attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for ory/kratos

Objective: Compromise Application via Kratos Exploitation

Attack Tree Visualization

Compromise Application via Kratos Exploitation [HIGH-RISK PATH]
* (OR) Exploit Kratos Vulnerabilities [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Exploit Known Kratos Vulnerabilities (CVEs) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Exploit Applicable CVEs [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Execute Exploit Against Kratos Instance
                * Gain Unauthorized Access/Control (depending on CVE) [CRITICAL NODE]
* (OR) Exploit Kratos Misconfiguration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Exploit Insecure Default Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Weak Default Secrets/Keys [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Exposed Debug/Admin Endpoints in Production [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Attempt to Access Debug/Admin Endpoints without Authentication
                * Exploit Insecure Default Configuration
                    * Gain Unauthorized Access/Control [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Exploit Weak Password/Policy Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        * Exploit Weak Password Policy
            * Brute-Force Password Attacks [HIGH-RISK PATH]
            * Credential Stuffing Attacks [HIGH-RISK PATH]
                * Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Exploit Insecure Session Management Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        * Exploit Insecure Session Management
            * Session Hijacking [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
                * Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) to Steal Session Cookies (See "Exploit Application Logic Vulnerabilities" if applicable to the *using* application) [HIGH-RISK PATH]
                    * Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Exploit Exposed Admin/Debug Endpoints [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Access Exposed Admin/Debug Endpoints [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Attempt to Access without Authentication or with Default Credentials
                * Exploit Admin/Debug Functionality [CRITICAL NODE]
                    * Gain Administrative Control over Kratos [CRITICAL NODE]
                    * Extract Sensitive Information (e.g., secrets, user data) [CRITICAL NODE]
                        * Compromise Application via Kratos Admin Access [CRITICAL NODE]
* (OR) Abuse Kratos Features for Malicious Purposes
    * (AND) Account Takeover via Password Reset Vulnerabilities [HIGH-RISK PATH]
        * Exploit Password Reset Vulnerabilities [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Take Over User Accounts via Password Reset [CRITICAL NODE]
                * Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE]
* (OR) Exploit Integration Weaknesses (Between Application and Kratos) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Insecure Handling of Kratos Sessions/Tokens in Application [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Storing Kratos Session Tokens Insecurely (e.g., LocalStorage, unencrypted cookies) [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Improper Validation of Kratos Session Tokens [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Exploit Insecure Handling
                * Steal Kratos Session Tokens from Application Storage [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
                * Bypass Application Authorization Checks based on Kratos Sessions [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
                    * Gain Unauthorized Access to Application Resources [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Authorization Bypass in Application Logic Based on Kratos Data [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]
        * Identify Flaws in Authorization Logic [CRITICAL NODE]
            * Exploit Authorization Bypass [CRITICAL NODE]
                * Access Application Resources without Proper Authorization [CRITICAL NODE]
    * (AND) Data Leakage through Kratos Integration
        * Identify Data Leakage Points [CRITICAL NODE]

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Kratos Vulnerabilities [CRITICAL NODE]

• Attack Vector: Exploiting software bugs or weaknesses within the Kratos application itself.
• Breakdown:
  • Exploit Known Kratos Vulnerabilities (CVEs) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
    • Attack Step: Targeting publicly disclosed vulnerabilities (CVEs) in specific Kratos versions.
    • Vulnerabilities: Outdated Kratos versions, unpatched security flaws.
    • Consequences: Remote Code Execution, Authentication Bypass, Data Breach, depending on the CVE.
    • Exploit Applicable CVEs [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Developing or using existing exploit code to target identified CVEs.
      • Vulnerabilities: Presence of exploitable CVEs in the Kratos instance.
      • Consequences: Gain Unauthorized Access/Control (depending on CVE) [CRITICAL NODE] - Account takeover, data access, system compromise.

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Kratos Misconfiguration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]

