SpectraStrike Roadmap – Phases, Sprints, and Commits

ARCHITECTURAL PIVOT NOTICE (v2.0): As of Phase 4, SpectraStrike transitions from a legacy “wrapper-based” orchestration tool into a Policy-Driven, Cryptographically Verifiable Universal Execution Fabric. Future phases prioritize BYOT (Bring Your Own Tool), ephemeral hardware isolation, cryptographic non-repudiation (JWS/Merkle Trees), and Zero-Trust authorization via OPA. This architecture is designed to seamlessly feed structured, verifiable telemetry to VectorVue via our messaging backbone (RabbitMQ/Kafka) to empower its ML/Cognition and Compliance engines.

Phase 1: Setup & Environment Initialization (Sprint 1-2)

Federation Completion Addendum (February 27, 2026)

Completed

• Phase 5.6 Federation Setup
• Sprint 30 & Sprint 31 Cognitive Feedback Loop
• Asymmetric Federation Upgrade (Ed25519 both directions)
• Attested Execution Embedding (attestation_measurement_hash bound into canonical telemetry, fingerprints, findings, policy inputs)
• Persistent Local Federation Bootstrap (make local-federation-up, gitignored local_federation/)
• Full Documentation Suite (product README + end user + SDK + integration + audit docs)
• E2E Execution Audit

Upcoming

• Ledger anchoring (Merkle root commitments)
• Hardware TPM integration for attestation signing and key custody
• Distributed federation topology (multi-site trust mesh)
• Multi-tenant key isolation with per-tenant signing domains

Sprint 1 (Week 1-2): Repository & Dev Environment

• Initialize Git repo – Commit initial setup
• Setup Python virtual environment
• Install core dependencies (requests, asyncio, logging)
• Setup Docker dev containers
• Setup IDE configuration
• Configure pre-commit hooks
• Setup Git branching strategy
• Implement initial CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions / GitLab CI)
• Setup logging framework
• Configure AAA framework (AuthN/AuthZ/Accounting)

Deliverables:

• Baseline repo structure committed
• Working dev environment with Docker & IDE ready
• CI/CD pipeline skeleton
• Logging & AAA framework in place

Phase 1 QA (Baseline)

• QA: validate environment consistency
• QA: run linter & unit test baseline

Phase 2: Orchestrator Core Development (Sprint 3-4)

Sprint 2 (Week 3-4): Orchestrator Architecture

-[x] Design orchestrator architecture

• Implement async event loop
• Implement task scheduler
• Implement telemetry ingestion
• Implement logging & audit trails
• Implement AAA enforcement at engine level
• Unit tests for orchestrator
• Commit orchestrator code

Sprint 3 (Week 5-6): Orchestrator QA

• QA: run functional tests -[x] QA: validate telemetry output
• QA: AAA access verification

Deliverables:

• Core orchestrator engine implemented
• Task scheduling, telemetry, logging, AAA fully functional
• Baseline QA verification completed

Phase 3: Integration Layer Development (Sprint 5-9.9)

Sprint 4 (Week 7-8): API Integration

• Design API client for VectorVue
• Implement encrypted data transfer (TLS)
• Implement retries / backoff
• Implement event batching
• Implement message signing for integrity -[x] Commit integration code

Sprint 5 (Week 9-10): API QA

-[x] QA: test API endpoints

• QA: validate encrypted communication
• QA: confirm telemetry reaches VectorVue

Sprint 6 (Week 11-12): Nmap Wrapper Development (Legacy Baseline)

• Create Python wrapper module (Nmap)
• Implement TCP SYN scan (Nmap)
• Implement UDP scan (Nmap)
• Implement OS detection (Nmap)
• Parse XML/JSON output (Nmap)
• Send scan results to orchestrator (Nmap)
• Integrate logging & telemetry (Nmap)
• Unit tests for wrapper (Nmap)
• Commit wrapper (Nmap)

