Fine-Grained Query Privileges

Summary

In earlier versions of TigerGraph prior to 4.1, query privileges in TigerGraph are managed at the global and graph level with READ_QUERY and WRITE_QUERY privileges. For example, if a user has READ_QUERY privilege on graph g1, then the user can read any queries under graph g1. If a user has WRITE_QUERY privilege on global, then the user can create or replace any query under any graph in TigerGraph.

With fine-grained query privileges, the following changes will take effect:

WRITE_QUERY privilege is deprecated. It has been split into privileges such as CREATE_QUERY, UPDATE_QUERY and DROP_QUERY.
New privileges INSTALL_QUERY, EXECUTE_QUERY and OWNERSHIP are added.

OWNERSHIP is a special privilege introduced in version 4.1. It is granted automatically to the user who creates a query.

The entity (a user or a role) who owns a query holds all privileges on a query. That means this entity can read, update, drop, install, and execute this query.

An entity with OWNERSHIP privilege (e.g., the creator) on a query can grant privileges to other entities, including the OWNERSHIP privilege. Once the OWNERSHIP privilege is granted to another entity, the previous owner loses OWNERSHIP privilege on this query.

Each object can have only one explicit owner entity.

Users with the superuser role hold the OWNERSHIP privilege on all queries in all graphs implicitly.

Users with the admin role in one graph hold the OWNERSHIP privilege on all queries in this graph implicitly.

Query privilege scope changes:
- CREATE_QUERY privilege can only be granted/revoked at global and graph level.
- READ_QUERY, UPDATE_QUERY, DROP_QUERY, INSTALL_QUERY and EXECUTE_QUERY privileges can only be granted/revoked at individual query level.
- OWNERSHIP privilege can only be granted at the individual query level and only to one entity, e.g.: a user or a user-defined role.

With above changes, corresponding grant/revoke commands and query related operations are also changed. Details of such changes will be displayed in the following sections.

Usage Examples

We strongly recommend using object-based syntax for granting/revoking fine-grained query privileges.

Below are several commands for common use cases of granting/revoking fine-grained query privileges.

Example: Grant CREATE privilege at global level to role r1:

GSQL > GRANT CREATE ON ALL QUERIES IN GLOBAL to r1
The privilege "CREATE" is successfully granted on "ALL QUERIES" IN GLOBAL to role: r1

Note that UPDATE privilege depends on READ privilege. You need to grant READ before UPDATE, and revoke UPDATE before READ.

Example: Grant READ and UDPATE privileges on existing specific query objects q1, q2 in graph g1 to user u1:

GSQL > GRANT READ, UPDATE ON QUERY q1, q2 IN GRAPH g1 to u1
The privileges "READ, UPDATE" are successfully granted on "QUERY q1, q2" IN GRAPH g1 to user: u1

Example: Revoke INSTALL and EXECUTE privileges on all existing queries at global level from user u1:

GSQL > REVOKE INSTALL, EXECUTE ON ALL QUERIES IN GLOBAL FROM u1
The privileges "EXECUTE, INSTALL" are successfully revoked on "ALL QUERIES" IN GLOBAL from user: u1

If you want to revoke query privileges on specific existing query objects from a user or a role, make sure the user or role has the query privileges on all involved query objects.

Ex. Revoke DROP privileges on existing specific query objects q1, q2 in graph g1 from role r1:

// role r1 must already have DROP privilege on query q1, q2.
GSQL > REVOKE DROP ON QUERY q1, q2 IN GRAPH g1 FROM r1
The privilege "DROP" is successfully revoked on "QUERY q1, q2" IN GRAPH g1 from role: r1

For individual query level privileges, you can only grant/revoke on existing query objects.

