mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for netflix/asgard

Mitigation Strategy: Principle of Least Privilege for Asgard IAM Role

• Description:
  1. Identify Required Asgard Actions: Document all AWS services and actions Asgard needs to perform (e.g., EC2 instance management, Auto Scaling group operations, ELB configuration, S3 access for deployments).
  2. Create a Custom IAM Policy: Instead of using broad AWS managed policies, create a custom IAM policy specifically tailored to Asgard's identified actions.
  3. Grant Only Necessary Permissions: Within the custom policy, grant only the minimum required permissions for each action. Use specific resource ARNs whenever possible instead of wildcards (*). For example, instead of ec2:*, use ec2:DescribeInstances and ec2:RunInstances with specific resource constraints.
  4. Attach Policy to Asgard Instance Role: Attach this custom IAM policy to the IAM role assigned to the EC2 instance(s) running Asgard.
  5. Regularly Review and Refine: Periodically review the IAM policy and Asgard's actual usage. Remove any permissions that are no longer needed and further restrict permissions if possible.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Access to AWS Resources (High Severity): If Asgard's instance is compromised, an attacker with the instance role could potentially access and control a wide range of AWS resources if the role is overly permissive.
  • Lateral Movement in AWS Environment (High Severity): A compromised Asgard instance with excessive permissions could be used as a stepping stone to attack other AWS resources and services within the environment.
  • Data Breach (High Severity): Overly permissive IAM roles could allow a compromised Asgard instance to access and exfiltrate sensitive data stored in AWS services like S3 or databases.
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Access to AWS Resources: Significantly Reduces
  • Lateral Movement in AWS Environment: Significantly Reduces
  • Data Breach: Significantly Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Asgard instance role is configured, but initial policy is based on a broader managed policy and needs refinement to least privilege.
• Missing Implementation: Detailed review and restriction of the current IAM policy to the absolute minimum required permissions. Implementation of a process for regular IAM policy reviews and updates.

Mitigation Strategy: Use Specific Resource Constraints in IAM Policies

• Description:
  1. Identify Target Resources: For each permission granted in the Asgard IAM policy, determine the specific AWS resources (e.g., specific EC2 instances, Auto Scaling groups, S3 buckets) that Asgard needs to manage.
  2. Replace Wildcards with ARNs: In the IAM policy, replace wildcard resource specifications (Resource: "*") with specific Amazon Resource Names (ARNs) of the identified target resources. For example, instead of Resource: "arn:aws:ec2:*:*:instance/*", use Resource: "arn:aws:ec2:us-west-2:123456789012:instance/i-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" for a specific instance or Resource: "arn:aws:autoscaling:us-west-2:123456789012:autoScalingGroup:*/autoScalingGroupName/my-asg" for an Auto Scaling group.
  3. Apply to All Applicable Permissions: Apply resource constraints to all IAM policy statements where resource-level permissions are supported by the AWS service.
  4. Test Policy Changes: Thoroughly test any changes to IAM policies in a non-production environment to ensure Asgard continues to function correctly with the restricted permissions.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Modification of Unintended Resources (Medium Severity): Without resource constraints, a compromised Asgard instance could potentially modify or delete AWS resources outside of its intended scope of management.
  • Accidental Damage to Critical Infrastructure (Medium Severity): Human error or misconfiguration within Asgard could lead to unintended actions on critical AWS resources if permissions are too broad.
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Modification of Unintended Resources: Moderately Reduces
  • Accidental Damage to Critical Infrastructure: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Some resource constraints are used for critical resources, but not consistently applied across all permissions.
• Missing Implementation: Systematic review and implementation of resource constraints for all applicable permissions in the Asgard IAM policy. Standardization of resource naming conventions to facilitate ARN specification.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement IAM Policy Conditions

• Description:
  1. Identify Contextual Restrictions: Determine if there are contextual factors that can further restrict Asgard's actions, such as source IP ranges, time of day, or resource tags.
  2. Define IAM Policy Conditions: Add conditions to the Asgard IAM policy to enforce these restrictions. For example:
     • Condition: { IpAddress: { "aws:SourceIp": ["<internal_CIDR_range>"] } } to restrict actions to originate from within your internal network.
     • Condition: { StringEquals: { "ec2:ResourceTag/Environment": "Production" } } to limit actions to resources tagged with "Environment: Production".
  3. Apply Relevant Conditions: Apply appropriate conditions to IAM policy statements based on the identified contextual restrictions and the specific actions being permitted.
  4. Test Condition Effectiveness: Thoroughly test the IAM policy conditions to ensure they are working as expected and do not inadvertently block legitimate Asgard operations.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Access from External Networks (Medium Severity): Conditions like aws:SourceIp can prevent unauthorized access if Asgard is compromised but the attacker is outside the allowed IP range.
  • Accidental or Malicious Actions in Wrong Environments (Medium Severity): Resource tag conditions can help prevent actions in unintended environments (e.g., accidentally deploying to production from a development Asgard instance).
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Access from External Networks: Moderately Reduces
  • Accidental or Malicious Actions in Wrong Environments: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Not implemented. IAM policies currently lack conditional restrictions.
• Missing Implementation: Identify relevant contextual restrictions and implement corresponding IAM policy conditions. Focus initially on aws:SourceIp and resource tag conditions.