Sprint 7 (Week 13-14): Nmap QA

• QA: validate scan accuracy (Nmap)
• QA: AAA enforcement (Nmap)

Sprint 8 (Week 15-16): Metasploit Integration (Legacy Baseline)

• Connect to Metasploit RPC
• Implement module loader (Metasploit)
• Execute exploits (Metasploit)
• Capture session output (Metasploit)
• Send results to orchestrator (Metasploit)
• Logging & telemetry (Metasploit)
• Retry/error handling (Metasploit)
• Unit tests (Metasploit)
• Commit wrapper (Metasploit)

Sprint 8.5 (Week 16-17): Nmap + Metasploit End-to-End Stabilization

• Add unprivileged Nmap execution fallback (-sS -> -sT) for local/operator runs
• Validate real Nmap scan execution path and telemetry handoff -[x] Implement manual Metasploit ingestion connector (sessions + session-events pull)
• Add checkpoint-based deduplication for Metasploit manual ingestion
• Add CLI sync entrypoint for operator-driven Metasploit ingestion
• Add unit/integration tests for manual ingestion flow -[x] Commit end-to-end stabilization updates

Sprint 9 (Week 17-18): Metasploit QA

• QA: validate exploit runs (Metasploit) -[x] QA: check telemetry delivery (Metasploit)

Sprint 9.5 (Week 18): Messaging Backbone (RabbitMQ baseline)

• Select broker standard (RabbitMQ) and define topic/queue model
• Implement telemetry publisher abstraction (TelemetryPublisher)
• Add broker-backed async delivery path for orchestrator telemetry
• Add retry, dead-letter, and idempotency handling for broker delivery
• Add integration tests for publish/consume flow
• Add dockerized RabbitMQ runtime wiring + Makefile command targets
• Add remote operator endpoint configuration (MSF_RPC_*, MSF_MANUAL_*, RABBITMQ_*)
• Commit messaging backbone

Sprint 9.6 (Week 18-19): Infrastructure Control Plane & Armory UI

• Define UI architecture and API contracts
• Implement Web UI foundation with Next.js (App Router) + Tailwind CSS
• Implement auth views and operator dashboard shell (Web UI)
• Implement raw execution telemetry feed view for operator debugging (Web UI)
• Implement Armory management screens (tool ingest, SBOM scan, signature approval) (Web UI)
• Implement Fleet management screens (runner/microVM/queue health) (Web UI)
• Implement Policy & Trust screens (OPA controls + Vault/HSM signer health) (Web UI)
• Wire Web UI control actions to orchestrator infrastructure endpoints
• Add Web UI tests (component/unit + basic E2E) -[x] Implement Interactive Terminal UI (Admin TUI) for operational control
• Add Admin TUI command workflows (task/manifest submission, telemetry watch, break-glass controls)
• Add Admin TUI tests and command-level QA checks
• Commit UI foundation (Web UI + Admin TUI)

Sprint 9.7 (Week 19): Security & Container Platform Hardening

• Implement Dockerized runtime stack for all components
• Add Nginx reverse proxy container (TLS termination, routing, rate limits)
• Add PostgreSQL container for persistent operational data
• Add Redis container for cache, buffering, and near-real-time log/event stream
• Add secure internal Docker network segmentation between services
• Add secrets/config management for credentials, tokens, and API keys
• Add centralized log pipeline and retention policy in containers
• Add host firewall baseline for published container ports (DOCKER-USER policy)
• Add egress allowlist enforcement baseline for Docker bridge traffic
• Add TLS certificate pinning checks for external integrations (Metasploit/VectorVue)
• Add HTTPS edge with optional mTLS client verification in Nginx
• Add internal mTLS for telemetry data plane (app <-> RabbitMQ)
• Add full service-to-service end-to-end TLS (internal mTLS between all runtime services, including DB/cache)
• Add health checks, startup ordering, and restart policies for all services
• Add backup/restore workflow for PostgreSQL and Redis state
• Add container security baseline (non-root, minimal images, pinned versions)
• Add infrastructure integration tests and security QA checks
• Add project Makefile for easy test, easy deploy, and easy QA operations
• Add local supply-chain security gate (SBOM + CVE scan + signature workflow)
• Add tamper-evident audit event hash-chaining
• Add stronger AAA controls (constant-time auth, lockout, optional MFA)
• Add QA runbook and full-regression command targets (local and CI-aligned)
• Commit security/container platform baseline

