threat-modeling.md

Threat Model Analysis for elastic/logstash

Threat: Unauthenticated Input Source

• Description: Attacker intercepts network traffic to capture logs in transit or injects malicious logs by sending data to an unauthenticated Logstash input.
• Impact: Confidentiality breach of log data, integrity compromise of logs, potential system compromise if malicious logs exploit vulnerabilities.
• Affected Logstash Component: Input Stage, Input Plugins (e.g., TCP, HTTP)
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Use encrypted protocols like TLS/SSL for input sources.
  • Implement authentication mechanisms for input sources where applicable (e.g., API keys, mutual TLS).
  • Network segmentation to restrict access to Logstash input ports.

Threat: Input Plugin Vulnerability Exploitation

• Description: Attacker crafts malicious input data to exploit a vulnerability (e.g., buffer overflow, injection flaw) in an input plugin, potentially leading to remote code execution or denial of service.
• Impact: Remote code execution on the Logstash server, denial of service of Logstash, data corruption.
• Affected Logstash Component: Input Stage, Specific Input Plugins (e.g., HTTP, Beats, Syslog)
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Keep Logstash and all plugins updated to the latest versions.
  • Subscribe to security advisories for Logstash and its plugins.
  • Use well-maintained and reputable plugins.

Threat: Vulnerable Filter Plugin Exploitation

• Description: Attacker crafts specific log entries or configuration to exploit vulnerabilities in filter plugins, potentially leading to remote code execution or data manipulation.
• Impact: Remote code execution on the Logstash server, data manipulation, denial of service.
• Affected Logstash Component: Filter Stage, Specific Filter Plugins (e.g., Grok, Ruby, Mutate)
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Keep Logstash and all plugins updated to the latest versions.
  • Use well-maintained and reputable filter plugins.
  • Avoid using custom or untested filter plugins in production.

Threat: Misconfigured Filters Leading to Data Leakage

• Description: Incorrectly configured filters unintentionally expose sensitive data in logs or forward it to unintended outputs.
• Impact: Confidentiality breach of sensitive information (PII, credentials, internal system details).
• Affected Logstash Component: Filter Stage, Filter Configurations, Output Stage
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Carefully review and test filter configurations before deploying to production.
  • Implement data masking or redaction filters to remove sensitive data from logs.
  • Follow the principle of least privilege when configuring outputs.

Threat: Data Manipulation by Malicious Filters (Configuration Compromise)

• Description: Attacker compromises Logstash configuration and modifies filters to alter or drop log data, hindering security monitoring.
• Impact: Integrity compromise of log data, hindering security monitoring and incident response, covering tracks of malicious activity.
• Affected Logstash Component: Filter Stage, Filter Configurations, Log Data
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Implement strong access controls to Logstash configuration files and management interfaces.
  • Use configuration version control and auditing to track changes.
  • Regularly review and audit Logstash configurations.

Threat: Unauthenticated Output Destination

• Description: Attacker intercepts network traffic to capture logs being sent to an unauthenticated output destination or gains unauthorized access to the destination itself.
• Impact: Confidentiality breach of log data, potential compromise of the output destination system if vulnerabilities are present.
• Affected Logstash Component: Output Stage, Output Plugins (e.g., Elasticsearch, TCP, HTTP)
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Use encrypted protocols like TLS/SSL for output destinations.
  • Implement authentication mechanisms for output destinations (e.g., API keys, username/password).
  • Network segmentation to restrict access to output destinations.

Threat: Output Plugin Vulnerability Exploitation

• Description: Attacker crafts specific log data to exploit vulnerabilities in output plugins when sending data to the destination, potentially leading to remote code execution or data corruption at the destination.
• Impact: Remote code execution on the output destination system, data corruption at the destination, denial of service of the destination.
• Affected Logstash Component: Output Stage, Specific Output Plugins (e.g., Elasticsearch, Kafka, Database outputs)
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Keep Logstash and all plugins updated to the latest versions.
  • Use well-maintained and reputable output plugins.

