Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
67 lines (56 loc) · 5.34 KB

threat-modeling.md

File metadata and controls

67 lines (56 loc) · 5.34 KB

Threat Model Analysis for koajs/koa

Threat: Malicious Middleware Injection

  • Description: An attacker compromises a middleware repository or package registry and injects malicious code into a seemingly legitimate middleware package. Developers unknowingly install and use this compromised middleware in their Koa application. The malicious middleware can steal credentials, log sensitive data, or inject backdoors.
  • Impact: Critical. Full application compromise, data breach, loss of confidentiality and integrity, potential for long-term persistent access for the attacker.
  • Koa Component Affected: Middleware ecosystem, app.use() function.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Thoroughly vet and audit all middleware dependencies before installation.
    • Use reputable and actively maintained middleware libraries.
    • Implement Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools to continuously monitor middleware dependencies.
    • Use package lock files to ensure consistent dependency versions.
    • Regularly update middleware dependencies to patch known vulnerabilities.

Threat: Vulnerable Middleware Exploitation

  • Description: An attacker identifies a known vulnerability in a middleware component used by the Koa application and crafts requests to exploit it. This can lead to remote code execution, information disclosure, or denial of service.
  • Impact: High to Critical. Potential for remote code execution, data breach, information disclosure, or application downtime.
  • Koa Component Affected: Middleware ecosystem, specific vulnerable middleware module.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Regularly update all middleware dependencies to patch known vulnerabilities.
    • Subscribe to security advisories for used middleware libraries.
    • Implement vulnerability scanning tools to identify vulnerable dependencies.
    • Consider using middleware with strong security track records.
    • Apply security patches promptly when vulnerabilities are disclosed.

Threat: Middleware Chain Bypass

  • Description: Due to misconfiguration or vulnerabilities, an attacker bypasses intended security middleware in the chain. This allows access to protected resources or functionalities without proper security checks.
  • Impact: High. Unauthorized access to resources, security controls bypassed, potential for further exploitation.
  • Koa Component Affected: Middleware chain, app.use() order, middleware logic.
  • Risk Severity: High.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Carefully design and document the middleware chain order, ensuring security middleware is placed appropriately.
    • Thoroughly test the middleware chain to verify the intended execution flow and security middleware execution.
    • Use middleware composition patterns that clearly define and enforce execution order.
    • Implement integration tests to check middleware chain execution under various scenarios.

Threat: Middleware Denial of Service (DoS)

  • Description: An attacker sends requests to trigger resource-intensive operations in middleware, exhausting server resources and causing application unresponsiveness or crashes, leading to denial of service.
  • Impact: High. Application downtime, service disruption, negative impact on user experience and availability.
  • Koa Component Affected: Middleware ecosystem, specific resource-intensive middleware module.
  • Risk Severity: High.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Monitor resource usage of middleware components under load.
    • Implement rate limiting middleware to restrict requests from a single source.
    • Use request throttling middleware to control the rate of incoming requests.
    • Optimize middleware for performance and resource efficiency.
    • Consider asynchronous middleware to prevent blocking the event loop.
    • Implement load balancing and auto-scaling to handle traffic spikes.

Threat: Route Misconfiguration - Unprotected Admin Endpoint

  • Description: Developers fail to apply authentication or authorization middleware to sensitive routes like admin endpoints. This allows unauthorized access to administrative functionalities, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise.
  • Impact: High to Critical. Unauthorized access to administrative functionalities, potential for data breach, system compromise, and full application takeover.
  • Koa Component Affected: Routing system, koa-router or similar routing middleware, route definitions.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Carefully review and test route configurations, especially for sensitive endpoints.
    • Implement clear access control and authentication middleware for all sensitive routes.
    • Use route grouping and prefixing to manage routes and apply middleware consistently.
    • Regularly audit route configurations to identify and correct misconfigurations.
    • Implement automated tests to verify access control middleware on protected routes.