Sprint 9.8 (Week 19-20): Cross-Sprint QA Consolidation

• QA: validate Sprint 9.5 messaging backbone tests
• QA: validate Sprint 9.5 remote endpoint/manual-ingestion integration tests
• QA: validate Sprint 9.6 Admin TUI workflows
• QA: rerun Sprint 9.6 Web UI unit/E2E suite in dependency-ready environment
• QA: validate Sprint 9.7 AAA + audit trail hardening tests
• QA: validate Sprint 9.7 compose configuration and security policy checks
• QA: validate docs integrity and references
• QA: validate license header compliance across repo
• Blocker captured with exact command output for dependency and test commands

Sprint 9.9 (Week 20): Governance & Legal Enforcement

• Implement environment-aware legal enforcement service (self-hosted, enterprise, saas)
• Add versioned legal configuration (EULA, AUP, PRIVACY) -[x] Implement self-hosted acceptance storage and validation
• Add enterprise installation acceptance model (schema draft)
• Add SaaS user-level acceptance model (migration draft)
• Integrate legal enforcement into auth middleware and token issuance gates
• Add re-acceptance flow on legal version mismatch -[x] Add legal acceptance route and Web UI acceptance workflow
• Add CLI/TUI legal gate integration
• Update governance/security documentation indexing

Phase 4: The Universal Execution Fabric & Armory (Sprint 10-13)

Goal: Move away from hardcoded wrappers. Implement cryptographic signing for arbitrary execution.

Sprint 10 (Week 21-22): Cryptographic Payload Engine

• Implement HashiCorp Vault (or HSM equivalent) integration for signing keys.
• Implement JWS (JSON Web Signature) payload generation in the Orchestrator.
• Design Execution Manifest schema (Task Context, Target URN, Tool SHA256, Parameters).
• Implement Anti-Replay mechanisms (nonce and timestamp validation).
• Commit cryptographic engine updates.

Sprint 11 (Week 23-24): The Armory (Tool Registry)

• Deploy internal, immutable OCI container registry / binary store (“The Armory”).
• Implement tool ingestion pipeline (Upload -> SBOM generation -> Vulnerability Scan).
• Implement Cosign/Sigstore cryptographic signing for all ingested tools.
• Create UI/TUI module for registering and managing authorized tools (BYOT support).
• Commit The Armory infrastructure.

Sprint 12 (Week 25-26): The Universal Edge Runner

• Build the Universal Runner (lightweight Go or secured Python binary).
• Implement local JWS public-key verification logic inside the Runner.
• Implement secure retrieval of signed tools from The Armory based on Manifest hash.
• Implement strict execution sandboxing using gVisor (runsc) or Docker AppArmor profiles.
• Implement standard execution contract: output capture mapping stdout/stderr to CloudEvents schema.
• Commit the Universal Runner.

Sprint 13 (Week 27): Execution Fabric QA

• QA: Attempt execution with forged JWS signatures (must fail).
• QA: Attempt execution with tampered tool binaries/hashes (must fail). -[x] QA: Verify telemetry output accurately maps to standardized CloudEvents.

Phase 5: Zero-Trust & Policy-Driven Control Plane (Sprint 14-17)

Goal: Decouple authorization logic from codebase. Enforce strict capability checks.

