threat-modeling.md

Threat Model Analysis for schollz/croc

Threat: Weak Encryption or Implementation Flaws

Description: Vulnerabilities exist in croc's encryption implementation (PAKE, AES), such as weak key generation, insecure algorithm usage, or coding errors. An attacker could exploit these flaws to decrypt transferred data or manipulate communications. This could be achieved by analyzing network traffic or exploiting specific weaknesses in the cryptographic algorithms or their implementation within croc.

• Impact: Loss of data confidentiality and integrity, potential unauthorized access to transferred files, complete compromise of secure file transfer.
• Croc Component Affected: Encryption Module, Key Exchange Mechanism, Data Transfer Module.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Regularly audit and review croc's codebase, especially encryption-related parts, for potential weaknesses.
  • Stay updated with security advisories and updates for croc to patch any identified encryption vulnerabilities.
  • Consider penetration testing specifically focusing on croc's encryption implementation and cryptographic robustness.
  • Always use the latest stable version of croc which includes the most recent security fixes and improvements.

Threat: Codebase Vulnerabilities in croc

Description: Croc's codebase contains vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, injection flaws, or logic errors. An attacker could exploit these by crafting malicious inputs or interactions when communicating with croc (e.g., during connection setup, file transfer initiation, or through specially crafted data). Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution on the user's machine running croc, denial of service, or information disclosure.

• Impact: Remote code execution, allowing the attacker to gain full control of the user's system; denial of service, making croc unusable; information disclosure, potentially leaking sensitive data from the user's system or during file transfer processes.
• Croc Component Affected: Various modules depending on the specific vulnerability (e.g., Input Parsing, Network Handling, File Processing, Command Execution).
• Risk Severity: Critical (if Remote Code Execution is possible), High (for significant Denial of Service or Information Disclosure).
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates for croc and apply patches promptly.
  • Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing, including static and dynamic analysis, if using a modified or embedded version of croc.
  • Minimize exposure of croc's functionality to untrusted input if your application directly interacts with croc's code or exposes its features.
  • Implement input validation and sanitization wherever croc processes external data or user-provided input.
  • Use memory-safe programming practices and tools during development or modification of croc.

Threat: Dependency Vulnerabilities

Description: Croc relies on external libraries and dependencies. Vulnerabilities discovered in these dependencies can be indirectly exploited through croc. An attacker could leverage known vulnerabilities in croc's dependencies to compromise the application or the user's system. This could involve exploiting vulnerable parsing libraries, network libraries, or other components used by croc.

• Impact: Depending on the dependency vulnerability, impacts can range from remote code execution, allowing full system control, to denial of service, or information disclosure. The impact is similar to codebase vulnerabilities within croc itself, but originates from its external components.
• Croc Component Affected: Dependency Management, indirectly affects various modules that utilize the vulnerable dependency.
• Risk Severity: Critical (if Remote Code Execution vulnerability exists in a dependency), High (for significant Denial of Service or Information Disclosure vulnerabilities in dependencies).
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Regularly audit and update croc's dependencies to their latest secure versions. This includes monitoring for security updates from dependency maintainers.
  • Use dependency scanning tools (e.g., vulnerability scanners for software composition analysis) to automatically identify known vulnerabilities in croc's dependencies.
  • Implement a process for promptly updating dependencies when security vulnerabilities are disclosed and patches are available.
  • Consider using dependency pinning or lock files to ensure consistent and controlled dependency versions are used across deployments and development environments, making vulnerability management more predictable.