attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for mamaral/onboard

Objective: Compromise application functionality and/or data by exploiting vulnerabilities within the onboard authentication and authorization middleware.

Attack Tree Visualization

Attack Goal: Compromise Application via Onboard Exploitation [CRITICAL NODE]
├───[AND]─ Bypass Authentication (Gain Access without Credentials) [CRITICAL NODE]
│   └───[OR]─ Credential Stuffing/Brute Force (Leveraging Weak Application Integration) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       ├─── Lack of Rate Limiting on Login Attempts (Application Responsibility, but relevant to Onboard's context) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Weak Password Policy Enforcement (Application Responsibility, but impacts Onboard's security) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│   └───[OR]─ Session Hijacking (After Legitimate Login) [CRITICAL NODE]
│       └─── Insecure Session Cookie Handling by Onboard or Application [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│           └─── Lack of HttpOnly/Secure Flags on Session Cookies (Onboard or Application configuration) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Exploitation (Application vulnerability, but can lead to session hijacking) [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack (Network Level - Less Onboard Specific, but relevant) [HIGH RISK PATH]
├───[AND]─ Bypass Authorization (Gain Unauthorized Access to Resources) [CRITICAL NODE]
│   └───[OR]─ Authorization Bypass due to Logic Errors in Application's Use of Onboard [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Incorrect Middleware Placement in Express.js Route Handlers [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
├───[AND]─ Denial of Service (DoS) Targeting Onboard Functionality [CRITICAL NODE]
│   └───[OR]─ Excessive Authentication Attempts (Rate Limiting is Key) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Brute-Force Login Attempts Exhausting Server Resources [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
├───[AND]─ Information Disclosure via Onboard [CRITICAL NODE]
│   └───[OR]─ Verbose Error Messages from Onboard [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
│       └─── Stack Traces or Internal Paths Revealed in Error Responses [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
└───[AND]─ Dependency Vulnerabilities in Onboard's Dependencies [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
    └───[OR]─ Outdated or Vulnerable Dependencies Used by Onboard [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]
        └─── Vulnerabilities in `express`, `bcrypt`, `cookie-parser`, etc. (or any other dependencies) [CRITICAL NODE] [HIGH RISK PATH]

Attack Tree Path: Bypass Authentication - Credential Stuffing/Brute Force Path

• Critical Node: Credential Stuffing/Brute Force (Leveraging Weak Application Integration)
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Lack of Rate Limiting on Login Attempts [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: The application fails to limit the number of login attempts from a single IP address or user account within a specific timeframe.
      • Exploitation: Attackers can use automated tools to try numerous username/password combinations until they find a valid one.
      • Impact: Account compromise, potential data breach, system overload (DoS).
      • Mitigation: Implement robust rate limiting on login attempts.
    • Weak Password Policy Enforcement [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: The application does not enforce strong password requirements (length, complexity, character types).
      • Exploitation: Users are allowed to create easily guessable passwords, making brute-force and dictionary attacks more effective.
      • Impact: Easier credential compromise via brute-force/dictionary attacks.
      • Mitigation: Enforce strong password policies in the application.

Attack Tree Path: Bypass Authentication - Session Hijacking - Insecure Session Cookie Handling Path

• Critical Node: Insecure Session Cookie Handling by Onboard or Application
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Lack of HttpOnly/Secure Flags on Session Cookies [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: Session cookies are not configured with the HttpOnly and Secure flags.
      • Exploitation:
        • HttpOnly flag missing: JavaScript code (e.g., via XSS) can access the session cookie, allowing attackers to steal it.
        • Secure flag missing: Session cookie can be transmitted over unencrypted HTTP connections, making it vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks.
      • Impact: Session hijacking, account takeover.
      • Mitigation: Ensure HttpOnly and Secure flags are set for session cookies in both Onboard's configuration and the application.

Attack Tree Path: Bypass Authentication - Session Hijacking - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Exploitation Path

• Critical Node: Session Hijacking (After Legitimate Login)
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Exploitation:
      • Description: The application is vulnerable to XSS attacks, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into web pages viewed by users.
      • Exploitation: Attackers inject JavaScript that steals session cookies and sends them to the attacker's server.
      • Impact: Session hijacking, account takeover, data theft, defacement.
      • Mitigation: Implement robust XSS prevention measures in the application (input validation, output encoding, Content Security Policy).

Attack Tree Path: Bypass Authentication - Session Hijacking - Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack Path

• Critical Node: Session Hijacking (After Legitimate Login)
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack:
      • Description: Communication between the user's browser and the application server is not fully encrypted using HTTPS.
      • Exploitation: Attackers intercept network traffic and steal session cookies transmitted over unencrypted connections.
      • Impact: Session hijacking, data interception.
      • Mitigation: Enforce HTTPS throughout the application (including redirects from HTTP to HTTPS).

Attack Tree Path: Bypass Authorization - Authorization Bypass due to Logic Errors in Application's Use of Onboard - Incorrect Middleware Placement Path

• Critical Node: Authorization Bypass due to Logic Errors in Application's Use of Onboard
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Incorrect Middleware Placement in Express.js Route Handlers [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: The application incorrectly places Onboard's authorization middleware in the Express.js route handling chain.
      • Exploitation: Authorization middleware is not applied to all protected routes, leaving some routes accessible without proper authorization checks.
      • Impact: Complete bypass of authorization for unprotected routes, unauthorized access to resources.
      • Mitigation: Carefully review Express.js route handler middleware placement to ensure authorization middleware is correctly applied to all protected routes.

Attack Tree Path: Denial of Service (DoS) - Excessive Authentication Attempts Path

• Critical Node: Excessive Authentication Attempts (Rate Limiting is Key)
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Brute-Force Login Attempts Exhausting Server Resources [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: Attackers flood the application with login requests.
      • Exploitation: Without rate limiting, the server becomes overwhelmed processing login attempts, leading to resource exhaustion and denial of service for legitimate users.
      • Impact: Application unavailability, service disruption.
      • Mitigation: Implement robust rate limiting on login attempts to prevent brute-force DoS.

Attack Tree Path: Information Disclosure - Verbose Error Messages Path

• Critical Node: Verbose Error Messages from Onboard
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Stack Traces or Internal Paths Revealed in Error Responses [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: The application or Onboard is configured to display detailed error messages in production, including stack traces, internal file paths, and other debugging information.
      • Exploitation: Attackers can analyze error messages to gain insights into the application's internal workings, technology stack, and potential vulnerabilities.
      • Impact: Information leakage, aids in further attacks.
      • Mitigation: Configure Onboard and the application to provide generic error messages in production and detailed logs only for debugging in secure environments.

Attack Tree Path: Dependency Vulnerabilities Path

• Critical Node: Dependency Vulnerabilities in Onboard's Dependencies
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Outdated or Vulnerable Dependencies Used by Onboard [CRITICAL NODE]:
      • Description: Onboard relies on third-party libraries (dependencies) that may contain known security vulnerabilities. If these dependencies are not regularly updated, the application becomes vulnerable.
      • Exploitation: Attackers exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated dependencies to compromise the application. Vulnerabilities can range from Cross-Site Scripting to Remote Code Execution.
      • Impact: High to Critical, depending on the vulnerability. Can lead to Remote Code Execution, data breach, Denial of Service.
      • Mitigation: Regularly audit and update Onboard's dependencies using tools like npm audit or yarn audit. Monitor security advisories for dependencies and apply updates promptly.