attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for ory/hydra

Objective: Compromise Application that uses Ory Hydra by exploiting weaknesses or vulnerabilities within Hydra itself.

Attack Tree Visualization

Compromise Application via Hydra Exploitation [CRITICAL NODE]

• Exploit Hydra API Vulnerabilities (Admin or Public)
  • Exploit vulnerabilities in Admin API (if exposed)
    • Gain administrative control over Hydra [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Manipulate clients, users, or settings to compromise application [HIGH-RISK PATH]
• Exploit Hydra Misconfiguration [CRITICAL NODE]
  • Insecure Client Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]
    • Impersonate client and gain access [HIGH-RISK PATH]
  • Exploit insecure Redirect URIs [HIGH-RISK PATH]
    • Steal authorization codes or tokens via redirect manipulation [HIGH-RISK PATH]
  • Lack of proper Client Authentication enforcement [HIGH-RISK PATH]
    • Impersonate client and gain access [HIGH-RISK PATH]
  • Insecure Hydra Server Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
    • Weak or Default Admin Credentials [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Gain administrative access to Hydra [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        • Manipulate Hydra settings to compromise application [HIGH-RISK PATH]
    • Exposed Admin API without proper authentication/authorization [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Access Admin API without proper credentials or authorization [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        • Manipulate Hydra settings to compromise application [HIGH-RISK PATH]
• Abuse Hydra Functionality (Legitimate but Misused)
  • OAuth 2.0 Flow Exploitation
    • Token Theft or Leakage [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Steal access or refresh tokens from insecure storage or transmission [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        • Use stolen tokens to access protected resources [HIGH-RISK PATH]
    • Refresh Token Abuse [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Obtain and abuse refresh tokens to gain persistent access [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        • Maintain unauthorized access even after access token expiration [HIGH-RISK PATH]
• Compromise Hydra Infrastructure (Indirectly via Hydra) [CRITICAL NODE]
  • Database Compromise (Hydra's Backend Database) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
    • Exploit vulnerabilities in database server or database access methods [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Gain access to Hydra's database [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        • Steal sensitive data (clients, users, tokens, consent decisions) [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        • Manipulate data to compromise Hydra or application [HIGH-RISK PATH]
  • Operating System or Server Vulnerabilities [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
    • Exploit vulnerabilities in the underlying OS or server infrastructure where Hydra is running [HIGH-RISK PATH]
      • Gain control of the server [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        • Compromise Hydra and potentially the application [HIGH-RISK PATH]

Attack Tree Path: 1. Gain administrative control over Hydra [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Exploiting Admin API Vulnerabilities:
    • Authentication Bypass: Bypassing authentication mechanisms protecting the Admin API.
    • Authorization Flaws: Exploiting flaws in authorization logic to gain elevated privileges.
    • Injection Attacks: SQL Injection, Command Injection, or other injection vulnerabilities in Admin API endpoints.
  • Exploiting Hydra Server Misconfiguration (Insecure Admin API Exposure):
    • Exposing the Admin API to the public internet without proper authentication.
    • Using weak or default credentials for Admin API access.

Attack Tree Path: 2. Manipulate clients, users, or settings to compromise application [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Admin Control):
  • Client Manipulation:
    • Modifying existing clients to grant excessive permissions or redirect URIs to attacker-controlled locations.
    • Creating new malicious clients with broad access to resources.
    • Disabling or deleting legitimate clients to disrupt application functionality.
  • User Manipulation:
    • Modifying user accounts to elevate privileges or gain access to sensitive data.
    • Creating new malicious user accounts with administrative or privileged roles.
    • Disabling or deleting legitimate user accounts to disrupt application access.
  • Hydra Settings Manipulation:
    • Modifying OAuth 2.0/OIDC settings to weaken security or bypass authorization checks.
    • Disabling security features or logging to evade detection.
    • Modifying consent flows or UI to trick users or bypass consent requirements.

Attack Tree Path: 3. Insecure Client Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Weak or Default Client Secrets:
    • Using easily guessable or default client secrets.
    • Storing client secrets insecurely (e.g., in public code repositories, client-side code).
  • Exploit insecure Redirect URIs:
    • Using overly permissive redirect URI patterns (e.g., wildcards).
    • Failing to properly validate redirect URIs, leading to open redirect vulnerabilities.
  • Lack of proper Client Authentication enforcement:
    • Not requiring client authentication for certain grant types or endpoints.
    • Weak or bypassed client authentication mechanisms.

Attack Tree Path: 4. Impersonate client and gain access [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Insecure Client Configuration):
  • Using compromised client secrets:
    • Authenticating as a legitimate client using stolen or guessed client secrets.
  • Bypassing client authentication:
    • Exploiting misconfigurations where client authentication is not properly enforced.

Attack Tree Path: 5. Steal authorization codes or tokens via redirect manipulation [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Insecure Redirect URIs):
  • Open Redirect Exploitation:
    • Manipulating the redirect URI in the authorization request to redirect the authorization code or implicit grant token to an attacker-controlled server.
    • Intercepting the authorization code or token from the redirected URI.

Attack Tree Path: 6. Lack of proper Client Authentication enforcement [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Misconfiguration of Client Authentication Requirements:
    • Not requiring client authentication for public clients when it should be enforced.
    • Incorrectly configuring client authentication methods, allowing bypass.

