declarative_authorization-dta 0.1

data/authorization_rules.dist.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+authorization do
+  role :guest do
+    # add permissions for guests here, e.g.
+    #has_permission_on :conferences, :to => :read
+  end
+  
+  # permissions on other roles, such as
+  #role :admin do
+  #  has_permission_on :conferences, :to => :manage
+  #end
+end
+
+privileges do
+  # default privilege hierarchies to facilitate RESTful Rails apps
+  privilege :manage, :includes => [:create, :read, :update, :delete]
+  privilege :read, :includes => [:index, :show]
+  privilege :create, :includes => :new
+  privilege :update, :includes => :edit
+  privilege :delete, :includes => :destroy
+end

data/config/routes.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Rails 3 depreciates ActionController::Routing::Routes 
+routes = (Rails.respond_to?(:application) ? Rails.application.routes : ActionController::Routing::Routes)
+
+routes.draw do |map|
+  if Authorization::activate_authorization_rules_browser?
+    map.resources :authorization_rules, :only => [:index],
+        :collection => {:graph => :get, :change => :get, :suggest_change => :get}
+    map.resources :authorization_usages, :only => :index
+  end
+end

data/garlic_example.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+garlic do
+  repo 'rails', :url => 'git://github.com/rails/rails'#, :local => "~/dev/vendor/rails"
+  repo 'declarative_authorization', :path => '.'
+
+  target 'edge'
+  target '2.1-stable', :branch => 'origin/2-1-stable'
+  target '2.2.0-RC1', :tag => 'v2.2.0'
+
+  all_targets do
+    prepare do
+      plugin 'declarative_authorization', :clone => true
+    end
+
+    run do
+      cd "vendor/plugins/declarative_authorization" do
+        sh "rake"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end

data/init.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+begin
+  require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'lib', 'declarative_authorization') # From here
+rescue LoadError
+  require 'declarative_authorization' # From gem
+end

data/lib/declarative_authorization.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization rails_legacy})
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization helper})
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization in_controller})
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization in_model})
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization obligation_scope})
+
+min_rails_version = "2.1.0"
+if Rails::VERSION::STRING < min_rails_version
+  raise "declarative_authorization requires Rails #{min_rails_version}.  You are using #{Rails::VERSION::STRING}."
+end
+
+require File.join(%w{declarative_authorization railsengine}) if defined?(::Rails::Engine)
+
+ActionController::Base.send :include, Authorization::AuthorizationInController
+ActionController::Base.helper Authorization::AuthorizationHelper
+
+ActiveRecord::Base.send :include, Authorization::AuthorizationInModel

data/lib/declarative_authorization/authorization.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,687 @@
+# Authorization
+require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/reader.rb'
+require "set"
+
+
+module Authorization
+  # An exception raised if anything goes wrong in the Authorization realm
+  class AuthorizationError < StandardError ; end
+  # NotAuthorized is raised if the current user is not allowed to perform
+  # the given operation possibly on a specific object.
+  class NotAuthorized < AuthorizationError ; end
+  # AttributeAuthorizationError is more specific than NotAuthorized, signalling
+  # that the access was denied on the grounds of attribute conditions.
+  class AttributeAuthorizationError < NotAuthorized ; end
+  # AuthorizationUsageError is used whenever a situation is encountered
+  # in which the application misused the plugin.  That is, if, e.g.,
+  # authorization rules may not be evaluated.
+  class AuthorizationUsageError < AuthorizationError ; end
+  # NilAttributeValueError is raised by Attribute#validate? when it hits a nil attribute value.
+  # The exception is raised to ensure that the entire rule is invalidated.
+  class NilAttributeValueError < AuthorizationError; end
+  
+  AUTH_DSL_FILES = [(Rails.root || Pathname.new('')).join("config", "authorization_rules.rb").to_s] unless defined? AUTH_DSL_FILES
+  
+  # Controller-independent method for retrieving the current user.
+  # Needed for model security where the current controller is not available.
+  def self.current_user
+    Thread.current["current_user"] || GuestUser.new
+  end
+  
+  # Controller-independent method for setting the current user.
+  def self.current_user=(user)
+    Thread.current["current_user"] = user
+  end
+  
+  # For use in test cases only
+  def self.ignore_access_control (state = nil) # :nodoc:
+    Thread.current["ignore_access_control"] = state unless state.nil?
+    Thread.current["ignore_access_control"] || false
+  end
+
+  def self.activate_authorization_rules_browser? # :nodoc:
+    ::Rails.env.development?
+  end
+
+  @@dot_path = "dot"
+  def self.dot_path
+    @@dot_path
+  end
+
+  def self.dot_path= (path)
+    @@dot_path = path
+  end
+  
+  # Authorization::Engine implements the reference monitor.  It may be used
+  # for querying the permission and retrieving obligations under which
+  # a certain privilege is granted for the current user.
+  #
+  class Engine
+    attr_reader :roles, :omnipotent_roles, :role_titles, :role_descriptions, :privileges,
+      :privilege_hierarchy, :auth_rules, :role_hierarchy, :rev_priv_hierarchy,
+      :rev_role_hierarchy
+    
+    # If +reader+ is not given, a new one is created with the default
+    # authorization configuration of +AUTH_DSL_FILES+.  If given, may be either
+    # a Reader object or a path to a configuration file.
+    def initialize (reader = nil)
+      reader = Reader::DSLReader.factory(reader || AUTH_DSL_FILES)
+
+      @privileges = reader.privileges_reader.privileges
+      # {priv => [[priv, ctx],...]}
+      @privilege_hierarchy = reader.privileges_reader.privilege_hierarchy
+      @auth_rules = reader.auth_rules_reader.auth_rules
+      @roles = reader.auth_rules_reader.roles
+      @omnipotent_roles = reader.auth_rules_reader.omnipotent_roles
+      @role_hierarchy = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_hierarchy
+
+      @role_titles = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_titles
+      @role_descriptions = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_descriptions
+      @reader = reader
+      
+      # {[priv, ctx] => [priv, ...]}
+      @rev_priv_hierarchy = {}
+      @privilege_hierarchy.each do |key, value|
+        value.each do |val| 
+          @rev_priv_hierarchy[val] ||= []
+          @rev_priv_hierarchy[val] << key
+        end
+      end
+      @rev_role_hierarchy = {}
+      @role_hierarchy.each do |higher_role, lower_roles|
+        lower_roles.each do |role|
+          (@rev_role_hierarchy[role] ||= []) << higher_role
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    def initialize_copy (from) # :nodoc:
+      [
+        :privileges, :privilege_hierarchy, :roles, :role_hierarchy, :role_titles,
+        :role_descriptions, :rev_priv_hierarchy, :rev_role_hierarchy
+      ].each {|attr| instance_variable_set(:"@#{attr}", from.send(attr).clone) }
+      @auth_rules = from.auth_rules.collect {|rule| rule.clone}
+    end
+    
+    # Returns true if privilege is met by the current user.  Raises
+    # AuthorizationError otherwise.  +privilege+ may be given with or
+    # without context.  In the latter case, the :+context+ option is
+    # required.
+    #  
+    # Options:
+    # [:+context+]
+    #   The context part of the privilege.
+    #   Defaults either to the tableized +class_name+ of the given :+object+, if given.
+    #   That is, :+users+ for :+object+ of type User.  
+    #   Raises AuthorizationUsageError if context is missing and not to be infered.
+    # [:+object+] An context object to test attribute checks against.
+    # [:+skip_attribute_test+]
+    #   Skips those attribute checks in the 
+    #   authorization rules. Defaults to false.
+    # [:+user+] 
+    #   The user to check the authorization for.
+    #   Defaults to Authorization#current_user.
+    #
+    def permit! (privilege, options = {})
+      return true if Authorization.ignore_access_control
+      options = {
+        :object => nil,
+        :skip_attribute_test => false,
+        :context => nil
+      }.merge(options)
+      
+      # Make sure we're handling all privileges as symbols.
