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attack-surface.md

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Attack Surface Analysis for akhikhl/gretty

Attack Surface: 1. Outdated Embedded Servlet Container

  • Description: Running an old version of Jetty or Tomcat with known vulnerabilities.
  • How Gretty Contributes: Gretty directly allows specifying the servlet container version via configuration (e.g., gretty.servletContainerVersion). This is the core mechanism.
  • Example: Using gretty.servletContainerVersion = 'jetty9.4.10.v20180503' (hypothetical vulnerable version) when newer, patched versions are available.
  • Impact: Remote code execution, denial of service, information disclosure, depending on the specific CVEs.
  • Risk Severity: Critical (if known RCE exists) or High (for other significant vulnerabilities).
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Automated Updates: Integrate dependency checking and updates into the CI/CD pipeline. Use tools like Dependabot.
    • Policy Enforcement: Require the use of the latest stable servlet container version in Gretty configuration.
    • Regular Audits: Periodically review the gretty.servletContainerVersion setting.

Attack Surface: 2. Servlet Container Misconfiguration (via Gretty)

  • Description: Incorrect configuration of the embedded Jetty or Tomcat, specifically through Gretty's configuration options.
  • How Gretty Contributes: Gretty exposes configuration settings that directly control the underlying servlet container's behavior. This is not a general misconfiguration, but one facilitated by Gretty's settings.
  • Example: Exposing the Tomcat manager application (/manager/html) due to misconfigured contextPath, security constraints, or other container-specific settings within the Gretty configuration.
  • Impact: Unauthorized access to server management, deployment of malicious WAR files, server compromise.
  • Risk Severity: Critical (if management interfaces are exposed) or High.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Least Privilege (via Gretty): Configure the servlet container through Gretty with minimal privileges. Disable unnecessary features exposed by Gretty.
    • Secure Defaults: Review and override Gretty's default settings related to the container to enhance security.
    • Documentation Review: Thoroughly understand the implications of each Gretty configuration option that affects the servlet container.

Attack Surface: 3. Development Features in Production (Enabled by Gretty)

  • Description: Enabling Gretty's development features (fast reload, hot swapping, debug ports) in production.
  • How Gretty Contributes: These features are core to Gretty's functionality and are enabled/disabled directly through Gretty's configuration.
  • Example: Leaving gretty.fastReload = true in a production build. Or, inadvertently enabling a debug port via a Gretty setting.
  • Impact: Remote code execution, server compromise.
  • Risk Severity: Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Separate Configurations: Use distinct Gradle configurations (and thus, Gretty configurations) for development and production.
    • Environment Variables: Control feature flags via environment variables, ensuring production environments disable Gretty's development features.
    • CI/CD Enforcement: Implement checks in the CI/CD pipeline to specifically prevent deployments with Gretty's development features enabled.

Attack Surface: 4. Insecure Resource Handling (via Gretty's webappCopy)

  • Description: Misconfiguration of Gretty's webappCopy feature (or similar resource-handling settings), leading to sensitive file exposure.
  • How Gretty Contributes: Gretty provides the webappCopy feature (or equivalent) for managing web application resources. The vulnerability arises from misusing this Gretty-provided functionality.
  • Example: Including configuration files with secrets in the webappCopy directory, making them accessible via HTTP.
  • Impact: Information disclosure, credential theft.
  • Risk Severity: High.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Careful webappCopy Configuration: Thoroughly review and restrict the webappCopy configuration (and any related Gretty settings) to include only essential files.
    • Secrets Management: Store sensitive data securely, outside of files managed by Gretty's webappCopy or similar features.

Attack Surface: 5. Insecure Communication (Configured via Gretty)

  • Description: Gretty configured to use HTTP instead of HTTPS.
    • How Gretty Contributes: Gretty allows configuring the protocol used for communication (e.g., httpPort, httpsPort, SSL/TLS settings). The vulnerability is a direct result of how Gretty is configured.
    • Example: Setting httpPort but not configuring httpsPort or SSL/TLS certificates within the Gretty configuration.
    • Impact: Man-in-the-middle attacks, interception of sensitive data.
    • Risk Severity: Critical
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Enforce HTTPS (via Gretty): Always configure Gretty to use HTTPS. Obtain and install valid SSL/TLS certificates, configuring them through Gretty.
      • Redirect HTTP to HTTPS (via Gretty): Configure Gretty to automatically redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS.