mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for fabric8io/fabric8-pipeline-library

Mitigation Strategy: Dependency Scanning (for Fabric8 Pipeline Library)

• Description:

  • Step 1: Integrate a dependency scanning tool into your CI/CD pipeline that can analyze pipeline definition files (e.g., Jenkinsfile) where you declare and use the fabric8-pipeline-library.
  • Step 2: Configure the scanner to specifically identify known vulnerabilities within the fabric8-pipeline-library and its transitive dependencies. This ensures you are aware of security issues within the library itself.
  • Step 3: Set up alerts or pipeline breaks based on vulnerability severity detected in the fabric8-pipeline-library. Prioritize fixing high severity vulnerabilities found in the library to prevent exploitation.
  • Step 4: Regularly update the vulnerability database of your scanning tool to catch newly discovered vulnerabilities in the fabric8-pipeline-library and its dependencies.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Vulnerable Fabric8 Pipeline Library Dependencies: Using outdated or vulnerable versions of the fabric8-pipeline-library or its internal dependencies. - Severity: High
  • Supply Chain Attacks via Fabric8 Pipeline Library: Compromise of a dependency within the fabric8-pipeline-library supply chain, potentially leading to malicious code execution when your pipelines use the library. - Severity: High

• Impact:

  • Vulnerable Fabric8 Pipeline Library Dependencies: High - Directly reduces the risk of exploiting known vulnerabilities present in the library itself.
  • Supply Chain Attacks via Fabric8 Pipeline Library: Medium - Reduces risk by identifying known vulnerable components within the library's ecosystem, but zero-day vulnerabilities or sophisticated attacks might still be missed.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - Dependency scanning might be in place for application dependencies, but specific scanning focused on the fabric8-pipeline-library within pipeline definitions might be missing.

• Missing Implementation: Configuration of dependency scanning to specifically target and analyze the fabric8-pipeline-library and its dependencies within pipeline definition files.

Mitigation Strategy: Pin Fabric8 Pipeline Library Versions

• Description:

  • Step 1: In your pipeline definition files (e.g., Jenkinsfile), explicitly declare and use a fixed, specific version of the fabric8-pipeline-library. Avoid using latest or version ranges that could lead to automatic updates to potentially unstable or vulnerable versions of the library.
  • Step 2: Document the chosen version of the fabric8-pipeline-library and the reason for selecting it (e.g., tested version, known stable release).
  • Step 3: Establish a process to periodically review and update the pinned fabric8-pipeline-library version, considering security updates and new features released by the library maintainers, but only after thorough testing in a non-production pipeline environment.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Unexpected Fabric8 Pipeline Library Updates: Unintentional updates to newer versions of the fabric8-pipeline-library that might introduce bugs, breaking changes, or new vulnerabilities within the library's code. - Severity: Medium
  • Rollback Difficulties due to Fabric8 Pipeline Library Changes: Difficulty in reverting to a previous stable pipeline state if an automatic fabric8-pipeline-library update introduces issues. - Severity: Medium

• Impact:

  • Unexpected Fabric8 Pipeline Library Updates: High - Eliminates the risk of automatic, potentially breaking or vulnerable updates of the library itself.
  • Rollback Difficulties due to Fabric8 Pipeline Library Changes: High - Simplifies rollback to a known stable pipeline configuration using a specific, tested version of the fabric8-pipeline-library.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - Version pinning might be practiced for application dependencies, but management of fabric8-pipeline-library versions might be less strict.

• Missing Implementation: Consistent and explicit version pinning of the fabric8-pipeline-library in all pipelines. Clear documentation of pinned versions and a defined update process for the library.

