[Hidden-tech] Shopping cart security

[Charles Uchu Strader]

Peter,

This scheme does address a lot of potential security issues.  Make sure 
you aren't using a more vulnerable to virus email app like the Express 
version of Outlook.  Deleting used data immediately is key, even though 
it is encrypted in the different states it exists in.

Also, you may want to review possible impacts related to your merchant 
agreement.  Some merchant providers have contract restrictions related 
to what method the credit card information is collected, so if you don't 
have a contract that says you can collect the information online then 
decide if this is an important consideration or not.

Charles Uchu Strader
charles at gaiahost.coop            1-800-672-8060 x803
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Peter Hutchins wrote:
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'd like to run a development concept past the security minded folks 
> out there for some critical feedback:
>
> I'm setting up a shopping cart for a client who wants to process 
> credit card purchases "offline", i.e.: run the transaction through 
> their credit card terminal as though it were a phone order without a 
> web-based payment gateway or merchant account. This obviously requires 
> collecting and storing critical credit card data until the store owner 
> processes the transaction, at which point the critical data can be 
> deleted.
>
> Here's my proposed solution for securely handling the data:
> 1. CC info is gathered in a SSL encrypted form
> 2. expiration data and ccv are written to a database and encrypted via 
> mysql's AES_ENCRYPT() (this DB is separate from the regular store DB 
> providing separate password protection, in case the first DB is 
> compromised)
> 3. credit card number is split into two parts, with one half being 
> encrypted and written to the database with the transaction above
> 4. the other half of the credit card number is written to a file that 
> is encrypted with GnuPG and emailed to the store owner (protecting it 
> with a Private/Public key and passphrase).
> 5. when the store owner gets the email, he logs into the store admin, 
> views the online credit card info, processes the order and deletes the 
> online data from the database and the email from his inbox.
>
> - One issue I see is that the database login and encryption key for 
> that half of the process must be stored on the server, rendering it 
> vulnerable to compromise, but the other half of the CC info is still 
> protected.
>
> So, my questions are:
> - Is this secure "enough"?
> - Is there a better way?
>
> Thanks!
> -Peter Hutchins
>
>
> : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
> Peter Hutchins
> Litmus Designs
> 505 S. Albany St.
> Ithaca, NY 14850
> 413.582.7038 voice
> 413.517.0596 fax
> www.litmusdesigns.com <http://www.litmusdesigns.com>
>
> web design, custom programming & graphic design
> : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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