Sprint 14 (Week 28-29): Open Policy Agent (OPA) Integration

• Deploy OPA container alongside the Orchestrator.
• Define standard Rego policy schemas for Operator Capabilities.
• Implement Orchestrator pre-execution hooks: query OPA before signing any JWS.
• Develop capability policies based on [Identity] + [Tenant] +[Tool Hash] + [Target URN].
• Refactor existing Python AAA to delegate complex execution checks to OPA.
• Commit OPA Integration.

Sprint 15 (Week 30-31): Network Fencing & Blast Radius Control

• Implement dynamic eBPF/Cilium network policies for the Universal Runner.
• Configure Runner network isolation: Allow outbound only to authorized Target IPs defined in Manifest.
• Block lateral movement within internal networks from the execution sandbox.
• Implement micro-segmentation for multi-tenant SaaS environments.
• Commit Network Fencing rules.

Sprint 16 (Week 32): Telemetry & CloudEvents Standardization

• Implement unified schema parser in Orchestrator for all incoming data.
• Create Python/Bash SDKs for BYOT developers to easily format their tool outputs.
• Ensure tenant_id context propagation is strictly enforced in all telemetry.
• Commit Telemetry pipelines.

Sprint 16.5 (Week 32.5): Legacy Wrapper SDK Migration

• Add explicit deprecation note for legacy direct-wrapper telemetry emission path.
• Migrate Nmap wrapper telemetry emission to BYOT telemetry SDK + unified schema ingestion.
• Migrate Metasploit wrapper telemetry emission to BYOT telemetry SDK + unified schema ingestion.
• Migrate manual Metasploit ingestion connector telemetry emission to BYOT telemetry SDK + unified schema ingestion.
• Preserve security controls from prior sprints (strict tenant_id propagation + schema validation).
• Add regression tests for SDK-based emission path compatibility.
• Commit Sprint 16.5 SDK migration.

Sprint 16.6 (Week 32.6): UI/TUI and Runtime Tenant Alignment

• Update Web UI task and manual-sync action routes to enforce/default tenant_id.
• Update Admin TUI client/shell workflows to propagate tenant_id in task and manual sync submissions.
• Update dev/prod container environment defaults for tenant context propagation (SPECTRASTRIKE_TENANT_ID).
• Update operator docs/Makefile hints for tenant-context requirement in interactive workflows.
• Commit Sprint 16.6 alignment updates.

Sprint 16.7 (Week 32.7): Host Toolchain Integration Validation

• Implement host integration smoke module covering local nmap execution and tenant-aware telemetry ingestion checks.
• Validate host metasploit binary presence/version and add optional RPC authentication smoke path.
• Add optional live VectorVue smoke hook to the same host validation workflow.
• Enforce VectorVue smoke acceptance contract across event, finding, and ingest-status APIs in host integration validation.
• Add unit regression coverage for VectorVue smoke pass/fail gating in host integration workflow.
• Add operator-facing command entrypoint (make host-integration-smoke) and QA/User guide documentation.
• Commit Sprint 16.7 host integration validation.

Sprint 16.8 (Week 32.8): VectorVue RabbitMQ Bridge Alignment

• Implement RabbitMQ-to-VectorVue bridge module for broker envelope to API forwarding.
• Add live bridge CLI entrypoint (pkg.integration.vectorvue.sync_from_rabbitmq) and Makefile target (make vectorvue-rabbitmq-sync).
• Migrate host integration VectorVue validation path to RabbitMQ-backed bridge flow.
• Add regression unit tests for RabbitMQ bridge forwarding and failure handling.
• Document operator QA flow for broker-backed VectorVue validation.
• Produce whitepaper compliance check for current implementation status and explicit gaps.
• Commit Sprint 16.8 RabbitMQ bridge alignment.