Mitigation Strategy: Verify Fabric8 Pipeline Library Source

• Description:

  • Step 1: Strictly configure your pipeline configurations to download and utilize the fabric8-pipeline-library only from the official and trusted GitHub repository: https://github.com/fabric8io/fabric8-pipeline-library.
  • Step 2: Within your pipeline setup, if feasible, implement checks to verify that the library being used is indeed sourced from the official repository. This might involve verifying repository URLs or using mechanisms provided by your pipeline tooling to ensure origin.
  • Step 3: Always use secure communication channels (HTTPS) when downloading or accessing the fabric8-pipeline-library to minimize the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks during library retrieval.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Man-in-the-Middle Attacks on Fabric8 Pipeline Library Download: Compromise during the download of the fabric8-pipeline-library, potentially replacing it with a malicious version. - Severity: High
  • Usage of Unofficial or Malicious Fabric8 Pipeline Library Sources: Accidentally or intentionally using a modified or malicious version of the fabric8-pipeline-library from an untrusted or unofficial source. - Severity: High

• Impact:

  • Man-in-the-Middle Attacks on Fabric8 Pipeline Library Download: Medium - HTTPS helps mitigate basic MITM attacks during download, but stronger verification mechanisms would increase impact.
  • Usage of Unofficial or Malicious Fabric8 Pipeline Library Sources: High - Ensures the fabric8-pipeline-library is obtained from the official, trusted source, significantly reducing the risk of using compromised versions.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - Pipelines likely use HTTPS, but explicit source verification for the fabric8-pipeline-library might be absent.

• Missing Implementation: Explicit configuration to only source the fabric8-pipeline-library from the official GitHub repository. Implementation of mechanisms to verify the source repository within the pipeline setup.

Mitigation Strategy: Code Review Pipeline Definitions (Focus on Fabric8 Pipeline Library Usage)

• Description:

  • Step 1: As part of your pipeline definition code review process, specifically train reviewers to scrutinize how the fabric8-pipeline-library is being used in pipelines.
  • Step 2: Reviewers should focus on:
    • Understanding the security implications of each fabric8-pipeline-library step being used.
    • Checking for misconfigurations or insecure usage patterns of library steps.
    • Ensuring that library steps are used with the principle of least privilege in mind.
    • Verifying that sensitive data or secrets are not being mishandled by library steps.
  • Step 3: Use code review checklists or guidelines that specifically address secure usage of the fabric8-pipeline-library to aid reviewers.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Insecure Usage of Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: Misconfiguration or misuse of fabric8-pipeline-library steps leading to security vulnerabilities. - Severity: Medium
  • Introduction of Vulnerabilities through Fabric8 Pipeline Library Misuse: Unintentionally creating security weaknesses by incorrectly using library functionalities. - Severity: Medium
  • Lack of Understanding of Fabric8 Pipeline Library Security Implications: Developers or pipeline operators not fully understanding the security aspects of the fabric8-pipeline-library steps they are using. - Severity: Medium

• Impact:

  • Insecure Usage of Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: High - Code review focused on library usage can effectively identify and prevent misconfigurations.
  • Introduction of Vulnerabilities through Fabric8 Pipeline Library Misuse: High - Proactive review helps catch potential vulnerabilities before they are deployed.
  • Lack of Understanding of Fabric8 Pipeline Library Security Implications: Medium - Code review process can educate developers and improve understanding of secure library usage.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - General code review might exist, but security-focused review specifically for fabric8-pipeline-library usage is likely missing.

• Missing Implementation: Security-focused training for pipeline code reviewers specifically on fabric8-pipeline-library security. Checklists or guidelines for reviewing fabric8-pipeline-library usage in pipelines.

Mitigation Strategy: Principle of Least Privilege for Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps

• Description:

  • Step 1: For each pipeline that utilizes steps from the fabric8-pipeline-library, carefully analyze the documentation of the library steps being used to understand the permissions they require.
  • Step 2: Configure the pipeline execution environment (e.g., service accounts, roles) to grant only the minimum necessary permissions required by the specific fabric8-pipeline-library steps used in that pipeline. Avoid granting overly broad permissions that are not needed by the library steps.
  • Step 3: Regularly review and audit the permissions granted to pipeline execution environments in relation to the fabric8-pipeline-library steps they are using to ensure adherence to the principle of least privilege.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Privilege Escalation via Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: Exploitation of vulnerabilities in fabric8-pipeline-library steps to gain higher privileges than intended due to overly permissive execution environment. - Severity: High
  • Lateral Movement from Compromised Pipeline using Fabric8 Pipeline Library: If a pipeline using fabric8-pipeline-library is compromised, overly broad permissions could allow for unauthorized access to other systems. - Severity: High

• Impact:

  • Privilege Escalation via Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: High - Significantly reduces the impact of potential privilege escalation vulnerabilities within the library's steps by limiting initial privileges.
  • Lateral Movement from Compromised Pipeline using Fabric8 Pipeline Library: High - Limits potential lateral movement by restricting the scope of access from a compromised pipeline utilizing the library.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - General least privilege principles might be considered, but granular permission control specifically tailored to fabric8-pipeline-library steps is likely missing.

