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Mitigation Strategies Analysis for rocketchat/rocket.chat

Mitigation Strategy: Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

  • Description:

    1. Admin Configuration: Access the Rocket.Chat administration panel (usually /admin/users/MFA).
    2. Enable MFA: Navigate to 'Settings' -> 'Accounts' -> 'MFA' and ensure 'Enable MFA' is set to 'Yes'.
    3. Enforce MFA (Optional but Recommended): Consider enabling 'Force MFA' to require all users to set up MFA upon their next login. This can be rolled out gradually by initially enabling it for specific roles or groups.
    4. User Guidance: Provide clear instructions to users on how to set up MFA within Rocket.Chat. This includes using compatible authenticator apps and following the Rocket.Chat MFA setup process.
    5. Recovery Codes: Educate users about the importance of securely storing recovery codes provided by Rocket.Chat during MFA setup.
    6. Regular Audits: Periodically review MFA adoption rates within Rocket.Chat user accounts.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Account Takeover (High Severity): Significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access to Rocket.Chat user accounts due to compromised passwords.
    • Credential Stuffing (High Severity): Makes it extremely difficult for attackers to use stolen credentials to access Rocket.Chat accounts.
    • Brute-Force Attacks (Medium Severity): Increases the effort required for brute-force attacks against Rocket.Chat login.

  • Impact:

    • Account Takeover: Risk reduced by 95-99% (very high impact).
    • Credential Stuffing: Risk reduced by 95-99% (very high impact).
    • Brute-Force Attacks: Risk reduced by 70-80% (high impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • MFA is enabled in Rocket.Chat settings globally.
    • Basic documentation for users on setting up MFA is available on the internal wiki.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • 'Force MFA' is not yet enabled for all users (currently optional).
    • No automated monitoring or reporting on MFA adoption rates within Rocket.Chat.
    • No integration with hardware security keys or advanced MFA methods directly within Rocket.Chat configuration.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Strong Password Policies

  • Description:

    1. Admin Configuration: Access the Rocket.Chat administration panel.
    2. Password Policy Settings: Navigate to 'Settings' -> 'Accounts' -> 'Password Policy' within Rocket.Chat.
    3. Configure Complexity Requirements: Set strong password requirements directly within Rocket.Chat's password policy settings:
      • Minimum Length: Set a minimum password length (e.g., 12-16 characters).
      • Character Requirements: Enable requirements for uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
      • Password Reuse Prevention: Enable 'Block Password Reuse' within Rocket.Chat to prevent users from reusing recently used passwords.
    4. Password Expiration (Optional): Consider enabling 'Password Expiration' in Rocket.Chat to force users to change passwords periodically.
    5. Password Strength Meter Integration: Explore if Rocket.Chat plugins or custom integrations can add a password strength meter to user registration and password change forms.
    6. User Education: Educate users about the Rocket.Chat enforced password policies and the importance of strong passwords within the platform.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Weak Passwords (High Severity): Reduces the prevalence of easily guessable or cracked passwords for Rocket.Chat accounts.
    • Brute-Force Attacks (Medium Severity): Makes brute-force attacks against Rocket.Chat logins more difficult.
    • Dictionary Attacks (Medium Severity): Reduces the effectiveness of dictionary attacks against Rocket.Chat passwords.

  • Impact:

    • Weak Passwords: Risk reduced by 80-90% (high impact).
    • Brute-Force Attacks: Risk reduced by 50-60% (medium impact).
    • Dictionary Attacks: Risk reduced by 60-70% (medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • Basic password policy is configured in Rocket.Chat with minimum length and character requirements.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • Password reuse prevention is not enabled in Rocket.Chat settings.
    • Password expiration is not implemented in Rocket.Chat.
    • No password strength meter integration within Rocket.Chat forms.
    • User education on Rocket.Chat specific strong passwords is limited.

Mitigation Strategy: Regularly Review and Audit User Permissions and Roles

  • Description:

    1. Admin Access: Access the Rocket.Chat administration panel.
    2. User and Role Review: Navigate to 'Users' and 'Roles' sections within Rocket.Chat admin interface.
    3. Principle of Least Privilege: Review each user's assigned roles and permissions within Rocket.Chat. Ensure users only have the minimum necessary permissions within the platform.
    4. Role Definition: Clearly define each Rocket.Chat role and its associated permissions. Document these roles and permissions for clarity and consistency within the context of Rocket.Chat usage.
    5. Regular Audits: Schedule regular audits (e.g., quarterly or bi-annually) of user roles and permissions within Rocket.Chat.
    6. Automated Tools (Optional): Explore if any Rocket.Chat plugins or external tools can assist in automating user permission audits and reporting specifically for Rocket.Chat.
    7. Offboarding Process: Implement a clear process for revoking user access and Rocket.Chat permissions when employees leave or change roles, specifically within the Rocket.Chat platform.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Privilege Escalation (High Severity): Prevents users from gaining unauthorized access to higher-level privileges and sensitive data within Rocket.Chat.
    • Insider Threats (Medium to High Severity): Reduces the potential damage from malicious or negligent insiders within Rocket.Chat by limiting their access within the platform.
    • Lateral Movement (Medium Severity): Limits the ability of attackers who compromise one Rocket.Chat account to move laterally within the system and access other resources within Rocket.Chat.

  • Impact:

    • Privilege Escalation: Risk reduced by 70-80% (high impact).
    • Insider Threats: Risk reduced by 50-70% (medium to high impact).
    • Lateral Movement: Risk reduced by 40-50% (medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • Basic role-based access control is in place in Rocket.Chat.
    • Administrators manually review user roles occasionally within Rocket.Chat.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • No formal documentation of Rocket.Chat roles and permissions.
    • No scheduled or automated audits of user permissions within Rocket.Chat.
    • Offboarding process for Rocket.Chat access revocation is not fully formalized.

Mitigation Strategy: Leverage Single Sign-On (SSO) Integration

  • Description:

    1. Choose SSO Provider: Select a reputable SSO provider compatible with Rocket.Chat (e.g., Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, Keycloak).
    2. Rocket.Chat SSO Configuration: Configure Rocket.Chat to integrate with the chosen SSO provider. This involves setting up OAuth 2.0 or SAML configurations within Rocket.Chat's administration panel (Settings -> Accounts -> SSO).
    3. SSO Provider Configuration: Configure the SSO provider to recognize and trust your Rocket.Chat instance as an application for authentication.
    4. Testing and Rollout: Thoroughly test the SSO integration with Rocket.Chat in a staging environment before production rollout.
    5. User Migration (If Applicable): Plan for user migration from Rocket.Chat's internal authentication to SSO. This might involve linking existing Rocket.Chat accounts to SSO accounts.
    6. Disable Local Passwords (Optional but Recommended): After successful SSO rollout, consider disabling local password authentication in Rocket.Chat settings to enforce SSO as the sole authentication method for Rocket.Chat access.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Password-Related Attacks (High Severity): Reduces reliance on Rocket.Chat's internal password management, mitigating risks associated with weak passwords, password reuse, and password breaches specifically within Rocket.Chat.
    • Phishing Attacks (Medium Severity): Centralized authentication through SSO can make phishing attacks targeting Rocket.Chat logins slightly less effective.
    • Account Takeover (High Severity): SSO providers often have more robust security features, potentially reducing the risk of account takeover for Rocket.Chat users.

  • Impact:

    • Password-Related Attacks: Risk reduced by 70-80% (high impact).
    • Phishing Attacks: Risk reduced by 30-40% (medium impact).
    • Account Takeover: Risk reduced by 50-60% (medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • Rocket.Chat supports SSO integration.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • SSO is not currently implemented for Rocket.Chat. Project is still using Rocket.Chat's internal authentication.
    • No plans are currently in place to integrate SSO with Rocket.Chat.

Mitigation Strategy: Keep Rocket.Chat Updated to the Latest Version

  • Description:

    1. Subscribe to Security Advisories: Subscribe to Rocket.Chat's official security mailing lists or RSS feeds to receive notifications about Rocket.Chat security updates and vulnerabilities.
    2. Monitor Release Notes: Regularly check Rocket.Chat's official release notes for new versions and security patches.
    3. Staging Environment Updates: Before applying updates to the production Rocket.Chat environment, always test them thoroughly in a staging environment that mirrors the production setup.
    4. Scheduled Updates: Establish a schedule for applying Rocket.Chat updates, prioritizing security updates released by the Rocket.Chat team.
    5. Automated Updates (If Possible): Explore if Rocket.Chat offers any automated update mechanisms or tools to simplify the update process for Rocket.Chat itself.
    6. Backup Before Update: Always back up your Rocket.Chat data and configuration before applying any updates to ensure you can easily roll back your Rocket.Chat instance in case of issues.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Known Vulnerabilities (High Severity): Patches known security vulnerabilities in Rocket.Chat software, preventing exploitation by attackers targeting Rocket.Chat.
    • Zero-Day Exploits (Medium Severity): While not directly mitigating zero-day exploits, staying updated reduces the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit newly discovered Rocket.Chat vulnerabilities.

