rubycs-declarative_authorization 0.3.0

data/app/views/authorization_rules/index.html.erb

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<h1><%= I18n.t(:authorization_rules, :scope => [:declarative_authorization]) %></h1>
+<p><%= I18n.t(:currently_active_rules_in_this_application, :scope => [:declarative_authorization]) %></p>
+<p><%= navigation %></p>
+<style type="text/css">
+  pre .constant {color: #a00;}
+  pre .special {color: red;}
+  pre .operator {color: red;}
+  pre .statement {color: #00a;}
+  pre .proc {color: #0a0;}
+  pre .privilege, pre .context {font-weight: bold}
+  pre .preproc, pre .comment, pre .comment span {color: grey !important;}
+  pre .note {color: #a00; position:absolute; cursor: help }
+</style>
+<pre>
+<%= policy_analysis_hints(syntax_highlight(h(@auth_rules_script)), @auth_rules_script) %>
+</pre>

data/app/views/authorization_usages/index.html.erb

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<h1><%= I18n.t(:authorization_usage, :scope => [:declarative_authorization]) %></h1>
+<div style="margin: 1em;border:1px solid #ccc;max-width:50%;position:fixed;right:0;display:none">
+<object id="graph" data="<%= url_for :format => 'svg' %>" type="image/svg+xml" style="max-width:100%"/>
+</div>
+<p><%= I18n.t(:filter_rules_in_actions_by_controller, :scope => [:declarative_authorization]) %>:</p>
+<p><%= navigation %></p>
+<style type="text/css">
+  .auth-usages th { text-align: left; padding-top: 1em }
+  .auth-usages td { padding-right: 1em }
+  .auth-usages tr.action  { cursor: pointer }
+  .auth-usages tr.unprotected  { background: #FFA399 }
+  .auth-usages tr.no-attribute-check { background: #FFE599 }
+  /*.auth-usages tr.catch-all td.privilege,*/
+  .auth-usages tr.default-privilege td.privilege,
+  .auth-usages tr.default-context td.context { color: #888888 }
+</style>
+<% javascript_tag do %>
+    function show_graph (privilege, context) {
+        base_url = "<%= graph_authorization_rules_path('svg') %>";
+        $('graph').data = base_url + '?privilege_hierarchy=1&highlight_privilege=' +
+            privilege + '&filter_contexts=' + context;
+        $('graph').up().show();
+    }
+<% end %>
+<table class="auth-usages">
+  <% @auth_usages_by_controller.keys.sort {|c1, c2| c1.name <=> c2.name}.each do |controller| %>
+    <% default_context = controller.controller_name.to_sym rescue nil %>
+    <tr>
+      <th colspan="3"><%= h controller.controller_name %></th>
+    </tr>
+    <% @auth_usages_by_controller[controller].keys.sort {|c1, c2| c1.to_s <=> c2.to_s}.each do |action| %>
+      <% auth_info = @auth_usages_by_controller[controller][action] %>
+      <% first_permission = auth_info[:controller_permissions] && auth_info[:controller_permissions][0] %>
+      <tr class="action <%= auth_usage_info_classes(auth_info) %>" title="<%= auth_usage_info_title(auth_info) %>" onclick="show_graph('<%= auth_info[:privilege] || action %>','<%= auth_info[:context] || default_context %>')">
+        <td><%= h action %></td>
+        <% if first_permission %>
+          <td class="privilege"><%= h auth_info[:privilege] || action %></td>
+          <td class="context"><%= h auth_info[:context] || default_context %></td>
+        <% else %>
+          <td></td><td></td>
+        <% end %>
+      </tr>
+    <% end %>
+  <% end %>
+</table>