Attack Tree Path: 7. Insecure Hydra Server Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Weak or Default Admin Credentials:
    • Using default or easily guessable passwords for Hydra admin accounts.
    • Not enforcing strong password policies for admin accounts.
  • Exposed Admin API without proper authentication/authorization:
    • Making the Admin API publicly accessible without proper authentication and authorization mechanisms.
  • Insecure TLS/HTTPS Configuration:
    • Using weak TLS ciphers or protocols.
    • Missing HTTPS configuration, allowing for Man-in-the-Middle attacks.
  • Permissive CORS Policy:
    • Overly permissive CORS policies allowing cross-origin requests from untrusted domains, enabling Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Origin attacks.
  • Insecure Session Management:
    • Using weak session tokens or algorithms.
    • Session fixation vulnerabilities in Hydra's session handling.

Attack Tree Path: 8. Gain administrative access to Hydra [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Insecure Hydra Server Configuration):
  • Exploiting Weak or Default Admin Credentials:
    • Using default credentials or brute-forcing weak admin passwords.
  • Exploiting Exposed Admin API without Authentication:
    • Accessing the unprotected Admin API directly.

Attack Tree Path: 9. Token Theft or Leakage [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Insecure Token Storage:
    • Storing tokens in plaintext or weakly encrypted formats.
    • Storing tokens in easily accessible locations (e.g., browser local storage, insecure server logs).
  • Token Leakage in Transmission:
    • Transmitting tokens over unencrypted channels (HTTP).
    • Token leakage in server logs or error messages.
  • Client-Side Vulnerabilities (XSS):
    • Exploiting Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the application or related systems to steal tokens from user browsers.

Attack Tree Path: 10. Steal access or refresh tokens from insecure storage or transmission [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Token Theft or Leakage):
  • Exploiting Insecure Storage Locations:
    • Accessing files or databases where tokens are stored insecurely.
  • Network Sniffing (if transmitted insecurely):
    • Intercepting token traffic if transmitted over unencrypted channels.

Attack Tree Path: 11. Use stolen tokens to access protected resources [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Token Theft):
  • Replaying Stolen Tokens:
    • Using stolen access or refresh tokens to authenticate to the application and access protected resources.

Attack Tree Path: 12. Refresh Token Abuse [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Refresh Token Theft:
    • Stealing refresh tokens through insecure storage, transmission, or client-side vulnerabilities.
  • Lack of Refresh Token Rotation or Revocation:
    • Abusing stolen refresh tokens to obtain new access tokens repeatedly, gaining persistent unauthorized access.

Attack Tree Path: 13. Obtain and abuse refresh tokens to gain persistent access [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Refresh Token Abuse):
  • Using Stolen Refresh Tokens:
    • Exchanging stolen refresh tokens for new access tokens.

Attack Tree Path: 14. Maintain unauthorized access even after access token expiration [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Requires Refresh Token Abuse):
  • Persistent Access via Refresh Tokens:
    • Continuously using refresh tokens to obtain new access tokens, maintaining access even after initial access tokens expire or user sessions are invalidated.

Attack Tree Path: 15. Database Compromise (Hydra's Backend Database) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Exploiting Database Server Vulnerabilities:
    • Exploiting known CVEs in the database server software.
    • Exploiting misconfigurations in the database server.
  • Exploiting Database Access Methods:
    • SQL Injection vulnerabilities in Hydra or related components (less likely in Hydra core, more likely in extensions or custom integrations).
    • Exploiting weak database authentication or authorization mechanisms.

Attack Tree Path: 16. Exploit vulnerabilities in database server or database access methods [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Database Compromise):
  • Database Vulnerability Scanning and Exploitation:
    • Using vulnerability scanners to identify database vulnerabilities.
    • Developing or using exploits to compromise the database server.
  • SQL Injection Testing and Exploitation:
    • Performing SQL injection testing on Hydra or related components.
    • Exploiting identified SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Attack Tree Path: 17. Gain access to Hydra's database [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors (Database Compromise):
  • Successful Database Exploitation:
    • Successfully exploiting database server vulnerabilities or SQL injection vulnerabilities.
  • Compromised Database Credentials:
    • Obtaining database credentials through configuration files, code leaks, or other means.

Attack Tree Path: 18. Steal sensitive data (clients, users, tokens, consent decisions) [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Database Compromise):
  • Database Queries:
    • Executing SQL queries to extract sensitive data from the compromised database.

Attack Tree Path: 19. Manipulate data to compromise Hydra or application [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (Database Compromise):
  • Database Updates:
    • Modifying database records to manipulate client configurations, user permissions, consent decisions, or other critical data to compromise Hydra or the application.

Attack Tree Path: 20. Operating System or Server Vulnerabilities [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors:
  • Exploiting OS or Server Software Vulnerabilities:
    • Exploiting known CVEs in the operating system or server software (e.g., web server, application server).
    • Exploiting misconfigurations in the OS or server.

Attack Tree Path: 21. Exploit vulnerabilities in the underlying OS or server infrastructure where Hydra is running [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (OS/Server Compromise):
  • OS/Server Vulnerability Scanning and Exploitation:
    • Using vulnerability scanners to identify OS and server vulnerabilities.
    • Developing or using exploits to compromise the OS or server.

Attack Tree Path: 22. Gain control of the server [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:

• Attack Vectors (OS/Server Compromise):
  • Successful OS/Server Exploitation:
    • Successfully exploiting OS or server software vulnerabilities.
  • Compromised Server Credentials:
    • Obtaining server credentials through phishing, social engineering, or other means.

Attack Tree Path: 23. Compromise Hydra and potentially the application [HIGH-RISK PATH]:

• Attack Vectors (OS/Server Compromise):
  • Server-Level Access:
    • Having root or administrator access to the server where Hydra is running.
  • Hydra Configuration and Binary Manipulation:
    • Modifying Hydra configuration files or binaries to weaken security, inject malicious code, or gain further control.
    • Accessing and exfiltrating sensitive data stored on the server.