attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for kotlin/kotlinx-datetime

Objective: Compromise application functionality and/or data integrity by exploiting vulnerabilities within the kotlinx-datetime library.

Attack Tree Visualization

[CRITICAL NODE] Compromise Application via kotlinx-datetime ├── [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Parsing Vulnerabilities │ ├── [HIGH RISK PATH] Input Injection │ └── [HIGH RISK PATH] Resource Exhaustion (DoS via Parsing) └── [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Time Zone Handling Issues └── [HIGH RISK PATH] Time Zone Confusion/Ambiguity

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Compromise Application via kotlinx-datetime

• Description: The attacker's overarching goal is to negatively impact the application using kotlinx-datetime by exploiting weaknesses within the library. This could lead to various negative outcomes, from incorrect application behavior to denial of service.
• Why Critical: This is the root of the attack tree and represents the ultimate objective. All subsequent nodes and paths contribute to achieving this goal.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Parsing Vulnerabilities

• Description: This critical node focuses on vulnerabilities arising from how kotlinx-datetime parses date and time strings. Improper handling of input strings can lead to exploitable weaknesses.

• Why Critical: Parsing is a common entry point for attacks, especially when dealing with external or user-provided data. Vulnerabilities here can have a wide range of impacts.

  • [HIGH RISK PATH] Input Injection

    • Attack Vector:
      • Description: Attackers provide maliciously crafted date/time strings as input to the application, aiming to exploit parsing logic within kotlinx-datetime. If the library or application doesn't properly validate or sanitize these inputs, it can lead to unexpected behavior.
      • Example Scenarios:
        • Manipulating URL parameters or form fields that are parsed as dates.
        • Injecting specially formatted strings into configuration files or API requests processed by the application and kotlinx-datetime.
      • Potential Impact:
        • Application errors and crashes due to parsing failures.
        • Unexpected application behavior if the parsed date/time is used in logic.
        • Potential for logic bypass if date/time values influence access control or business rules.
    • Mitigation Actions:
      • Input Validation: Implement strict validation of all date/time strings before they are passed to kotlinx-datetime parsing functions. Define expected formats and reject non-conforming inputs.
      • Error Handling: Implement robust error handling around parsing operations. Catch exceptions and log errors appropriately without revealing sensitive information to users.
      • Safe Parsing Functions: Utilize strict parsing options provided by kotlinx-datetime if available, to minimize ambiguity and unexpected interpretations of input strings.

  • [HIGH RISK PATH] Resource Exhaustion (DoS via Parsing)

    • Attack Vector:
      • Description: Attackers send a large volume of requests containing extremely complex or lengthy date/time strings. Parsing these strings can consume excessive CPU and memory resources, leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition.
      • Example Scenarios:
        • Flooding the application with requests containing very long or computationally expensive date/time strings in request parameters or body.
        • Exploiting API endpoints that parse dates from user input without proper resource limits.
      • Potential Impact:
        • Application unavailability and unresponsiveness due to resource exhaustion.
        • Denial of service for legitimate users.
    • Mitigation Actions:
      • Input Length Limits: Enforce reasonable limits on the length of date/time input strings to prevent processing of excessively long inputs.
      • Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to restrict the number of requests from a single source within a given timeframe, mitigating DoS attempts.
      • Resource Monitoring: Continuously monitor application resource usage (CPU, memory) to detect potential DoS attacks early and trigger alerts or mitigation measures.

Attack Tree Path: [CRITICAL NODE] Exploit Time Zone Handling Issues

• Description: This critical node focuses on vulnerabilities related to the complexities of time zone handling within kotlinx-datetime. Incorrect or ambiguous time zone management can lead to exploitable errors.

• Why Critical: Time zone handling is notoriously error-prone, and mistakes can have significant consequences in applications dealing with time-sensitive data or operations across different geographical locations.

  • [HIGH RISK PATH] Time Zone Confusion/Ambiguity
    • Attack Vector:
      • Description: Attackers exploit situations where the application is unclear or inconsistent about the time zone context of date/time values. This can occur when time zone information is missing, misinterpreted, or handled inconsistently throughout the application.
      • Example Scenarios:
        • Exploiting endpoints where dates are stored or processed without explicit time zone information, leading to misinterpretations based on server or user locale.
        • Manipulating data where time zones are implicitly assumed but not consistently enforced, causing logic errors when data is processed in different time zone contexts.
      • Potential Impact:
        • Incorrect data processing and storage due to misinterpretation of time zones.
        • Logic errors in scheduling, time-based access control, or reporting features.
        • User confusion and incorrect information displayed due to time zone discrepancies.
    • Mitigation Actions:
      • Explicit Time Zone Handling: Always be explicit about time zones when working with dates and times that are time zone sensitive. Utilize time zone aware date/time types provided by kotlinx-datetime and avoid relying on implicit time zone assumptions.
      • Document Time Zone Assumptions: Clearly document all time zone assumptions made within the application code, especially when dealing with external data sources or user input.
      • Consistent Time Zone Strategy: Establish and enforce a consistent time zone handling strategy throughout the application. A common best practice is to store all dates and times in UTC and convert to local time zones only for display purposes.