• Missing Implementation: Detailed permission mapping for each fabric8-pipeline-library step used in pipelines. Configuration of pipeline execution environments with minimal permissions required by the specific library steps.

Mitigation Strategy: Secure Handling of Secrets with Fabric8 Pipeline Library

• Description:

  • Step 1: When using fabric8-pipeline-library steps that require secrets (e.g., credentials for Kubernetes, cloud providers), never hardcode secrets directly in pipeline definitions or code.
  • Step 2: Utilize secure secret management solutions and mechanisms to store and retrieve secrets.
  • Step 3: Investigate if the fabric8-pipeline-library provides specific steps or mechanisms for securely handling secrets. If so, leverage these provided features.
  • Step 4: If dedicated library features are not available, ensure that the methods you use to pass secrets to fabric8-pipeline-library steps are secure and avoid exposing secrets in pipeline logs or outputs.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Secret Exposure via Fabric8 Pipeline Library Usage: Hardcoding secrets in pipeline definitions that use fabric8-pipeline-library, leading to exposure in version control or logs. - Severity: High
  • Secret Leakage through Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: Secrets inadvertently being logged or exposed by fabric8-pipeline-library steps if not handled securely. - Severity: Medium

• Impact:

  • Secret Exposure via Fabric8 Pipeline Library Usage: High - Eliminates the risk of hardcoded secrets in pipeline definitions when used with the library.
  • Secret Leakage through Fabric8 Pipeline Library Steps: Medium - Secure secret handling practices and awareness of library step behavior minimize the risk of leakage.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - Secure secret management might be in place, but specific guidance and implementation for secure secret handling within the context of fabric8-pipeline-library usage might be lacking.

• Missing Implementation: Clear guidelines and procedures for secure secret handling when using fabric8-pipeline-library. Investigation and utilization of any secret management features provided by the library itself.

Mitigation Strategy: Comprehensive Logging of Fabric8 Pipeline Library Actions

• Description:

  • Step 1: Configure your pipeline logging to capture detailed information about the actions performed by each step from the fabric8-pipeline-library used in your pipelines.
  • Step 2: Ensure logs include:
    • Specific fabric8-pipeline-library step being executed.
    • Parameters and inputs passed to the library step.
    • Actions performed by the library step (e.g., Kubernetes operations, API calls).
    • Outputs and results of the library step execution.
    • Any errors or exceptions encountered during library step execution.
  • Step 3: Centralize these detailed pipeline logs for security monitoring and auditing purposes.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Lack of Audit Trail for Fabric8 Pipeline Library Actions: Inability to track actions performed by fabric8-pipeline-library steps, hindering incident investigation and security auditing. - Severity: Medium
  • Delayed Incident Detection related to Fabric8 Pipeline Library: Difficulty in detecting security incidents originating from or involving fabric8-pipeline-library steps due to insufficient logging of library actions. - Severity: Medium

• Impact:

  • Lack of Audit Trail for Fabric8 Pipeline Library Actions: High - Provides a detailed audit trail of actions performed by the library steps.
  • Delayed Incident Detection related to Fabric8 Pipeline Library: Medium - Improves incident detection capabilities by providing visibility into the behavior of fabric8-pipeline-library steps.

• Currently Implemented: Partial - Basic pipeline logging might exist, but detailed logging specifically focused on the actions of fabric8-pipeline-library steps is likely missing.

• Missing Implementation: Configuration of detailed logging to capture actions of all fabric8-pipeline-library steps used in pipelines. Centralized logging and monitoring of these detailed logs for security events.