+      privilege = privilege.is_a?( Array ) ?
+                  privilege.flatten.collect { |priv| priv.to_sym } :
+                  privilege.to_sym
+      
+      #
+      # If the object responds to :proxy_reflection, we're probably working with
+      # an association proxy.  Use 'new' to leverage ActiveRecord's builder
+      # functionality to obtain an object against which we can check permissions.
+      #
+      # Example: permit!( :edit, :object => user.posts )
+      #
+      if options[:object].respond_to?( :proxy_reflection ) && options[:object].respond_to?( :new )
+        options[:object] = options[:object].new
+      end
+      
+      options[:context] ||= options[:object] && (
+        options[:object].class.respond_to?(:decl_auth_context) ?
+            options[:object].class.decl_auth_context :
+            options[:object].class.name.tableize.to_sym
+      ) rescue NoMethodError
+      
+      user, roles, privileges = user_roles_privleges_from_options(privilege, options)
+
+      return true if roles.is_a?(Array) and not (roles & @omnipotent_roles).empty?
+
+      # find a authorization rule that matches for at least one of the roles and 
+      # at least one of the given privileges
+      attr_validator = AttributeValidator.new(self, user, options[:object], privilege, options[:context])
+      rules = matching_auth_rules(roles, privileges, options[:context])
+      if rules.empty?
+        raise NotAuthorized, "No matching rules found for #{privilege} for #{user.inspect} " +
+          "(roles #{roles.inspect}, privileges #{privileges.inspect}, " +
+          "context #{options[:context].inspect})."
+      end
+      
+      # Test each rule in turn to see whether any one of them is satisfied.
+      unless rules.any? {|rule| rule.validate?(attr_validator, options[:skip_attribute_test])}
+        raise AttributeAuthorizationError, "#{privilege} not allowed for #{user.inspect} on #{(options[:object] || options[:context]).inspect}."
+      end
+      true
+    end
+    
+    # Calls permit! but rescues the AuthorizationException and returns false
+    # instead.  If no exception is raised, permit? returns true and yields
+    # to the optional block.
+    def permit? (privilege, options = {}, &block) # :yields:
+      permit!(privilege, options)
+      yield if block_given?
+      true
+    rescue NotAuthorized
+      false
+    end
+    
+    # Returns the obligations to be met by the current user for the given 
+    # privilege as an array of obligation hashes in form of 
+    #   [{:object_attribute => obligation_value, ...}, ...]
+    # where +obligation_value+ is either (recursively) another obligation hash
+    # or a value spec, such as
+    #   [operator, literal_value]
+    # The obligation hashes in the array should be OR'ed, conditions inside
+    # the hashes AND'ed.
+    # 
+    # Example
+    #   {:branch => {:company => [:is, 24]}, :active => [:is, true]}
+    # 
+    # Options
+    # [:+context+]  See permit!
+    # [:+user+]  See permit!
+    # 
+    def obligations (privilege, options = {})
+      options = {:context => nil}.merge(options)
+      user, roles, privileges = user_roles_privleges_from_options(privilege, options)
+
+      permit!(privilege, :skip_attribute_test => true, :user => user, :context => options[:context])
+      
+      attr_validator = AttributeValidator.new(self, user, nil, privilege, options[:context])
+      matching_auth_rules(roles, privileges, options[:context]).collect do |rule|
+        rule.obligations(attr_validator)
+      end.flatten
+    end
+    
+    # Returns the description for the given role.  The description may be
+    # specified with the authorization rules.  Returns +nil+ if none was
+    # given.
+    def description_for (role)
+      role_descriptions[role]
+    end
+    
+    # Returns the title for the given role.  The title may be
+    # specified with the authorization rules.  Returns +nil+ if none was
+    # given.
+    def title_for (role)
+      role_titles[role]
+    end
+
+    # Returns the role symbols of the given user.
