mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for valkey-io/valkey

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Valkey's Access Control List (ACL) system

• Mitigation Strategy: Implement Valkey's Access Control List (ACL) system.
• Description:
  1. Define User Roles within Valkey: Identify different user roles or application components that need to interact with Valkey. Consider roles like application_server, monitoring_user, admin_user.
  2. Create Valkey Users using ACL SETUSER: For each role, create dedicated Valkey users using the ACL SETUSER command. Example: ACL SETUSER application_server.
  3. Grant Granular Permissions with ACL SETUSER: Use ACL SETUSER to assign specific permissions to each user. Focus on limiting command access and key/channel patterns. Example: ACL SETUSER application_server +get +set +del ~session:* on. This allows application_server user only GET, SET, DEL commands on keys matching session:*.
  4. Disable or Restrict Default User: Restrict or disable the default Valkey user (if not already done) to prevent its misuse. Consider renaming it and assigning very limited permissions if it must be kept.
  5. Test ACL Configuration: Thoroughly test the ACL configuration using ACL WHOAMI and by attempting actions with different users to verify permissions are correctly enforced.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Access to Valkey (High Severity): Prevents unauthorized users or applications from accessing Valkey and its data.
  • Privilege Escalation within Valkey (Medium Severity): Limits the impact of compromised credentials by restricting user capabilities.
  • Data Breach via Valkey (High Severity): Reduces the risk of data exfiltration by limiting data access to authorized users.
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Access to Valkey: High risk reduction. ACLs are the primary access control mechanism within Valkey.
  • Privilege Escalation within Valkey: Medium risk reduction. Significantly reduces the potential for lateral movement within Valkey itself.
  • Data Breach via Valkey: High risk reduction. Limits the number of users who can potentially access and exfiltrate data.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. ACLs are enabled, and application servers use a dedicated user.
• Missing Implementation: Granular permission configuration for application server users is missing. Dedicated users for monitoring and administrative tasks with specific, limited permissions are needed. Default user restrictions should be reviewed and strengthened.

Mitigation Strategy: Enforce strong password policies for Valkey users (within Valkey context)

• Mitigation Strategy: Enforce strong password policies for Valkey users.
• Description:
  1. Utilize Valkey's Password Complexity (if available via external tools): While Valkey itself doesn't have built-in password complexity enforcement, explore if external tools or scripts can be used in conjunction with Valkey user creation to enforce complexity. This might involve pre-validation before using ACL SETUSER.
  2. Document and Recommend Strong Passwords: Clearly document and recommend strong password guidelines for Valkey users, including minimum length, character types, and uniqueness.
  3. Regular Password Rotation Reminders: Implement a process to remind or encourage Valkey users, especially administrative users, to rotate their passwords regularly.
  4. Avoid Simple or Default Passwords: During Valkey user creation and password setting, actively avoid using simple, common, or default passwords.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Brute-Force Attacks against Valkey Authentication (High Severity): Strong passwords make brute-force attacks against Valkey user accounts significantly harder.
  • Dictionary Attacks against Valkey Authentication (High Severity): Complex passwords are less vulnerable to dictionary attacks.
  • Credential Stuffing against Valkey (Medium Severity): Unique passwords for Valkey reduce the risk if credentials from other breaches are reused.
• Impact:
  • Brute-Force Attacks against Valkey Authentication: High risk reduction. Strong passwords are a fundamental defense.
  • Dictionary Attacks against Valkey Authentication: High risk reduction. Significantly reduces the effectiveness of dictionary attacks.
  • Credential Stuffing against Valkey: Medium risk reduction. Helps if users reuse passwords, but not if the Valkey-specific password is leaked directly.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Strong password guidelines are documented, but technical enforcement within Valkey or related tooling is missing.
• Missing Implementation: Explore and implement tools or scripts to technically enforce password complexity during Valkey user creation. Automate password rotation reminders or enforcement for Valkey users.

