Suggested remediation (if any)
• Your contact information for follow-up

• Initial Response: Within 48 hours of report
• Assessment: Within 5 business days
• Resolution Plan: Within 10 business days
• Fix Implementation: Depends on severity (1-30 days)
• Public Disclosure: After fix is deployed (coordinated with reporter)

1. Verify Links:

   • Check all external links before adding
   • Use HTTPS where available
   • Avoid linking to suspicious or unverified sources

2. Protect Credentials:

   • Never commit API keys, passwords, or tokens
   • Use environment variables for sensitive data
   • Review commits before pushing

3. Review Pull Requests:

   • Carefully review changes from unknown contributors
   • Check for suspicious links or content
   • Verify attribution and citations

4. Maintain Attribution:

   • Preserve intellectual property notices
   • Maintain proper citations
   • Follow license requirements

1. Access Control:

   • Use strong, unique passwords
   • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
   • Limit repository access to trusted individuals
   • Regularly review access permissions

2. Code Review:

   • Review all pull requests carefully
   • Check for malicious content or links
   • Verify contributor identity for sensitive changes
   • Use signed commits where possible

3. Dependency Management:

   • Keep tooling and dependencies updated
   • Monitor for security advisories
   • Use automated security scanning (Dependabot, etc.)

4. Incident Response:

   • Have a plan for security incidents
   • Document and communicate issues promptly
   • Coordinate disclosure with reporters
   • Learn from incidents and improve processes

Risk: External links in documentation could become compromised or malicious over time.

Mitigation:

• Regular link validation (automated checks)
• Prefer links to reputable, stable sources
• Use archived versions for critical references
• Monitor for link rot or suspicious redirects

Risk: Proprietary components could be misused or misattributed.

Mitigation:

• Clear license terms (LICENSE.md)
• Explicit attribution requirements
• Regular monitoring for unauthorized use
• Legal recourse for violations

Risk: Unauthorized access could lead to malicious modifications.

Mitigation:

• Protected main branch (requires reviews)
• Two-factor authentication required
• Limited write access
• Audit logs reviewed regularly

Risk: Attackers could impersonate maintainers or contributors.

Mitigation:

• Verify identity for sensitive communications
• Use official channels only
• Be skeptical of urgent requests
• Confirm major changes through multiple channels

Security updates will be communicated through:

1. GitHub Security Advisories: For critical vulnerabilities
2. CHANGELOG.md: For security-related fixes
3. README.md: For important security notices
4. Email: To known users/contributors (for critical issues)

• Patch versions (1.0.x): Security fixes, no breaking changes
• Minor versions (1.x.0): Security improvements with minor changes
• Major versions (x.0.0): Significant security overhauls

We follow a coordinated disclosure policy:

1. Reporter notifies us of vulnerability privately
2. We acknowledge receipt within 48 hours
3. We investigate and develop a fix
4. We coordinate disclosure timeline with reporter
5. We deploy the fix to supported versions
6. We publicly disclose the vulnerability and fix
7. We credit the reporter (if desired)

• Critical vulnerabilities: 7-14 days
• High severity: 30 days
• Medium severity: 60 days
• Low severity: 90 days

Extensions may be granted for complex issues.

We recognize security researchers who responsibly disclose vulnerabilities:

No vulnerabilities reported yet. Be the first!

Recognition includes:

• Listing in this file (if desired)
• Credit in CHANGELOG.md
• Public acknowledgment (if desired)
• Our sincere gratitude

• Link Checker: Automated validation of external links
• Markdown Linter: Catches formatting issues that could hide malicious content
• Git Hooks: Pre-commit checks for sensitive data

• GitHub Security Best Practices
• OWASP Documentation Security
• Contributor Covenant

For security-related questions that are not vulnerabilities:

• General Security Questions: Open a GitHub Discussion
• Policy Clarifications: Open a GitHub Issue
• Private Inquiries: Contact via GitLab

We take security seriously and are committed to:

• Prompt response to security reports
• Transparent communication about security issues
• Continuous improvement of security practices
• Recognition and gratitude for security researchers

Thank you for helping keep the HUMMBL Unified Tier Framework secure.

Maintained by HUMMBL, LLC
Last Updated: November 1, 2025
Policy Version: 1.0