Display Permissions Granted By Role

by ADMIN 36 views

What is the Current State of Role Permissions?

Currently, the Role Details UI only provides a description of the permissions granted by each Role in plain English. While this may be sufficient for most cases where admins want to grant permissions to users, it does not provide the necessary documentation for creating custom roles where admins need a list of specific permissions to grant their role.

The Need for a List of Specific Permissions

Listing what permissions each default Role grants will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. This is because they can see what permissions they have to choose from. Currently, these permissions are only accessible via API, which is not very user-friendly. Moreover, the only way to get the permissions of a specific Role is to know its specific alphanumeric id, which is an unreasonable expectation of users to know.

The Problem with API-Only Access

The API-only access to permissions is a significant issue. It requires users to have knowledge of the specific alphanumeric id of a Role, which is not a feasible expectation. This makes it difficult for users to access the permissions of a specific Role, even if they have the necessary permissions.

Example of API Response

Here is an example of the API response for a specific Role:

{
  "id": "63e51980d0ffff4811e66c9e",
  "name": "Alerts Manager",
  "description": "Allows reading and writing all event definitions and event notifications (built-in)",
  "permissions": [
    "eventnotifications:edit",
    "eventdefinitions:read",
    "eventdefinitions:create",
    "eventdefinitions:delete",
    "eventdefinitions:execute",
    "eventdefinitions:edit",
    "eventnotifications:create",
    "eventnotifications:delete",
    "eventnotifications:read"
  ],
  "read_only": true
}

Proposal for Displaying Permissions

I propose that the list of permissions granted by a Role (including Custom Roles) be listed somewhere on the Role Details page. This will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. The list of permissions can be displayed in a user-friendly format, making it easier for admins to understand what permissions are granted by each Role.

Example of Proposed Display

Here is an example of how the list of permissions can be displayed on the Role Details page:

Image

Benefits of Displaying Permissions

Displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role will have several benefits. It will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. It will also make it easier for users to understand what permissions are granted by each Role, reducing the need for API access. Finally, it will make it easier for users to manage permissions, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role is a necessary improvement to the Role Details UI. It will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. It will also make it easier for users to understand what permissions are granted by each Role, reducing the need for API access. I propose that the list of permissions be displayed on the Role Details page, making it easier for admins to manage permissions and reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

Your Environment

  • Graylog Version: 6.1

Recommendations

Based on the analysis, I recommend the following:

  1. Display the list of permissions granted by each Role on the Role Details page.
  2. Make the list of permissions user-friendly and easy to understand.
  3. Reduce the need for API access by providing a clear and concise list of permissions.
  4. Improve the management of permissions by making it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles.

Q: What is the current state of role permissions in Graylog?

A: Currently, the Role Details UI only provides a description of the permissions granted by each Role in plain English. While this may be sufficient for most cases where admins want to grant permissions to users, it does not provide the necessary documentation for creating custom roles where admins need a list of specific permissions to grant their role.

Q: Why is it necessary to display the list of permissions granted by each Role?

A: Displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. This is because they can see what permissions they have to choose from. Currently, these permissions are only accessible via API, which is not very user-friendly. Moreover, the only way to get the permissions of a specific Role is to know its specific alphanumeric id, which is an unreasonable expectation of users to know.

Q: What are the benefits of displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role?

A: Displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role will have several benefits. It will make it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. It will also make it easier for users to understand what permissions are granted by each Role, reducing the need for API access. Finally, it will make it easier for users to manage permissions, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

Q: How will displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role improve the user experience?

A: Displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role will improve the user experience by making it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles. It will also make it easier for users to understand what permissions are granted by each Role, reducing the need for API access. Finally, it will make it easier for users to manage permissions, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

Q: What are the technical requirements for implementing this feature?

A: The technical requirements for implementing this feature include:

  • Displaying the list of permissions granted by each Role on the Role Details page
  • Making the list of permissions user-friendly and easy to understand
  • Reducing the need for API access by providing a clear and concise list of permissions
  • Improving the management of permissions by making it easier for admins to create custom Roles based on these default Roles

Q: How will this feature be tested and validated?

A: This feature will be tested and validated through a combination of automated testing and manual testing. Automated testing will be used to ensure that the feature is working as expected, while manual testing will be used to ensure that the feature is user-friendly and easy to understand.

Q: What are the estimated costs and resources required to implement this feature?

A: The estimated costs and resources required to implement this feature include:

  • Development time: 2-3 weeks
  • Testing time: 1-2 weeks
  • Resources: 1-2 developers, 1-2 testers

Q: What are the expected outcomes and benefits of implementing this feature?

A: The expected outcomes and benefits of implementing this feature include:

  • Improved user experience
  • Reduced need for API access
  • Improved management of permissions
  • Reduced risk of errors and inconsistencies

Q: What are the next steps for implementing this feature?

A: The next steps for implementing this feature include:

  • Developing the feature
  • Testing and validating the feature
  • Deploying the feature to production
  • Monitoring and maintaining the feature

By implementing this feature, we can improve the user experience and reduce the risk of errors and inconsistencies.