Example: Grant READ and UDPATE privileges on existing queries q1, q2 in graph g1 to user u1, then create new query q3:

GSQL > use graph g1
GSQL > GRANT READ, UPDATE ON ALL QUERIES IN GRAPH g1 to u1
GSQL > show privilege on user u1
User: "u1"
  - Graph 'g1' Privileges:
      - Query 'q1' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY
      - Query 'q2' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY
GSQL > create query q3() for graph g1 {print "q3";}
GSQL > show privilege on user u1
User: "u1"
  - Graph 'g1' Privileges:
      - Query 'q1' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY
      - Query 'q2' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY

Example: Grant OWNERSHIP privilege on existing query q3 in graph g1 to user u1:

GSQL > use graph g1
GSQL > GRANT OWNERSHIP ON QUERY q3 IN GRAPH g1 TO u1
Transfer the ownership of query q3 in graph g1 from entity tigergraph to entity u1
The privilege "OWNERSHIP" is successfully granted on "QUERY q3" IN GRAPH g1 to user: u1
GSQL > show privilege on user u1
User: "u1"
  - Graph 'g1' Privileges:
      - Query 'q1' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY
      - Query 'q2' Privileges:
        READ_QUERY
        UPDATE_QUERY
      - Query 'q3' Privileges:
        OWNER

After this step, u1 becomes the owner of q3 and owns all privileges on q3. u1 can read, update, drop, install, and execute query q3. At the same time, u1 can grant the query privileges to other entities, including the OWNERSHIP privilege.

Legacy RBAC Privilege Syntax Usage

With the introduction of new fine-grained query privileges, there are certain query privilege syntax usages become deprecated. If you still want to use them, you can control via adding/removing ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true in GSQL.BasicConfig.Env.

Turn On/Off Legacy RBAC Syntax Usage

Ex. Adding ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true

$ gadmin config get GSQL.BasicConfig.Env
CPATH=$CPATH; LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH;
$ gadmin config set 'GSQL.BasicConfig.Env CPATH=$CPATH; LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH;ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true;'
$ gadmin config apply -y
$ gadmin restart gsql -y

Ex. Removing ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true

$ gadmin config get GSQL.BasicConfig.Env
CPATH=$CPATH; LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH; ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true;
$ gadmin config set 'GSQL.BasicConfig.Env CPATH=$CPATH; LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH;'
$ gadmin config apply -y
$ gadmin restart gsql -y

Behaviour Changes In Legacy RBAC Privilege Syntax Related With Query Privileges

Certain legacy privilege commands related with query privileges will change its behavior starting in 4.1.

GRANT PRIVILEDGE WRITE_QUERY ON GLOBAL TO r1
- CREATE_QUERY privilege will be granted on all existing graphs to role r1.
- READ_QUERY, UPDATE_QUERY, DROP_QUERY, INSTALL_QUERY, EXECUTE_QUERY privileges will be granted on all existing queries in each of existing graphs.
GRANT PRIVILEDGE READ_QUERY ON GRAPH g1 TO r1
- READ_QUERY privilege will be granted on all existing queries in graph g1 to role r1.
GRANT WRITE ON ALL QUERIES IN GRAPH g1 TO r1
- CREATE_QUERY privilege will be granted on graph g1 to role r1
- READ_QUERY, UPDATE_QUERY, DROP_QUERY, INSTALL_QUERY, EXECUTE_QUERY privileges will be granted on all existing queries in graph g1 to role r1.

Forbidden Legacy RBAC Privilege Syntax Related With Query Privileges

Forbidden legacy RBAC privilege syntax usages are no longer supported even if ALLOW_LEGACY_RBAC_SYNTAX=true is set.

REVOKE PRIVILEGE WRITE_QUERY ON [GRAPH <graph_name> | GLOBAL ] FROM <role_name>
- Directly revoking WRITE_QUERY privilege in a graph or in global is no longer supported.
REVOKE PRIVILEGE READ_QUERY ON [GRAPH <graph_name> | GLOBAL ] FROM <role_name>
- Directly revoking READ_QUERY privilege in a graph or in global is no longer supported.
REVOKE WRITE ON ALL QUERIES IN [GRAPH <graph_name> | GLOBAL] FROM <role_name>
- Directly revoking WRITE on all existing query objects in a graph or in all graphs is no longer supported.