+    def roles_for (user)
+      user ||= Authorization.current_user
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "User object doesn't respond to roles (#{user.inspect})" \
+        if !user.respond_to?(:role_symbols) and !user.respond_to?(:roles)
+
+      RAILS_DEFAULT_LOGGER.info("The use of user.roles is deprecated.  Please add a method " +
+          "role_symbols to your User model.") if defined?(RAILS_DEFAULT_LOGGER) and !user.respond_to?(:role_symbols)
+
+      roles = user.respond_to?(:role_symbols) ? user.role_symbols : user.roles
+
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "User.#{user.respond_to?(:role_symbols) ? 'role_symbols' : 'roles'} " +
+        "doesn't return an Array of Symbols (#{roles.inspect})" \
+            if !roles.is_a?(Array) or (!roles.empty? and !roles[0].is_a?(Symbol))
+
+      (roles.empty? ? [:guest] : roles)
+    end
+    
+    # Returns the role symbols and inherritted role symbols for the given user
+    def roles_with_hierarchy_for(user)
+      flatten_roles(roles_for(user))
+    end
+    
+    # Returns an instance of Engine, which is created if there isn't one
+    # yet.  If +dsl_file+ is given, it is passed on to Engine.new and 
+    # a new instance is always created.
+    def self.instance (dsl_file = nil)
+      if dsl_file or ENV['RAILS_ENV'] == 'development'
+        @@instance = new(dsl_file)
+      else
+        @@instance ||= new
+      end
+    end
+    
+    class AttributeValidator # :nodoc:
+      attr_reader :user, :object, :engine, :context, :privilege
+      def initialize (engine, user, object = nil, privilege = nil, context = nil)
+        @engine = engine
+        @user = user
+        @object = object
+        @privilege = privilege
+        @context = context
+      end
+      
+      def evaluate (value_block)
+        # TODO cache?
+        instance_eval(&value_block)
+      end
+    end
+    
+    private
+    def user_roles_privleges_from_options(privilege, options)
+      options = {
+        :user => nil,
+        :context => nil,
+        :user_roles => nil
+      }.merge(options)
+      user = options[:user] || Authorization.current_user
+      privileges = privilege.is_a?(Array) ? privilege : [privilege]
+      
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "No user object given (#{user.inspect}) or " +
+        "set through Authorization.current_user" unless user
+
+      roles = options[:user_roles] || flatten_roles(roles_for(user))
+      privileges = flatten_privileges privileges, options[:context]
+      [user, roles, privileges]
+    end
+    
+    def flatten_roles (roles)
+      # TODO caching?
+      flattened_roles = roles.clone.to_a
+      flattened_roles.each do |role|
+        flattened_roles.concat(@role_hierarchy[role]).uniq! if @role_hierarchy[role]
+      end
+    end
+    
+    # Returns the privilege hierarchy flattened for given privileges in context.
+    def flatten_privileges (privileges, context = nil)
+      # TODO caching?
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "No context given or inferable from object" unless context
+      flattened_privileges = privileges.clone
+      flattened_privileges.each do |priv|
+        flattened_privileges.concat(@rev_priv_hierarchy[[priv, nil]]).uniq! if @rev_priv_hierarchy[[priv, nil]]
+        flattened_privileges.concat(@rev_priv_hierarchy[[priv, context]]).uniq! if @rev_priv_hierarchy[[priv, context]]
+      end
+    end
+    
+    def matching_auth_rules (roles, privileges, context)
+      @auth_rules.select {|rule| rule.matches? roles, privileges, context}
+    end
+  end
+  
+  class AuthorizationRule
+    attr_reader :attributes, :contexts, :role, :privileges, :join_operator,
+        :source_file, :source_line
+    
+    def initialize (role, privileges = [], contexts = nil, join_operator = :or,
+          options = {})
+      @role = role
+      @privileges = Set.new(privileges)
+      @contexts = Set.new((contexts && !contexts.is_a?(Array) ? [contexts] : contexts))
+      @join_operator = join_operator
+      @attributes = []
+      @source_file = options[:source_file]
+      @source_line = options[:source_line]
+    end
+
+    def initialize_copy (from)
+      @privileges = @privileges.clone
+      @contexts = @contexts.clone
+      @attributes = @attributes.collect {|attribute| attribute.clone }
+    end
+    
+    def append_privileges (privs)
+      @privileges.merge(privs)
+    end
+    
+    def append_attribute (attribute)
+      @attributes << attribute
+    end
+    
+    def matches? (roles, privs, context = nil)
+      roles = [roles] unless roles.is_a?(Array)
+      @contexts.include?(context) and roles.include?(@role) and 
+        not (@privileges & privs).empty?
+    end
+
+    def validate? (attr_validator, skip_attribute = false)
+      skip_attribute or @attributes.empty? or
+        @attributes.send(@join_operator == :and ? :all? : :any?) do |attr|
+          begin
+            attr.validate?(attr_validator)
+          rescue NilAttributeValueError => e
+            nil # Bumping up against a nil attribute value flunks the rule.
+          end
+        end
+    end
+
+    def obligations (attr_validator)
+      exceptions = []
+      obligations = @attributes.collect do |attr|
+        begin
+          attr.obligation(attr_validator)
+        rescue NotAuthorized => e
+          exceptions << e
+          nil
+        end
+      end.flatten.compact
+
+      if exceptions.length > 0 and (@join_operator == :and or exceptions.length == @attributes.length)
+        raise NotAuthorized, "Missing authorization in collecting obligations: #{exceptions.map(&:to_s) * ", "}"
+      end
+
+      if @join_operator == :and and !obligations.empty?
+        merged_obligation = obligations.first
+        obligations[1..-1].each do |obligation|
+          merged_obligation = merged_obligation.deep_merge(obligation)
+        end
+        obligations = [merged_obligation]
+      end
+      obligations.empty? ? [{}] : obligations
+    end
+
+    def to_long_s
+      attributes.collect {|attr| attr.to_long_s } * "; "
+    end
+  end
+  
+  class Attribute
+    # attr_conditions_hash of form
+    # { :object_attribute => [operator, value_block], ... }
+    # { :object_attribute => { :attr => ... } }
+    def initialize (conditions_hash)
+      @conditions_hash = conditions_hash
+    end
+
+    def initialize_copy (from)
+      @conditions_hash = deep_hash_clone(@conditions_hash)
+    end
+    
+    def validate? (attr_validator, object = nil, hash = nil)
+      object ||= attr_validator.object
+      return false unless object
+      
+      (hash || @conditions_hash).all? do |attr, value|
+        attr_value = object_attribute_value(object, attr)
+        if value.is_a?(Hash)
+          if attr_value.is_a?(Enumerable)
+            attr_value.any? do |inner_value|
+              validate?(attr_validator, inner_value, value)
+            end
+          elsif attr_value == nil
+            raise NilAttributeValueError, "Attribute #{attr.inspect} is nil in #{object.inspect}."
+          else
+            validate?(attr_validator, attr_value, value)
+          end
+        elsif value.is_a?(Array) and value.length == 2 and value.first.is_a?(Symbol)
+          evaluated = if value[1].is_a?(Proc)
+                        attr_validator.evaluate(value[1])
+                      else
+                        value[1]
+                      end
+          case value[0]
+          when :is
+            attr_value == evaluated
+          when :is_not
+            attr_value != evaluated
+          when :contains
+            begin
+              attr_value.include?(evaluated)
+            rescue NoMethodError => e
+              raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Operator contains requires a " +
+                  "subclass of Enumerable as attribute value, got: #{attr_value.inspect} " +
+                  "contains #{evaluated.inspect}: #{e}"
+            end
+          when :does_not_contain
+            begin
+              !attr_value.include?(evaluated)
+            rescue NoMethodError => e
+              raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Operator does_not_contain requires a " +
+                  "subclass of Enumerable as attribute value, got: #{attr_value.inspect} " +
+                  "does_not_contain #{evaluated.inspect}: #{e}"
+            end
+          when :intersects_with
+            begin
+              !(evaluated.to_set & attr_value.to_set).empty?
