Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
151 lines (123 loc) · 10.7 KB

attack-tree.md

File metadata and controls

151 lines (123 loc) · 10.7 KB

Attack Tree Analysis for timescale/timescaledb

Objective: Compromise Application Using TimescaleDB

Attack Tree Visualization

[CRITICAL NODE] Compromise Application Using TimescaleDB ├───(OR)─ [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit TimescaleDB-Specific Vulnerabilities │ ├───(OR)─ [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Vulnerabilities in TimescaleDB Extension Code │ │ ├───(AND)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] Exploit Known TimescaleDB Vulnerabilities │ ├───(OR)─ [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Vulnerabilities in TimescaleDB Packaging/Installation │ │ ├───(AND)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] Exploit Default Configurations/Weaknesses ├───(OR)─ [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit PostgreSQL Interaction Vulnerabilities (Specific to TimescaleDB Usage) │ ├───(OR)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] SQL Injection in TimescaleDB-Specific Functions ├───(OR)─ [CRITICAL NODE] Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks Specific to TimescaleDB │ ├───(OR)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] Resource Exhaustion via TimescaleDB Features │ │ ├───(AND)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] Overload TimescaleDB with Time-Series Data Ingestion │ │ ├───(AND)─ [HIGH-RISK PATH] Trigger Expensive TimescaleDB Queries

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Compromise Application Using TimescaleDB

  • Description: This is the ultimate goal of the attacker. Success here means the attacker has achieved unauthorized access, control, or disruption of the application using TimescaleDB.
  • Impact: Full compromise of the application, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, reputational damage, and financial loss.
  • Mitigation Focus: Secure all underlying components, especially those highlighted in the sub-tree below.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit TimescaleDB-Specific Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Targeting vulnerabilities that are unique to TimescaleDB's extension and features, rather than general PostgreSQL weaknesses.
  • Impact: Can range from data corruption and DoS to full system compromise, depending on the specific vulnerability.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • Regularly monitor TimescaleDB security advisories and apply patches promptly.
    • Conduct thorough code reviews and static analysis of TimescaleDB extension code.
    • Perform fuzz testing on TimescaleDB features, especially new releases.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Vulnerabilities in TimescaleDB Extension Code

  • Description: Focusing on vulnerabilities within the C and SQL code that constitutes the TimescaleDB extension itself.
  • Impact: Potentially critical, as vulnerabilities here could bypass PostgreSQL's security mechanisms or directly compromise the database server.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • In-depth code review of TimescaleDB extension code (if feasible and resources allow).
    • Utilize static analysis tools specifically designed for C and SQL code.
    • Stay informed about community security research and findings related to TimescaleDB.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] Exploit Known TimescaleDB Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Exploiting publicly disclosed vulnerabilities in TimescaleDB for which patches may be available but not yet applied.
  • Attack Vector: Attackers scan for vulnerable TimescaleDB versions and leverage known exploits.
  • Likelihood: Medium (if patches are not applied promptly).
  • Impact: Critical (depending on the vulnerability).
  • Effort: Low (if exploits are readily available).
  • Skill Level: Medium.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy (if vulnerability is well-known).
  • Actionable Insight:
    • Implement a robust patch management process for TimescaleDB.
    • Subscribe to TimescaleDB security advisories and release notes.
    • Regularly scan systems for known vulnerabilities.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Vulnerabilities in TimescaleDB Packaging/Installation

  • Description: Targeting weaknesses in how TimescaleDB is packaged, distributed, or installed, potentially leading to compromised installations.
  • Impact: Can lead to backdoored installations, supply chain attacks, or insecure default configurations.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • Secure the TimescaleDB installation process, following official documentation.
    • Verify the integrity of downloaded TimescaleDB packages from official sources.
    • Harden the environment where TimescaleDB is installed.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] Exploit Default Configurations/Weaknesses

  • Description: Exploiting insecure default settings in TimescaleDB that are often overlooked during initial setup.
  • Attack Vector: Attackers target common default credentials, overly permissive access controls, or unhardened configurations.
  • Likelihood: Medium (if defaults are not changed).
  • Impact: High (unauthorized access, data breaches).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy (configuration review tools).
  • Actionable Insight:
    • Harden TimescaleDB configurations immediately after installation.
    • Review and change default passwords and credentials.
    • Implement least privilege access control.
    • Regularly audit TimescaleDB configurations against security best practices.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit PostgreSQL Interaction Vulnerabilities (Specific to TimescaleDB Usage)

  • Description: Vulnerabilities arising from the way the application interacts with TimescaleDB functions and features within the PostgreSQL environment.
  • Impact: Can lead to SQL injection, privilege escalation, or data manipulation.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • Secure coding practices when using TimescaleDB functions.
    • Properly parameterize queries to prevent SQL injection.
    • Apply least privilege principles to database users interacting with TimescaleDB.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] SQL Injection in TimescaleDB-Specific Functions

  • Description: Injecting malicious SQL code through parameters of TimescaleDB-specific functions, exploiting improper input sanitization.
  • Attack Vector: Attackers craft malicious input to application endpoints that use TimescaleDB functions, aiming to execute arbitrary SQL commands.
  • Likelihood: Medium (if dynamic SQL is used with TimescaleDB functions).
  • Impact: Critical (data breaches, data manipulation, system compromise).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy (SQL injection detection tools).
  • Actionable Insight:
    • Always use parameterized queries or prepared statements when interacting with TimescaleDB functions.
    • Implement input validation and sanitization on application inputs before using them in database queries.
    • Utilize web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block SQL injection attempts.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks Specific to TimescaleDB

  • Description: DoS attacks that leverage TimescaleDB's time-series features to disrupt service availability.
  • Impact: Service unavailability, performance degradation, resource exhaustion.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • Implement rate limiting on data ingestion and query requests.
    • Optimize queries to prevent resource-intensive operations.
    • Monitor resource usage and set alerts for anomalies.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] Resource Exhaustion via TimescaleDB Features

  • Description: DoS attacks that specifically aim to exhaust TimescaleDB resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O) by abusing its features.
  • Impact: Service degradation or outage due to resource starvation.
  • Mitigation Focus:
    • Resource monitoring and capacity planning.
    • Implement resource limits and quotas where possible.
    • Optimize TimescaleDB configurations for resource efficiency.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] Overload TimescaleDB with Time-Series Data Ingestion

  • Description: DoS attack by flooding TimescaleDB with a massive volume of time-series data, overwhelming ingestion pipelines and resources.
  • Attack Vector: Attackers send a large volume of data points to the application's data ingestion endpoints.
  • Likelihood: Medium.
  • Impact: Medium (DoS).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy (resource monitoring, performance alerts).
  • Actionable Insight:
    • Implement rate limiting on data ingestion at the application level and potentially at the network level.
    • Validate input data to prevent injection of excessively large or complex datasets.
    • Monitor ingestion rates and resource utilization to detect anomalies.

Attack Tree Path: [HIGH-RISK PATH] Trigger Expensive TimescaleDB Queries

  • Description: DoS attack by sending queries that are intentionally designed to be highly resource-intensive, causing performance degradation or service outage.
  • Attack Vector: Attackers send crafted queries that exploit inefficient query patterns or lack of indexing, leading to long execution times and resource consumption.
  • Likelihood: Medium.
  • Impact: Medium (DoS, Performance Degradation).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy (query monitoring, slow query logs).
  • Actionable Insight:
    • Analyze and optimize application queries interacting with TimescaleDB.
    • Implement query timeouts to prevent long-running queries.
    • Use query monitoring tools and slow query logs to identify and address inefficient queries.
    • Educate developers on writing efficient TimescaleDB queries.