Threat: Credential Exposure in Output Configurations

• Description: Output configurations contain sensitive credentials (usernames, passwords, API keys) that are stored insecurely in Logstash configuration files, potentially exposed if files are compromised.
• Impact: Unauthorized access to output destinations and potentially wider systems, confidentiality breach of credentials.
• Affected Logstash Component: Output Stage, Output Configurations, Configuration Files
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Use secure credential management practices (e.g., secrets management tools, environment variables, encrypted keystores).
  • Avoid storing credentials in plain text in configuration files.
  • Implement strict access controls to Logstash configuration files.

Threat: Data Exfiltration via Output Destinations

• Description: Attacker compromises Logstash configuration and redirects log data to attacker-controlled output destinations for data theft.
• Impact: Confidentiality breach of sensitive log data, data exfiltration to unauthorized parties.
• Affected Logstash Component: Output Stage, Output Configurations, Log Data
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Implement strong access controls to Logstash configuration files and management interfaces.
  • Use configuration version control and auditing to track changes.
  • Regularly review and audit Logstash configurations, especially output destinations.

Threat: Insecure Configuration Storage

• Description: Logstash configuration files are stored in plain text and accessible to unauthorized users or processes on the Logstash server.
• Impact: Exposure of sensitive configuration details (credentials, output destinations, filter logic), leading to various attacks.
• Affected Logstash Component: Configuration Management, Configuration Files, Logstash Server File System
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Store Logstash configuration files with restricted permissions.
  • Encrypt sensitive data within configuration files if possible (using secrets management).

Threat: Unauthorized Access to Logstash Configuration

• Description: Lack of proper access controls allows unauthorized users to modify Logstash configuration, leading to data manipulation, redirection, or denial of service.
• Impact: Integrity compromise of log data, confidentiality breach, denial of service.
• Affected Logstash Component: Configuration Management, Configuration Files, Management Interfaces (if any)
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Implement role-based access control (RBAC) for Logstash configuration management.
  • Use operating system level access controls to restrict access to configuration files.

Threat: Vulnerabilities in Logstash Core or Dependencies

• Description: Vulnerabilities in Logstash core software or its dependencies (JVM, Ruby runtime, libraries) are exploited by attackers.
• Impact: Remote code execution, privilege escalation, denial of service, information disclosure.
• Affected Logstash Component: Logstash Core, Underlying Runtime Environment (JVM, Ruby)
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Keep Logstash and its underlying runtime environment updated to the latest versions.
  • Subscribe to security advisories for Logstash and its dependencies.

Threat: Privilege Escalation of Logstash Process

• Description: Attacker compromises the Logstash process and exploits vulnerabilities to escalate privileges on the Logstash server.
• Impact: Full compromise of the Logstash server, allowing for further malicious activities and wider system compromise.
• Affected Logstash Component: Logstash Process, Operating System, Logstash Server
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Run Logstash with the least privileges necessary.
  • Implement security hardening measures for the Logstash server operating system.

Threat: Vulnerabilities in Third-Party Plugins

• Description: Third-party plugins contain vulnerabilities that are exploited by attackers.
• Impact: Remote code execution, denial of service, data manipulation, information disclosure, similar to core Logstash vulnerabilities.
• Affected Logstash Component: Plugin Stage, Specific Third-Party Plugins (Input, Filter, Output)
• Risk Severity: Critical to High (depending on the vulnerability and plugin)
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Thoroughly vet third-party plugins before use.
  • Only use plugins from trusted and reputable sources.
  • Keep all plugins updated to the latest versions.

Threat: Malicious Plugins

• Description: Attacker installs a malicious plugin that appears legitimate but contains malicious code.
• Impact: Full compromise of the Logstash process and potentially the underlying system, data theft, system compromise, denial of service.
• Affected Logstash Component: Plugin Stage, Plugin Installation, Logstash Core, Logstash Server
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Only install plugins from trusted and official sources (e.g., the official Logstash plugin repository).
  • Verify plugin integrity using checksums or digital signatures if available.