Mitigation Strategy: Restrict network access to Valkey instances (Valkey deployment context)

• Mitigation Strategy: Restrict network access to Valkey instances using network controls.
• Description:
  1. Firewall Rules for Valkey Ports: Configure firewalls (network and/or host-based) to restrict access to Valkey's ports (default TLS port if enabled, or standard port) to only authorized IP addresses or networks. Specifically, allow connections only from application servers and administrative jump hosts.
  2. Network Segmentation for Valkey: Deploy Valkey instances within a dedicated, isolated network segment (e.g., VLAN). This segment should have restricted routing and firewall rules to control traffic flow in and out.
  3. Valkey bind Configuration: Configure Valkey's bind directive in valkey.conf to listen only on private network interfaces, not public-facing ones. This prevents direct public internet access to Valkey.
  4. Regular Firewall Rule Review: Periodically review and audit firewall rules related to Valkey to ensure they remain effective and aligned with security policies.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Network Access to Valkey (High Severity): Prevents attackers on untrusted networks from directly connecting to Valkey.
  • External Attacks on Valkey (High Severity): Reduces the attack surface exposed to the internet, mitigating risks from internet-based threats targeting Valkey.
  • Lateral Movement to Valkey (Medium Severity): Limits lateral movement within the network to Valkey instances if other systems are compromised.
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Network Access to Valkey: High risk reduction. Firewalls are a core network security control.
  • External Attacks on Valkey: High risk reduction. Significantly reduces exposure to external threats.
  • Lateral Movement to Valkey: Medium risk reduction. Network segmentation adds a layer of defense, but internal network vulnerabilities could still exist.
• Currently Implemented: Implemented. Firewall rules are in place, and Valkey is bound to private interfaces. Network segmentation is used.
• Missing Implementation: No major missing implementations related to Valkey directly. Continuous monitoring and maintenance of network configurations are crucial.

Mitigation Strategy: Utilize TLS for client-server communication with Valkey

• Mitigation Strategy: Utilize TLS encryption for all client-server communication with Valkey.
• Description:
  1. Generate TLS Certificates for Valkey: Obtain or generate TLS certificates for the Valkey server. Use a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) or an internal CA.
  2. Enable TLS in Valkey Configuration: Configure Valkey to enable TLS by setting the tls-port, tls-cert-file, tls-key-file directives in valkey.conf. Optionally, configure tls-ca-cert-file for client certificate verification (mutual TLS).
  3. Configure Valkey Clients for TLS: Ensure all application clients and tools connecting to Valkey are configured to use TLS. Specify the TLS port and provide necessary certificate paths in client connection configurations.
  4. Disable Non-TLS Port (Optional but Recommended): If possible and if all clients support TLS, disable the non-TLS port (default 6379) in Valkey configuration to enforce TLS-only connections.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Eavesdropping on Valkey Communication (High Severity): Prevents interception and reading of sensitive data transmitted between applications and Valkey.
  • Man-in-the-Middle Attacks on Valkey Communication (High Severity): Protects against attackers intercepting and potentially modifying communication.
  • Data Injection/Tampering during Transit to Valkey (Medium Severity): TLS provides integrity checks, reducing the risk of data manipulation in transit.
• Impact:
  • Eavesdropping on Valkey Communication: High risk reduction. TLS encryption is the primary defense against eavesdropping.
  • Man-in-the-Middle Attacks on Valkey Communication: High risk reduction. TLS authentication and encryption make MITM attacks very difficult.
  • Data Injection/Tampering during Transit to Valkey: Medium risk reduction. TLS provides integrity, but application-level vulnerabilities could still exist.
• Currently Implemented: Implemented. TLS is enabled for production Valkey instances and clients.
• Missing Implementation: Client-side certificate verification (mutual TLS) is not currently enforced. Consider implementing for enhanced authentication and security, especially in high-security environments.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Resource Limits and Rate Limiting in Valkey

