Writing Secure Class Libraries

Programming errors in class libraries can expose security vulnerabilities because class libraries often access protected resources and unmanaged code. If you design class libraries, you need to understand code access security and be careful to secure your class library.

The following table describes the three main elements you need to consider when securing a class library.

Security element	Description
Security demand	Demands are applied at the class and method level as a mechanism for requiring that callers of your code have the permissions that you want them to have. Demands invoke a stack walk, in which all callers that directly or indirectly call your code are checked on the stack when your code is called. Demands are usually used in class libraries to help protect resources.
Security override	Overrides are applied on the class and method scope as a way to overrule certain security decisions made by the runtime. They are invoked when callers use your code. They are used to stop stack walks and limit the access of callers who have already been granted certain permissions. Caution   Overrides can be dangerous and should be used with care.
Security optimization	A combination of demands and overrides can enhance performance during the interaction of your code and the security system.

See Also

Security Demands | Overriding Security Checks | Declarative Security Used with Class and Member Scope | Security Optimizations | Code Access Security