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/locales/en.declarative_authorization.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+en:
+  declarative_authorization:
+      
+    # app/controllers/authorization_rules_controller.rb
+    error_in_call_to_graphviz: Error in call to graphviz
+    
+    # app/helpers/authorization_rules_helper.rb
+    rules: Rules
+    graphical_view: Graphical view
+    usages: Usages
+    no_filter_access_to_call_protects_this_action: No filter_access_to call protects this action
+    action_is_not_protected_with_attribute_check: Action is not protected with attribute check
+    privilege_set_automatically_from_action_name_by_all_rule: Privilege set automatically from action name by :all rule
+    context_set_automatically_from_controller_name_by_filter_access_to_call_without_context_option: Context set automatically from controller name by filter_access_to call without :context option
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_rules/graph.html.erb 
+    authorization_rules_graph: Authorization Rules Graph
+    privilege_hierarchy: Privilege hierarchy
+    currently_active_rules_in_this_application: Currently active rules in this application.
+    all_rules: All rules
+    all_contexts: All contexts
+    effective_privileges: Effective privileges
+    show_full_privilege_hierarchy: Show full privilege hierarchy
+    zoom_in: Zoom in
+    zoom_out: Zoom out
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_rules/index.html.erb
+    authorization_rules: Authorization Rules
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_usages/index.html.erb
+    authorization_usage: Authorization Usage
+    filter_rules_in_actions_by_controller: Filter rules in actions by controller
+    
+    # lib/declarative_authorization/in_controller.rb
+    you_are_not_allowed_to_access_this_action: You are not allowed to access this action

data/config/locales/ro.declarative_authorization.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+ro:
+  declarative_authorization:
+      
+    # app/controllers/authorization_rules_controller.rb
+    error_in_call_to_graphviz: Eroare generare imagine cu Graphviz
+    
+    # app/helpers/authorization_rules_helper.rb
+    rules: Reguli
+    graphical_view: Vizualizare grafica
+    usages: Utilizari
+    no_filter_access_to_call_protects_this_action: Fara filter_access_to pentru a proteja aceasta actiune
+    action_is_not_protected_with_attribute_check: Aceasta actiune nu este protejat de attribute_check
+    privilege_set_automatically_from_action_name_by_all_rule: Privilegiile sunt setate intr-un mod automat din numele actiune de catre regula :all
+    context_set_automatically_from_controller_name_by_filter_access_to_call_without_context_option: Contextul este setat intr-un mod automatic de catre numele actiunii cu filter_access_to fara optiune de context setata 
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_rules/graph.html.erb 
+    authorization_rules_graph: Grafica pentru regurile de autorizare
+    privilege_hierarchy: Ierarhia privilegiilor
+    currently_active_rules_in_this_application: Reguli active in aceasta aplicatie.
+    all_rules: Toate regurile
+    all_contexts: Toate contexturile
+    effective_privileges: Privilegii efective
+    show_full_privilege_hierarchy: Arata ierarhia completa de privilegii
+    zoom_in: Marire
+    zoom_out: Micsorare
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_rules/index.html.erb
+    authorization_rules: Reguli de autorizare
+    
+    # app/views/authorization_usages/index.html.erb
+    authorization_usage: Utilizarea regurilor de autorizare
+    filter_rules_in_actions_by_controller: Filtrare reguli de autorizare pe baza de controlleri
+    
+    # lib/declarative_authorization/in_controller.rb
+    you_are_not_allowed_to_access_this_action: Nu aveti permisiunea de a acesa aceasta pagina