Mitigation Strategy: Secrets Management for AWS Credentials

• Description:
  1. Avoid Hardcoding AWS Credentials in Asgard Configuration: Never hardcode AWS access keys and secret keys directly into Asgard's configuration files or codebase.
  2. Utilize Instance Roles for AWS Authentication: Rely on the IAM role attached to the EC2 instance running Asgard for authentication with AWS services. This eliminates the need to manage long-term credentials within Asgard itself.
  3. If Credentials are Required in Configuration (Less Recommended):
     • Encrypt Configuration Files: If you must store credentials in configuration files, ensure these files are encrypted at rest using appropriate encryption mechanisms.
     • Securely Store Configuration Files: Store configuration files in a secure location with restricted access, limiting who can read or modify them.
     • Implement Credential Rotation (If Applicable): If you are managing credentials outside of instance roles, establish a process for regular rotation of these credentials.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Exposure of Hardcoded Credentials (High Severity): Storing AWS credentials in configuration files or code is a major security vulnerability.
  • Credential Theft (High Severity): If configuration files containing credentials are compromised, attackers can gain direct access to AWS resources.
• Impact:
  • Exposure of Hardcoded Credentials: Significantly Reduces
  • Credential Theft: Significantly Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Implemented. Asgard is configured to use instance roles for AWS authentication. No explicit credentials are used in configuration.
• Missing Implementation: None. This mitigation is fully implemented.

Mitigation Strategy: Keep Asgard Updated to the Latest Version

• Description:
  1. Establish Update Schedule: Define a regular schedule for checking for and applying Asgard updates (e.g., monthly or quarterly).
  2. Monitor Asgard Release Notes: Subscribe to Asgard release announcements or monitor the project's GitHub repository for new releases and security patches.
  3. Test Updates in Non-Production: Before applying updates to production Asgard instances, thoroughly test them in a staging or development environment to ensure compatibility and stability.
  4. Apply Updates Promptly: Once updates are tested and validated, apply them to production Asgard instances as soon as possible, especially security-related updates.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Exploitation of Known Vulnerabilities (High Severity): Outdated software is vulnerable to known security exploits. Keeping Asgard updated patches these vulnerabilities.
  • Denial of Service (DoS) (Medium Severity): Some vulnerabilities can be exploited to cause denial of service. Updates often address these issues.
  • Data Breach (Medium Severity): Vulnerabilities in Asgard could potentially be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data managed through Asgard.
• Impact:
  • Exploitation of Known Vulnerabilities: Significantly Reduces
  • Denial of Service (DoS): Moderately Reduces
  • Data Breach: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Updates are applied, but not on a strict schedule and testing process is not fully formalized.
• Missing Implementation: Establish a formal update schedule and testing process for Asgard updates. Implement automated notifications for new Asgard releases.

Mitigation Strategy: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Asgard Access

• Description:
  1. Enable MFA in Authentication Provider: Configure your authentication provider (e.g., Okta, Active Directory, Google Workspace, or Asgard's built-in authentication if used) to enforce MFA for all users accessing Asgard.
  2. Configure Asgard to Utilize MFA: Ensure Asgard is configured to integrate with your authentication provider and enforce MFA during the login process.
  3. User Education: Educate all Asgard users about the importance of MFA and guide them through the MFA setup process.
  4. Regular MFA Enforcement Audits: Periodically audit user accounts to ensure MFA is enabled and enforced for all authorized users.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Account Takeover (High Severity): MFA significantly reduces the risk of account takeover due to compromised passwords (e.g., phishing, password reuse, brute-force attacks).
  • Unauthorized Access to Asgard (High Severity): MFA makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access to the Asgard web interface and its functionalities.
• Impact:
  • Account Takeover: Significantly Reduces
  • Unauthorized Access to Asgard: Significantly Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Implemented for administrators, but not yet enforced for all regular users.
• Missing Implementation: Enforce MFA for all Asgard users. Develop user onboarding documentation that includes MFA setup instructions.

Mitigation Strategy: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) within Asgard

• Description:
  1. Define User Roles: Identify different user roles within your organization that will interact with Asgard (e.g., administrators, developers, operators, read-only users).
  2. Map Roles to Asgard Permissions: For each user role, define the specific actions and resources they need to access within Asgard. Utilize Asgard's RBAC features to map these permissions to roles.
  3. Assign Users to Roles: Assign users to the appropriate roles based on their responsibilities.
  4. Regularly Review Role Assignments: Periodically review user role assignments and adjust them as needed based on changes in user responsibilities or organizational structure.
  5. Audit RBAC Configuration: Regularly audit the RBAC configuration within Asgard to ensure it is correctly implemented and aligned with the principle of least privilege.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Unauthorized Actions by Internal Users (Medium Severity): RBAC prevents users from performing actions they are not authorized to perform, reducing the risk of accidental or malicious misconfigurations or disruptions.
  • Privilege Escalation (Medium Severity): Properly configured RBAC limits the potential impact of privilege escalation vulnerabilities within Asgard, as users are restricted to their assigned roles.
• Impact:
  • Unauthorized Actions by Internal Users: Moderately Reduces
  • Privilege Escalation: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Basic roles are defined, but granular permissions within roles need further refinement. Role assignments are not regularly reviewed.
• Missing Implementation: Refine RBAC roles to be more granular and aligned with least privilege. Implement a process for regular review and update of user role assignments and RBAC configuration.

Mitigation Strategy: Enable Comprehensive Audit Logging

• Description:
  1. Configure Asgard Audit Logging: Enable all relevant audit logging features within Asgard. This should include logs for user logins, actions performed within the UI, API calls, and configuration changes.
  2. Centralized Log Collection: Configure Asgard to send its audit logs to a centralized log management system (e.g., ELK stack, Splunk, AWS CloudWatch Logs).
  3. Log Retention Policy: Define and implement a log retention policy to ensure audit logs are stored for an appropriate period for security investigations and compliance purposes.
  4. Log Integrity Protection: Consider measures to protect the integrity of audit logs, such as log signing or secure storage mechanisms.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Lack of Visibility into Security Incidents (High Severity): Without audit logs, it is difficult to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents affecting Asgard.
  • Non-Compliance with Security Policies (Medium Severity): Audit logs are often required for compliance with security policies and regulations.
  • Difficulty in Identifying Root Cause of Issues (Medium Severity): Audit logs can be crucial for troubleshooting operational issues and identifying the root cause of problems.
• Impact:
  • Lack of Visibility into Security Incidents: Significantly Reduces
  • Non-Compliance with Security Policies: Moderately Reduces
  • Difficulty in Identifying Root Cause of Issues: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Basic Asgard logs are enabled and sent to CloudWatch Logs, but comprehensive audit logging configuration and log integrity measures are missing.
• Missing Implementation: Enable comprehensive audit logging within Asgard, including all relevant event types. Implement log integrity protection measures. Define and enforce a log retention policy.

Mitigation Strategy: Regularly Scan Dependencies for Vulnerabilities

• Description:
  1. Identify Asgard Dependencies: Create a list of all libraries and dependencies used by Asgard (including both frontend and backend dependencies).
  2. Implement Dependency Scanning Tooling: Integrate dependency scanning tools into your development and deployment pipeline. These tools can automatically scan dependencies for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using tools like OWASP Dependency-Check, Snyk, or GitHub Dependency Scanning).
  3. Automate Scanning Process: Automate the dependency scanning process to run regularly (e.g., daily or with each code commit).
  4. Vulnerability Remediation Process: Establish a process for reviewing and remediating identified vulnerabilities. Prioritize high-severity vulnerabilities and promptly update vulnerable dependencies to patched versions.
  5. Monitor Vulnerability Databases: Stay informed about newly disclosed vulnerabilities in Asgard's dependencies by monitoring security advisories and vulnerability databases.
• Threats Mitigated:
  • Exploitation of Dependency Vulnerabilities (High Severity): Vulnerabilities in Asgard's dependencies can be exploited to compromise the application.
  • Supply Chain Attacks (Medium Severity): Compromised dependencies can introduce malicious code into Asgard.
• Impact:
  • Exploitation of Dependency Vulnerabilities: Significantly Reduces
  • Supply Chain Attacks: Moderately Reduces
• Currently Implemented: Not implemented. Dependency scanning is not currently part of the development or deployment process for Asgard.
• Missing Implementation: Implement dependency scanning tooling and integrate it into the CI/CD pipeline. Establish a vulnerability remediation process.