Sprint 17 (Week 33): Zero-Trust QA

• QA: Verify OPA rejects unauthorized tool execution attempts.
• QA: Verify OPA rejects authorized tools against unauthorized Target URNs.
• QA: Network penetration test of the Runner sandbox (verify containment).
• QA: Re-validate Sprint 16.5 telemetry SDK migration regressions in Sprint 17 gate.
• QA: Re-validate Sprint 16.7 host integration smoke regression suite in Sprint 17 gate.
• QA: Re-validate Sprint 16.8 RabbitMQ bridge regression suite in Sprint 17 gate.

Phase 5.5: Control Plane Integrity & Threat Formalization

Sprint 18 – Formal Threat Modeling

• Perform full STRIDE threat model across all planes
• Define trust boundary diagram (Control, Runner, C2, Vault)
• Enumerate malicious operator scenarios
• Enumerate compromised runner scenarios
• Enumerate supply-chain compromise scenarios
• Enumerate cross-tenant escalation scenarios
• Map threats to existing mitigations
• Create unresolved risk backlog items
• Commit Threat Model v1.0 document

Sprint 19 – Control Plane Integrity Hardening

• Implement signed configuration enforcement (JWS-based)
• Reject unsigned configuration at startup
• Enforce OPA policy hash pinning
• Implement policy hash mismatch detection
• Automate Vault key rotation workflow
• Harden Vault unseal procedure
• Implement runtime binary hash baseline check
• Add tamper-evident audit log channel
• Implement immutable configuration version history

Sprint 20 – High-Assurance AAA Controls

• Enforce hardware-backed MFA for privileged actions
• Implement dual-control approval for tool ingestion
• Enforce dual-signature for high-risk manifests
• Implement break-glass workflow with irreversible audit flag
• Implement time-bound privilege elevation tokens
• Add privileged session recording support

Sprint 21 – Deterministic Execution Guarantees

• Enforce canonical JSON serialization for manifests
• Implement deterministic manifest hashing validation
• Define semantic versioning for manifest schema
• Add schema regression validation to CI pipeline
• Reject non-canonical manifest submissions

Phase 5.6: Federation Trust Closure & Execution Binding

Sprint 22 (Week 41-42): Unified Execution Fingerprint Binding

• Define unified execution fingerprint schema: (manifest_hash + tool_hash + operator_id + tenant_id + policy_decision_hash + timestamp)
• Generate fingerprint before dispatch
• Persist fingerprint in tamper-evident audit stream
• Include fingerprint in telemetry payload to VectorVue
• Enforce fingerprint validation before C2 dispatch
• Reject execution if fingerprint mismatch detected
• Add integration tests for fingerprint integrity
• Commit Sprint 22 Unified Execution Fingerprint Binding

Sprint 23 (Week 43-44): Federation Channel Enforcement

• Enforce single outbound telemetry gateway
• Remove any legacy direct API emission paths
• Enforce mTLS-only outbound federation
• Enforce signed telemetry requirement (no unsigned fallback)
• Add replay detection validation at producer side
• Implement bounded retry with idempotent fingerprint key
• Add federation smoke test suite
• Commit Sprint 23 Federation Channel Enforcement

Sprint 24 (Week 45-46): Anti-Repudiation Closure

• Bind operator identity irreversibly into execution fingerprint
• Enforce pre-dispatch intent record (write-ahead hash entry)
• Implement execution intent verification API
• Add operator-to-execution audit reconciliation test
• Simulate repudiation attempt and validate detection
• Commit Sprint 24 Anti-Repudiation Closure

Phase 5.6 Operational Closure (Dockerized Federation Setup)

• Configure local federation endpoint to internal gateway route (/internal/v1/telemetry)
• Rotate and align mTLS trust material for local dockerized execution
• Enforce strict gateway path semantics (reject redirect-based false positives)
• Validate live nmap -> SpectraStrike -> VectorVue federation acceptance
• Validate live Metasploit telemetry federation acceptance
• Record non-tracked local audit evidence for acceptance/rejection history