+            rescue NoMethodError => e
+              raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Operator intersects_with requires " +
+                  "subclasses of Enumerable, got: #{attr_value.inspect} " +
+                  "intersects_with #{evaluated.inspect}: #{e}"
+            end
+          when :is_in
+            begin
+              evaluated.include?(attr_value)
+            rescue NoMethodError => e
+              raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Operator is_in requires a " +
+                  "subclass of Enumerable as value, got: #{attr_value.inspect} " +
+                  "is_in #{evaluated.inspect}: #{e}"
+            end
+          when :is_not_in
+            begin
+              !evaluated.include?(attr_value)
+            rescue NoMethodError => e
+              raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Operator is_not_in requires a " +
+                  "subclass of Enumerable as value, got: #{attr_value.inspect} " +
+                  "is_not_in #{evaluated.inspect}: #{e}"
+            end
+          when :lt
+            attr_value && attr_value < evaluated
+          when :lte
+            attr_value && attr_value <= evaluated
+          when :gt
+            attr_value && attr_value > evaluated
+          when :gte
+            attr_value && attr_value >= evaluated
+          else
+            raise AuthorizationError, "Unknown operator #{value[0]}"
+          end
+        else
+          raise AuthorizationError, "Wrong conditions hash format"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    
+    # resolves all the values in condition_hash
+    def obligation (attr_validator, hash = nil)
+      hash = (hash || @conditions_hash).clone
+      hash.each do |attr, value|
+        if value.is_a?(Hash)
+          hash[attr] = obligation(attr_validator, value)
+        elsif value.is_a?(Array) and value.length == 2
+          hash[attr] = [value[0], attr_validator.evaluate(value[1])]
+        else
+          raise AuthorizationError, "Wrong conditions hash format"
+        end
+      end
+      hash
+    end
+
+    def to_long_s (hash = nil)
+      if hash
+        hash.inject({}) do |memo, key_val|
+          key, val = key_val
+          memo[key] = case val
+                      when Array then "#{val[0]} { #{val[1].respond_to?(:to_ruby) ? val[1].to_ruby.gsub(/^proc \{\n?(.*)\n?\}$/m, '\1') : "..."} }"
+                      when Hash then to_long_s(val)
+                      end
+          memo
+        end
+      else
+        "if_attribute #{to_long_s(@conditions_hash).inspect}"
+      end
+    end
+
+    protected
+    def object_attribute_value (object, attr)
+      begin
+        object.send(attr)
+      rescue ArgumentError, NoMethodError => e
+        raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Error occurred while validating attribute ##{attr} on #{object.inspect}: #{e}.\n" +
+          "Please check your authorization rules and ensure the attribute is correctly spelled and \n" +
+          "corresponds to a method on the model you are authorizing for."
+      end
+    end
+
+    def deep_hash_clone (hash)
+      hash.inject({}) do |memo, (key, val)|
+        memo[key] = case val
+                    when Hash
+                      deep_hash_clone(val)
+                    when NilClass, Symbol
+                      val
+                    else
+                      val.clone
+                    end
+        memo
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # An attribute condition that uses existing rules to decide validation
+  # and create obligations.
+  class AttributeWithPermission < Attribute
+    # E.g. privilege :read, attr_or_hash either :attribute or
+    # { :attribute => :deeper_attribute }
+    def initialize (privilege, attr_or_hash, context = nil)
+      @privilege = privilege
+      @context = context
+      @attr_hash = attr_or_hash
+    end
+
+    def initialize_copy (from)
+      @attr_hash = deep_hash_clone(@attr_hash) if @attr_hash.is_a?(Hash)
+    end
+
+    def validate? (attr_validator, object = nil, hash_or_attr = nil)
+      object ||= attr_validator.object
+      hash_or_attr ||= @attr_hash
+      return false unless object
+
+      case hash_or_attr
+      when Symbol
+        attr_value = object_attribute_value(object, hash_or_attr)
+        case attr_value
+        when nil
+          raise NilAttributeValueError, "Attribute #{hash_or_attr.inspect} is nil in #{object.inspect}."