• Mitigation Strategy: Implement resource limits and rate limiting within Valkey configuration.
• Description:
  1. Configure Valkey Memory Limits: Set appropriate memory limits in valkey.conf using maxmemory directive to prevent Valkey from consuming excessive memory and potentially crashing the server or impacting other services.
  2. Set Connection Limits: Use the maxclients directive in valkey.conf to limit the maximum number of concurrent client connections to Valkey. This can prevent connection exhaustion attacks.
  3. Implement Rate Limiting using Valkey Features (if available via modules or scripting): Explore if Valkey modules or scripting capabilities can be used to implement rate limiting based on IP address, user, or command type. If not natively available, consider application-level rate limiting as a complementary measure.
  4. Monitor Resource Usage: Continuously monitor Valkey resource usage (CPU, memory, connections) to detect anomalies and potential resource exhaustion attempts.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Denial of Service (DoS) attacks against Valkey (High Severity): Resource limits and rate limiting help prevent DoS attacks that aim to overload Valkey with requests or resource consumption.
  • Resource Exhaustion (High Severity): Prevents Valkey from exhausting server resources (memory, connections), which could lead to instability or service outages.
  • "Noisy Neighbor" Issues (Medium Severity): Limits the impact of one application or user excessively consuming Valkey resources and affecting others.
• Impact:
  • Denial of Service (DoS) attacks against Valkey: Medium to High risk reduction. Resource limits are a significant defense, but sophisticated DoS attacks might still be possible.
  • Resource Exhaustion: High risk reduction. Memory and connection limits are direct controls against resource exhaustion.
  • "Noisy Neighbor" Issues: Medium risk reduction. Helps to isolate resource usage and improve overall stability.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Memory limits are configured. Connection limits are set to a default value but could be further tuned. Rate limiting is not implemented within Valkey itself.
• Missing Implementation: Fine-tune connection limits based on application needs and capacity. Explore and implement rate limiting mechanisms within Valkey or at the application level to protect against request floods.

Mitigation Strategy: Regular Valkey Updates and Patching

• Mitigation Strategy: Implement a process for regular Valkey updates and patching.
• Description:
  1. Monitor Valkey Security Announcements: Subscribe to Valkey security mailing lists, release notes, and security advisories to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and security updates.
  2. Establish a Patching Schedule: Define a regular schedule for applying Valkey updates and patches. Prioritize security patches and critical updates.
  3. Test Updates in Non-Production: Before applying updates to production Valkey instances, thoroughly test them in a non-production environment to identify any compatibility issues or regressions.
  4. Automate Patching Process (if possible): Explore automation tools and configuration management systems to streamline the Valkey patching process and ensure timely updates.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Exploitation of Known Valkey Vulnerabilities (High Severity): Regular patching addresses known security vulnerabilities in Valkey, preventing attackers from exploiting them.
  • Zero-Day Attacks (Reduced Risk): While patching doesn't directly prevent zero-day attacks, a proactive patching posture reduces the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Impact:
  • Exploitation of Known Valkey Vulnerabilities: High risk reduction. Patching directly addresses known vulnerabilities.
  • Zero-Day Attacks: Low to Medium risk reduction. Reduces the overall attack surface and improves security posture.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Valkey update monitoring is in place, but a formalized patching schedule and automated patching are missing. Testing in non-production is done, but could be more rigorous.
• Missing Implementation: Formalize a regular patching schedule for Valkey. Implement automated patching processes using configuration management tools. Enhance testing procedures for Valkey updates in non-production environments.

Mitigation Strategy: Security Audits and Vulnerability Assessments of Valkey Deployment

• Mitigation Strategy: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of the Valkey deployment.
• Description:
  1. Regular Security Audits: Periodically conduct security audits of Valkey configurations, ACLs, network access controls, and operational procedures to identify potential weaknesses and misconfigurations.
  2. Vulnerability Scanning: Perform regular vulnerability scans of Valkey servers using vulnerability scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities in the Valkey software and underlying operating system.
  3. Penetration Testing (Optional): Consider periodic penetration testing of the Valkey deployment to simulate real-world attacks and identify exploitable vulnerabilities.
  4. Remediation of Findings: Promptly remediate any security vulnerabilities or weaknesses identified during audits and assessments. Prioritize critical and high-severity findings.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Undiscovered Valkey Vulnerabilities (Medium to High Severity): Audits and assessments help proactively identify and address vulnerabilities that might not be publicly known or easily detectable.
  • Misconfigurations in Valkey Security Settings (Medium Severity): Audits can identify misconfigurations in ACLs, TLS settings, or other security-related parameters.
  • Compliance Violations (Varies): Security audits help ensure compliance with relevant security standards and regulations related to data protection and system security.
• Impact:
  • Undiscovered Valkey Vulnerabilities: Medium to High risk reduction. Proactive assessments are crucial for finding hidden weaknesses.
  • Misconfigurations in Valkey Security Settings: Medium risk reduction. Audits help ensure configurations are secure and as intended.
  • Compliance Violations: Varies depending on the specific compliance requirements.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Basic vulnerability scanning is performed. Security audits are less frequent and not formalized. Penetration testing is not regularly conducted on Valkey.
• Missing Implementation: Formalize a schedule for regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of Valkey. Include penetration testing in the assessment plan. Implement a process for tracking and remediating findings from audits and assessments.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Configuration Management for Valkey