Phase 6: Merkle Ledger Architecture & Append-Only Authority

Sprint 25 (Week 47-48): Ledger Model Definition

• Define Merkle leaf schema using unified execution fingerprint
• Define strict append-only insertion order
• Define deterministic tree growth rules
• Define root generation cadence
• Define root signing procedure
• Define inclusion proof structure
• Commit Sprint 25 Ledger Model Definition

Sprint 26 (Week 49-50): Ledger Core Implementation

• Implement append-only Merkle tree
• Persist immutable execution leaves
• Implement periodic root generation
• Sign root with Control Plane signing authority
• Implement root verification routine
• Add tamper simulation test
• Commit Sprint 26 Ledger Core Implementation

Sprint 27 (Week 51-52): Ledger Verification & Export

• Implement inclusion proof API
• Implement deterministic rebuild mode
• Implement ledger snapshot export
• Implement read-only verifier node
• Validate DB tampering detection via root mismatch
• Commit Sprint 27 Ledger Verification & Export

Phase 7: C2 Trust Extension Layer

Sprint 28 (Week 53-54): C2 Adapter Trust Enforcement

• Bind C2 dispatch to unified execution fingerprint
• Enforce JWS verification at adapter boundary
• Enforce policy hash validation at adapter boundary
• Isolate adapters within hardened execution boundary
• Simulate malicious adapter behavior
• Commit Sprint 28 C2 Adapter Trust Enforcement

Sprint 29 (Week 55-56): Advanced C2 Implementations

• Implement Sliver adapter hardened version
• Implement Mythic adapter scaffold
• Integrate C2 execution metadata into ledger leaf
• Validate zero-trust enforcement during live session
• Commit Sprint 29 Advanced C2 Implementations

Phase 8: Streaming Fabric & VectorVue Cognitive Integration

Sprint 30 (Week 57-58): Broker Abstraction & High-Throughput Path

• Abstract broker layer (RabbitMQ/Kafka compatible)
• Enforce ordered execution event streaming
• Normalize telemetry schema for ML ingestion
• Add high-volume load testing
• Commit Sprint 30 Broker Abstraction & Throughput

Sprint 31 (Week 59-60): Cognitive Feedback Loop

• Push execution graph metadata to VectorVue
• Implement VectorVue → SpectraStrike feedback sync
• Bind feedback adjustments to policy engine
• Display defensive effectiveness metrics in UI
• Validate end-to-end cognitive loop
• Enforce signed internal feedback contract (/internal/v1/cognitive/*)
• Enforce feedback replay protection (signed_at window + nonce uniqueness)
• Enforce feedback tenant/fingerprint/schema validation before policy binding
• Commit Sprint 31 Cognitive Feedback Loop

Phase 9: Enterprise & Compliance Gate

Sprint 32 (Week 61-62): Compliance Mapping

• Map controls to SOC 2
• Map controls to ISO 27001 Annex A
• Map controls to NIST 800-53
• Map telemetry to MITRE ATT&CK
• Produce Secure SDLC documentation package
• Commit Sprint 32 Compliance Mapping

Sprint 33 (Week 63-64): Specification Publication

• Publish Execution Manifest Specification v1
• Publish Telemetry Extension Specification
• Publish Capability Policy Specification
• Define backward compatibility guarantees
• Publish validation SDK
• Commit Sprint 33 Specification Publication

Phase 10: Hardware-Assisted Isolation

Sprint 34 (Week 65-66): MicroVM Transition

• Transition Runner to Firecracker MicroVM
• Implement ephemeral boot optimization
• Implement runtime attestation reporting
• Enforce hardware isolation boundary
• Simulate breakout attempt
• Commit Sprint 34 MicroVM Transition

Sprint 35 (Week 67-68): Mutual Attestation & Key Derivation

• Implement TPM-backed identity (on-prem)
• Implement per-execution ephemeral key derivation
• Implement Runner ↔ Control Plane mutual attestation
• Validate multi-tenant stress isolation
• Commit Sprint 35 Mutual Attestation & Isolation Validation