threat-modeling.md

Threat Model Analysis for oracle/graal

Threat: Supply Chain Attacks on Native Image Build Tools and Dependencies

Description: An attacker compromises build tools or dependencies used during native image creation, injecting malicious code into the native executable during the build process.

Impact: Code execution within the application, data breach, full application compromise, loss of data integrity.

Graal Component Affected: Native Image Build Process, Build Tools, Dependencies.

Risk Severity: Critical

Mitigation Strategies:

• Use verified and trusted GraalVM distributions from official sources.
• Implement dependency scanning and vulnerability analysis in the build pipeline.
• Generate and maintain a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for native images.
• Utilize secure and isolated build environments.
• Regularly update GraalVM, build tools, and dependencies.
• Employ checksum verification for downloaded dependencies.

Threat: Vulnerabilities in the Native Image Compiler (GraalVM Itself)

Description: An attacker exploits a bug or vulnerability within the GraalVM native image compiler to create malicious native images or compromise the build process, potentially leading to code execution during build or runtime.

Impact: Code execution during build or runtime, denial of service, information disclosure, malicious native image generation.

Graal Component Affected: Native Image Compiler ( native-image tool), GraalVM Core.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Keep GraalVM updated to the latest stable version with security patches.
• Monitor GraalVM security advisories and release notes for reported vulnerabilities.
• Report any suspected vulnerabilities to the GraalVM security team.

Threat: Misconfiguration of Native Image Build Process Leading to Insecure Binaries

Description: Developers misconfigure the native image build process (e.g., overly permissive reflection). Attackers exploit these misconfigurations in the deployed native image to increase attack surface or bypass security measures.

Impact: Increased attack surface, exposure of internal application details, exploitation of reflection vulnerabilities, potential for code execution or data access bypass.

Graal Component Affected: Native Image Build Configuration, Reflection Configuration.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Adhere to GraalVM security best practices for native image configuration.
• Minimize reflection usage and carefully configure reflection metadata.
• Utilize the native-image agent to automatically generate reflection configuration.
• Conduct thorough reviews and audits of native image build configurations.

Threat: Exposure of Sensitive Data During Native Image Build Process

Description: Sensitive data like API keys or passwords are inadvertently included in the native image during build. Attackers gaining access to the native image can extract these secrets.

Impact: Data breach, unauthorized access to external services, compromise of application security posture.

Graal Component Affected: Native Image Build Process, Application Packaging.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Avoid embedding sensitive data directly in application code or build configurations.
• Employ secure secret management solutions to inject secrets at runtime.
• Sanitize build logs and artifacts to prevent accidental leakage of sensitive information.

Threat: Code Injection Vulnerabilities through Polyglot Interoperability

Description: An attacker injects malicious code in one language that is executed in another language within the polyglot application due to improper input sanitization or insecure language boundaries.

Impact: Code execution, data breach, cross-language attacks, full application compromise.

Graal Component Affected: Polyglot Engine, Language Interoperability APIs.

Risk Severity: Critical

Mitigation Strategies:

• Thoroughly sanitize and validate all inputs passed between different languages.
• Enforce strict language boundaries and implement robust access control policies.
• Adopt secure coding practices for polyglot interactions.
• Consider using language-specific security features and sandboxing.

Threat: Type Confusion and Boundary Crossing Vulnerabilities

Description: Mismatches in data types between languages in a polyglot application lead to type confusion. Attackers exploit these mismatches to bypass security checks or cause memory corruption, potentially leading to code execution.

Impact: Code execution, memory corruption, security bypass, privilege escalation.

Graal Component Affected: Polyglot Engine, Type Conversion Mechanisms, Language Interoperability APIs.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Thoroughly test polyglot interactions and data type conversions between languages.
• Understand data type mappings and potential conversion issues between languages.
• Utilize type-safe language interoperability mechanisms where possible.

Threat: Unintended Information Leakage Between Languages

Description: Shared resources between languages in a polyglot application are not properly secured. Attackers exploit this to access sensitive data intended for one language from another language without proper authorization.

Impact: Information disclosure of sensitive data across language boundaries, data breach, privacy violations.

Graal Component Affected: Polyglot Engine, Shared Memory Management, Resource Management.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Implement strict access control policies for all shared resources between languages.
• Minimize sharing of sensitive data across language boundaries.
• Utilize language-specific security features to isolate data and resources.

Threat: Security Vulnerabilities in Guest Language Runtimes

Description: GraalVM relies on guest language runtimes (e.g., JavaScript, Python) which may contain vulnerabilities. Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities to compromise the polyglot application, potentially achieving code execution or sandbox escape.

Impact: Code execution within the guest language runtime, denial of service, application compromise, sandbox escape.

Graal Component Affected: Guest Language Runtimes (e.g., JavaScript Engine, Python Runtime), Polyglot Engine.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Keep GraalVM and all guest language runtimes updated to the latest versions with security patches.
• Actively monitor security advisories for guest language runtimes.
• Limit the use of potentially vulnerable guest language features if possible.

Threat: Complex Security Policy Management in Polyglot Environments

Description: Managing security policies across multiple languages in a polyglot application is complex and error-prone. Misconfigurations can lead to inconsistent security enforcement and policy bypasses, creating vulnerabilities.

Impact: Inconsistent security enforcement, security policy bypass, increased risk of vulnerabilities, potential for privilege escalation.

Graal Component Affected: Polyglot Engine, Security Policy Management, Language Interoperability APIs.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Develop a clear and consistent security policy for polyglot applications.
• Utilize centralized security management tools and frameworks if available.
• Thoroughly test and validate security policies across all languages and interaction points.

Threat: JIT Compiler Vulnerabilities (If JIT is Used)

Description: An attacker exploits a vulnerability in the GraalVM JIT compiler to achieve code execution or denial of service during runtime.

Impact: Code execution, denial of service, application compromise.

Graal Component Affected: GraalVM JIT Compiler.

Risk Severity: High

Mitigation Strategies:

• Keep GraalVM updated to the latest stable version with security patches for the JIT compiler.
• Monitor GraalVM security advisories and release notes.
• Utilize Native Image to eliminate JIT compilation at runtime if possible.