+        when Enumerable
+          attr_value.any? do |inner_value|
+            attr_validator.engine.permit? @privilege, :object => inner_value, :user => attr_validator.user
+          end
+        else
+          attr_validator.engine.permit? @privilege, :object => attr_value, :user => attr_validator.user
+        end
+      when Hash
+        hash_or_attr.all? do |attr, sub_hash|
+          attr_value = object_attribute_value(object, attr)
+          if attr_value == nil
+            raise NilAttributeValueError, "Attribute #{attr.inspect} is nil in #{object.inspect}."
+          elsif attr_value.is_a?(Enumerable)
+            attr_value.any? do |inner_value|
+              validate?(attr_validator, inner_value, sub_hash)
+            end
+          else
+            validate?(attr_validator, attr_value, sub_hash)
+          end
+        end
+      when NilClass
+        attr_validator.engine.permit? @privilege, :object => object, :user => attr_validator.user
+      else
+        raise AuthorizationError, "Wrong conditions hash format: #{hash_or_attr.inspect}"
+      end
+    end
+
+    # may return an array of obligations to be OR'ed
+    def obligation (attr_validator, hash_or_attr = nil, path = [])
+      hash_or_attr ||= @attr_hash
+      case hash_or_attr
+      when Symbol
+        @context ||= begin
+          rule_model = attr_validator.context.to_s.classify.constantize
+          context_reflection = self.class.reflection_for_path(rule_model, path + [hash_or_attr])
+          if context_reflection.klass.respond_to?(:decl_auth_context)
+            context_reflection.klass.decl_auth_context
+          else
+            context_reflection.klass.name.tableize.to_sym
+          end
+        rescue # missing model, reflections
+          hash_or_attr.to_s.pluralize.to_sym
+        end
+        
+        obligations = attr_validator.engine.obligations(@privilege,
+                          :context => @context,
+                          :user    => attr_validator.user)
+
+        obligations.collect {|obl| {hash_or_attr => obl} }
+      when Hash
+        obligations_array_attrs = []
+        obligations =
+            hash_or_attr.inject({}) do |all, pair|
+              attr, sub_hash = pair
+              all[attr] = obligation(attr_validator, sub_hash, path + [attr])
+              if all[attr].length > 1
+                obligations_array_attrs << attr
+              else
+                all[attr] = all[attr].first
+              end
+              all
+            end
+        obligations = [obligations]
+        obligations_array_attrs.each do |attr|
+          next_array_size = obligations.first[attr].length
+          obligations = obligations.collect do |obls|
+            (0...next_array_size).collect do |idx|
+              obls_wo_array = obls.clone
+              obls_wo_array[attr] = obls_wo_array[attr][idx]
+              obls_wo_array
+            end
+          end.flatten
+        end
+        obligations
+      when NilClass
+        attr_validator.engine.obligations(@privilege,
+            :context => attr_validator.context,
+            :user    => attr_validator.user)
+      else
+        raise AuthorizationError, "Wrong conditions hash format: #{hash_or_attr.inspect}"
+      end
+    end
+
+    def to_long_s
+      "if_permitted_to #{@privilege.inspect}, #{@attr_hash.inspect}"
+    end
+
+    private
+    def self.reflection_for_path (parent_model, path)
+      reflection = path.empty? ? parent_model : begin
+        parent = reflection_for_path(parent_model, path[0..-2])
+        if !parent.respond_to?(:proxy_reflection) and parent.respond_to?(:klass)
+          parent.klass.reflect_on_association(path.last)
+        else
+          parent.reflect_on_association(path.last)
+        end
+      rescue
+        parent.reflect_on_association(path.last)
+      end
+      raise "invalid path #{path.inspect}" if reflection.nil?
+      reflection
+    end
+  end
+  
+  # Represents a pseudo-user to facilitate guest users in applications
+  class GuestUser
+    attr_reader :role_symbols
+    def initialize (roles = [:guest])
+      @role_symbols = roles
+    end
+  end
+end
+