• Attack Vector: Leveraging insecure or improperly configured settings in Kratos.
• Breakdown:
  • Exploit Insecure Default Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting default settings that are inherently insecure.
    • Vulnerabilities: Weak default secrets/keys, exposed debug/admin endpoints, permissive CORS policies, insecure session management defaults.
    • Consequences: Compromise of secrets, unauthorized admin access, session hijacking, data exposure.
    • Weak Default Secrets/Keys [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Guessing or brute-forcing default secrets or API keys if they haven't been changed.
      • Vulnerabilities: Use of default, easily guessable secrets.
      • Consequences: Full compromise of Kratos if secrets are critical for authentication or encryption.
    • Exposed Debug/Admin Endpoints in Production [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Accessing debug or administrative interfaces that should not be publicly accessible in production.
      • Vulnerabilities: Leaving debug/admin endpoints enabled and accessible without proper authentication.
      • Consequences: Gain Unauthorized Access/Control [CRITICAL NODE] - Full administrative control over Kratos, ability to extract sensitive data, modify configurations, and potentially compromise user accounts.
  • Exploit Weak Password/Policy Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting weak password policies to compromise user accounts.
    • Vulnerabilities: Short minimum password length, lack of complexity requirements, no rate limiting on login attempts.
    • Consequences: Account takeover through brute-force or credential stuffing attacks.
    • Brute-Force Password Attacks [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
      • Attack Step: Systematically trying different passwords to guess a user's password.
      • Vulnerabilities: Weak password policies, lack of rate limiting.
      • Consequences: Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE] - Account takeover.
    • Credential Stuffing Attacks [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
      • Attack Step: Using lists of leaked credentials from other breaches to attempt login.
      • Vulnerabilities: Weak password policies, users reusing passwords across services.
      • Consequences: Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE] - Account takeover.
  • Exploit Insecure Session Management Configuration [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting misconfigured session management settings to hijack user sessions.
    • Vulnerabilities: Long session timeouts, insecure session storage, lack of session rotation, missing HttpOnly/Secure flags on session cookies.
    • Consequences: Session hijacking, session replay attacks, account takeover.
    • Session Hijacking [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Stealing a valid user session token to impersonate the user.
      • Vulnerabilities: Insecure session storage, lack of HttpOnly/Secure flags, XSS vulnerabilities in the application (if used to steal cookies).
      • Consequences: Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE] - Account takeover.
      • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) to Steal Session Cookies [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
        • Attack Step: Injecting malicious scripts into the application to steal session cookies.
        • Vulnerabilities: XSS vulnerabilities in the application interacting with Kratos sessions.
        • Consequences: Session Hijacking, Account Takeover.
  • Exploit Exposed Admin/Debug Endpoints [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting functionality available through exposed admin or debug endpoints.
    • Vulnerabilities: Leaving admin/debug endpoints accessible in production, lack of authentication on these endpoints.
    • Consequences: Gain Administrative Control over Kratos [CRITICAL NODE], Extract Sensitive Information (e.g., secrets, user data) [CRITICAL NODE], Compromise Application via Kratos Admin Access [CRITICAL NODE] - Full control over Kratos, data breach, secret exposure, complete compromise of the authentication system.
    • Access Exposed Admin/Debug Endpoints [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Attempting to access admin/debug endpoints without authentication or with default credentials.
      • Vulnerabilities: Exposed admin/debug endpoints, weak or missing authentication.
      • Consequences: Access to admin functionality, information disclosure.
    • Exploit Admin/Debug Functionality [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Utilizing the exposed admin/debug functionality for malicious purposes.
      • Vulnerabilities: Functionality available through admin/debug endpoints that can be abused.
      • Consequences: Gain Administrative Control over Kratos [CRITICAL NODE], Extract Sensitive Information (e.g., secrets, user data) [CRITICAL NODE].

Attack Tree Path: Abuse Kratos Features for Malicious Purposes

• Attack Vector: Misusing intended features of Kratos to achieve malicious goals.
• Breakdown:
  • Account Takeover via Password Reset Vulnerabilities [HIGH-RISK PATH]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting weaknesses in the password reset flow to take over user accounts.
    • Vulnerabilities: Weak password reset tokens, lack of rate limiting, insecure reset link delivery, email/SMS spoofing, logic flaws in the reset process.
    • Consequences: Account takeover.
    • Exploit Password Reset Vulnerabilities [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in the password reset process.
      • Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in token generation, validation, or the overall reset flow.
      • Consequences: Take Over User Accounts via Password Reset [CRITICAL NODE], Gain Unauthorized Access to User Accounts [CRITICAL NODE] - Account takeover.

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Integration Weaknesses (Between Application and Kratos) [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]

• Attack Vector: Exploiting vulnerabilities arising from the application's integration with Kratos, rather than Kratos itself.
• Breakdown:
  • Insecure Handling of Kratos Sessions/Tokens in Application [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
    • Attack Step: Exploiting insecure practices in how the application handles Kratos session tokens.
    • Vulnerabilities: Storing tokens insecurely (LocalStorage, unencrypted cookies), improper token validation, leaking tokens in logs, vulnerabilities in application logic relying on session data.
    • Consequences: Session token theft, authorization bypass, unauthorized access to application resources.
    • Storing Kratos Session Tokens Insecurely [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Application storing session tokens in a way that is easily accessible to attackers (e.g., LocalStorage, unencrypted cookies).
      • Vulnerabilities: Insecure storage mechanisms.
      • Consequences: Steal Kratos Session Tokens from Application Storage [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE] - Session hijacking, account takeover.
    • Improper Validation of Kratos Session Tokens [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Application not correctly validating Kratos session tokens, allowing forged or manipulated tokens to be accepted.
      • Vulnerabilities: Weak or missing token validation logic in the application.
      • Consequences: Bypass Application Authorization Checks based on Kratos Sessions [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE], Gain Unauthorized Access to Application Resources [CRITICAL NODE] - Authorization bypass, access to restricted application features or data.
  • Authorization Bypass in Application Logic Based on Kratos Data [HIGH-RISK PATH] [CRITICAL NODE]:
    • Attack Step: Bypassing authorization checks in the application due to flaws in how it uses data from Kratos for authorization decisions.
    • Vulnerabilities: Incorrectly relying on Kratos user roles, logic errors in authorization rules, inconsistent interpretation of Kratos data, TOCTOU vulnerabilities.
    • Consequences: Access Application Resources without Proper Authorization [CRITICAL NODE] - Unauthorized access to application features or data.
    • Identify Flaws in Authorization Logic [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Analyzing the application's code to find weaknesses in its authorization logic that relies on Kratos data.
      • Vulnerabilities: Logic errors, incorrect assumptions about Kratos data, race conditions.
      • Consequences: Exploit Authorization Bypass [CRITICAL NODE], Access Application Resources without Proper Authorization [CRITICAL NODE].
  • Data Leakage through Kratos Integration:
    • Attack Step: Sensitive user data managed by Kratos being unintentionally exposed through the application's integration.
    • Vulnerabilities: Exposing data in application responses, logging sensitive data, insecure data transfer between application and Kratos.
    • Consequences: Data Breach - Sensitive User Data.
    • Identify Data Leakage Points [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Attack Step: Identifying locations in the application where sensitive user data from Kratos is being leaked.
      • Vulnerabilities: Unintentional data exposure in responses, logs, or during data transfer.
      • Consequences: Exploit Data Leakage, Obtain Sensitive User Data Managed by Kratos.