• Mitigation Strategy: Implement secure configuration management for Valkey instances.
• Description:
  1. Centralized Configuration Management: Use a configuration management system (e.g., Ansible, Chef, Puppet) to manage Valkey configurations centrally. Store Valkey configuration files in version control.
  2. Automated Configuration Deployment: Automate the deployment of Valkey configurations using the configuration management system. This ensures consistency and reduces manual errors.
  3. Configuration Versioning and Auditing: Track changes to Valkey configurations using version control. Implement auditing of configuration changes to identify who made changes and when.
  4. Secure Configuration Templates: Use secure configuration templates for Valkey that incorporate security best practices (e.g., strong ACL defaults, TLS enabled, appropriate resource limits).
  5. Regular Configuration Reviews: Periodically review Valkey configurations managed by the configuration management system to ensure they remain secure and aligned with security policies.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Configuration Drift and Inconsistencies (Medium Severity): Configuration management prevents configuration drift and ensures consistent security settings across Valkey instances.
  • Misconfigurations due to Manual Errors (Medium Severity): Automation reduces the risk of manual configuration errors that could introduce security vulnerabilities.
  • Unauthorized Configuration Changes (Medium Severity): Version control and auditing help track and detect unauthorized or accidental configuration changes.
• Impact:
  • Configuration Drift and Inconsistencies: Medium risk reduction. Configuration management ensures consistency and reduces configuration-related risks.
  • Misconfigurations due to Manual Errors: Medium risk reduction. Automation reduces human error.
  • Unauthorized Configuration Changes: Medium risk reduction. Improves visibility and control over configuration changes.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Configuration management is used for basic Valkey deployment, but not for comprehensive configuration management and ongoing configuration enforcement. Version control is used for some configurations.
• Missing Implementation: Fully implement configuration management for all Valkey configurations, including ACLs, TLS settings, and resource limits. Enhance configuration versioning and auditing. Implement automated configuration drift detection and remediation.

Mitigation Strategy: Parameterized Queries/Commands when interacting with Valkey

• Mitigation Strategy: Utilize parameterized queries or commands when interacting with Valkey from applications.
• Description:
  1. Use Client Library Parameterization: When using Valkey client libraries in applications, utilize the parameterization features provided by the library for commands. This ensures that user-supplied data is treated as data, not as part of the command itself.
  2. Avoid String Concatenation for Commands: Never construct Valkey commands by directly concatenating user input into command strings. This is a primary source of command injection vulnerabilities.
  3. Example (Conceptual - Valkey client library specific): Instead of client.execute("SET key:" + user_input + " value"), use a parameterized approach like client.set("key:{}".format(user_input), "value") or the library's specific parameter binding mechanism.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Command Injection Vulnerabilities in Valkey Interactions (High Severity): Parameterized queries prevent command injection attacks by ensuring user input is treated as data, not executable commands.
• Impact:
  • Command Injection Vulnerabilities in Valkey Interactions: High risk reduction. Parameterization is the primary defense against command injection.
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Parameterization is used in some parts of the application code that interact with Valkey, but it's not consistently applied across all interactions.
• Missing Implementation: Conduct a code review to identify all places where applications interact with Valkey commands. Ensure parameterized queries/commands are used consistently throughout the application to prevent command injection vulnerabilities. Standardize the use of parameterized commands within development guidelines.