data/config/routes.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+ActionController::Routing::Routes.draw do |map|
+  if Authorization::activate_authorization_rules_browser?
+    map.resources :authorization_rules, :only => :index, :collection => {:graph => :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 +1,15 @@
+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
+
+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 +1,578 @@
+# 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_FILE = "#{RAILS_ROOT}/config/authorization_rules.rb"
+  
+  # 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
+  
+  @@ignore_access_control = false
+  # For use in test cases only
+  def self.ignore_access_control (state = nil) # :nodoc:
+    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, :role_titles, :role_descriptions, :privileges,
+      :privilege_hierarchy, :auth_rules, :role_hierarchy, :rev_priv_hierarchy
+    
+    # If +reader+ is not given, a new one is created with the default
+    # authorization configuration of +AUTH_DSL_FILE+.  If given, may be either
+    # a Reader object or a path to a configuration file.
+    def initialize (reader = nil)
+      if reader.nil?
+        begin
+          reader = Reader::DSLReader.load(AUTH_DSL_FILE)
+        rescue SystemCallError
+          reader = Reader::DSLReader.new
+        end
+      elsif reader.is_a?(String)
+        reader = Reader::DSLReader.load(reader)
+      end
+      @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
+      @role_hierarchy = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_hierarchy
+
+      @role_titles = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_titles
+      @role_descriptions = reader.auth_rules_reader.role_descriptions
+      
+      # {[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
+    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 +table_name+ of the given :+object+, if given.
+    #   That is, either :+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.table_name.to_sym rescue NoMethodError
+      
+      user, roles, privileges = user_roles_privleges_from_options(privilege, options)
+
+      # 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])
+      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.
+      grant_permission = rules.any? do |rule|
+        begin
+          options[:skip_attribute_test] or
+            rule.attributes.empty? or
+            rule.attributes.send(rule.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
+      end
+      unless grant_permission
+        raise AttributeAuthorizationError, "#{privilege} not allowed for #{user.inspect} on #{options[:object].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)
+      attr_validator = AttributeValidator.new(self, user, nil, options[:context])
+      matching_auth_rules(roles, privileges, options[:context]).collect do |rule|
+        obligations = rule.attributes.collect {|attr| attr.obligation(attr_validator) }
+        if rule.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.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)
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "User object doesn't respond to roles" \
+        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
+      def initialize (engine, user, object = nil, context = nil)
+        @engine = engine
+        @user = user
+        @object = object
+        @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
+      }.merge(options)
+      user = options[:user] || Authorization.current_user
+      privileges = privilege.is_a?(Array) ? privilege : [privilege]
+      
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "No user object given (#{user.inspect})" \
+        unless 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?
+      #if context.nil?
+      #  context = privileges.collect { |p| p.to_s.split('_') }.
+      #                       reject { |p_p| p_p.length < 2 }.
+      #                       collect { |p_p| (p_p[1..-1] * '_').to_sym }.first
+      #  raise AuthorizationUsageError, "No context given or inferable from privileges #{privileges.inspect}" unless context
+      #end
+      raise AuthorizationUsageError, "No context given or inferable from object" unless context
+      #context_regex = Regexp.new "_#{context}$"
+      # TODO work with contextless privileges
+      #flattened_privileges = privileges.collect {|p| p.to_s.sub(context_regex, '')}
+      flattened_privileges = privileges.clone #collect {|p| p.to_s.end_with?(context.to_s) ?
+                                              #       p : [p, "#{p}_#{context}".to_sym] }.flatten
+      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
+    
+    def initialize (role, privileges = [], contexts = nil, join_operator = :or)
+      @role = role
+      @privileges = Set.new(privileges)
+      @contexts = Set.new((contexts && !contexts.is_a?(Array) ? [contexts] : contexts))
+      @join_operator = join_operator
+      @attributes = []
+    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 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 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?(Array)
+            raise AuthorizationUsageError, "Unable evaluate multiple attributes " +
+              "on a collection.  Cannot use '=>' operator on #{attr.inspect} " +
+              "(#{attr_value.inspect}) for attributes #{value.inspect}."
+          elsif attr_value.nil?
+            raise NilAttributeValueError, "Attribute #{attr.inspect} is nil in #{object.inspect}."
+          end
+          validate?(attr_validator, attr_value, value)
+        elsif value.is_a?(Array) and value.length == 2
+          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
+          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 when calling #{attr} on " +
+         "#{object.inspect} for validating attribute: #{e}"
+      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 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)
+        if attr_value.nil?
+          raise NilAttributeValueError, "Attribute #{hash_or_attr.inspect} is nil in #{object.inspect}."
+        end
+        attr_validator.engine.permit? @privilege, :object => attr_value, :user => attr_validator.user
+      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}."
+          end
+          validate?(attr_validator, attr_value, sub_hash)
+        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)
+      hash_or_attr ||= @attr_hash
+      case hash_or_attr
+      when Symbol
+        obligations = attr_validator.engine.obligations(@privilege,
+                          :context => @context || hash_or_attr.to_s.pluralize.to_sym,
+                          :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)
+              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
+  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