  • Impact:

    • Known Vulnerabilities: Risk reduced by 90-99% (very high impact).
    • Zero-Day Exploits: Risk reduced by 20-30% (low to medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • Rocket.Chat is updated manually by the operations team.
    • There is a staging environment for testing Rocket.Chat updates.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • No formal schedule for Rocket.Chat updates.
    • No automated Rocket.Chat update process.
    • No subscription to Rocket.Chat security advisories.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Virus Scanning for Uploaded Files

  • Description:

    1. Choose Antivirus Solution: Select a robust antivirus scanning solution compatible with Rocket.Chat integration (e.g., ClamAV, commercial antivirus APIs).
    2. Integration with Rocket.Chat: Integrate the antivirus solution with Rocket.Chat's file upload process. This can be done through:
      • Rocket.Chat Plugins: Check for existing Rocket.Chat plugins that provide antivirus integration for file uploads.
      • Custom Integration: Develop a custom integration using Rocket.Chat's API or webhooks to trigger virus scans upon file uploads within Rocket.Chat. This might involve using a server-side script or service that interacts with Rocket.Chat, scans files, and then allows or blocks the upload within Rocket.Chat based on scan results.
    3. Real-time Scanning: Configure the antivirus solution to perform real-time scanning of files as they are uploaded through Rocket.Chat.
    4. Quarantine or Block Malicious Files: Implement a mechanism within the Rocket.Chat integration to quarantine or block files identified as malicious by the antivirus scanner, preventing them from being accessible within Rocket.Chat.
    5. Logging and Alerting: Log all virus scan results and set up alerts to notify administrators of any detected malware uploads within Rocket.Chat.
    6. Regular Updates of Antivirus Signatures: Ensure that the antivirus solution's virus signature database is regularly updated to detect the latest threats relevant to files shared through Rocket.Chat.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Malware Upload and Distribution (High Severity): Prevents users from uploading and distributing malware through Rocket.Chat file sharing features.
    • Compromise of User Devices (Medium to High Severity): Reduces the risk of user devices being infected with malware downloaded from Rocket.Chat file attachments.
    • Data Breach (Medium Severity): In some cases, malware infections spread through Rocket.Chat can lead to data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive information accessible through Rocket.Chat.

  • Impact:

    • Malware Upload and Distribution: Risk reduced by 80-90% (high impact).
    • Compromise of User Devices: Risk reduced by 70-80% (high impact).
    • Data Breach: Risk reduced by 30-40% (medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • No virus scanning is currently implemented for file uploads in Rocket.Chat.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • Integration with an antivirus solution for Rocket.Chat file uploads needs to be developed and implemented.
    • No mechanism within Rocket.Chat to quarantine or block malicious files.
    • No logging or alerting for malware detection within Rocket.Chat file uploads.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Rate Limiting for API Requests and User Actions

  • Description:

    1. Identify Rate Limiting Points: Identify critical Rocket.Chat API endpoints and user actions susceptible to abuse or DoS attacks (e.g., login attempts, message sending, file uploads, API calls).
    2. Choose Rate Limiting Mechanism within Rocket.Chat: Implement rate limiting using:
      • Rocket.Chat Built-in Rate Limiting: Utilize Rocket.Chat's built-in rate limiting features if available and configurable in the admin panel.
      • Rocket.Chat Plugins/Middleware: Explore if Rocket.Chat plugins or custom middleware can be used to implement rate limiting logic directly within the Rocket.Chat application.
    3. Define Rate Limits within Rocket.Chat: Define appropriate rate limits for each identified point within Rocket.Chat configuration. Rate limits should be based on normal Rocket.Chat usage patterns.
    4. Error Handling and Feedback within Rocket.Chat: Implement proper error handling and provide informative feedback to users within Rocket.Chat when they exceed rate limits (e.g., displaying error messages within the Rocket.Chat interface).
    5. Logging and Monitoring within Rocket.Chat: Log rate limiting events and monitor rate limiting effectiveness within Rocket.Chat logs. Adjust rate limits as needed based on monitoring data from Rocket.Chat.

  • List of Threats Mitigated:

    • Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks (High Severity): Prevents attackers from overwhelming the Rocket.Chat server with excessive requests, making the Rocket.Chat service unavailable.
    • Brute-Force Attacks (Medium Severity): Slows down brute-force attacks against Rocket.Chat by limiting login attempts or other actions within Rocket.Chat.
    • API Abuse (Medium Severity): Prevents abuse of Rocket.Chat APIs for malicious purposes like spamming or data scraping through Rocket.Chat APIs.

  • Impact:

    • Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Risk reduced by 70-80% (high impact).
    • Brute-Force Attacks: Risk reduced by 50-60% (medium impact).
    • API Abuse: Risk reduced by 60-70% (medium impact).

  • Currently Implemented:

    • No rate limiting is currently implemented for Rocket.Chat API requests or user actions within Rocket.Chat itself.

  • Missing Implementation:

    • Rate limiting needs to be implemented using Rocket.Chat's built-in features or plugins.
    • Appropriate rate limits need to be defined within Rocket.Chat configuration for critical endpoints and actions.
    • Error handling and logging for rate limiting events need to be configured within Rocket.Chat.