threat-modeling.md

Threat Model Analysis for robbiehanson/xmppframework

Threat: Plaintext Credential Transmission (PLAIN SASL without TLS)

• Threat: Plaintext Credential Transmission (PLAIN SASL without TLS)
• Description: An attacker performing a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack can intercept unencrypted username and password if the application uses PLAIN SASL authentication without prior TLS/SSL encryption. xmppframework's XMPPStream component handles SASL authentication and connection establishment, and misconfiguration can lead to this vulnerability.
• Impact: Critical. Compromise of user credentials allows account takeover, unauthorized access to messages, and malicious actions performed as the user.
• Affected XMPPFramework Component: XMPPStream (SASL Authentication, Connection Establishment)
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Mandatory TLS/SSL: Always enforce TLS/SSL encryption for all connections before SASL authentication. Configure XMPPStream to use startTLS and verify successful negotiation.
  • Avoid PLAIN SASL: Prefer stronger SASL mechanisms like SCRAM-SHA-1 or SCRAM-SHA-256.
  • Server-Side Enforcement: Configure the XMPP server to reject PLAIN SASL authentication over unencrypted connections.

Threat: TLS/SSL Certificate Validation Bypass

• Threat: TLS/SSL Certificate Validation Bypass
• Description: An attacker performing a MITM attack can present a fraudulent TLS/SSL certificate. If the application, via xmppframework configuration or implementation flaws, bypasses proper certificate validation, the attacker can establish an encrypted connection while still intercepting and potentially modifying traffic. XMPPStream handles TLS/SSL handshake and certificate handling.
• Impact: High. Loss of confidentiality and integrity of communication. Attackers can eavesdrop on messages and manipulate data exchanged between the application and the XMPP server.
• Affected XMPPFramework Component: XMPPStream (TLS/SSL Handshake, Certificate Handling)
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Strict Certificate Validation: Ensure XMPPStream is configured for full certificate validation, including hostname verification. Do not disable or weaken default validation settings.
  • Certificate Pinning (Advanced): For sensitive applications, consider certificate pinning to restrict accepted certificates to a known set.
  • Regularly Update Root Certificates: Maintain an up-to-date operating system root certificate store.

Threat: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection (Potential)

• Threat: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection (Potential)
• Description: If xmppframework's XML parsing component (within XMPPStream or underlying libraries) is vulnerable to XXE injection, an attacker controlling the XMPP server or injecting malicious XML stanzas could exploit this. This could allow reading local files, Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), or Denial of Service. XMPPStream is responsible for XML parsing and stanza processing.
• Impact: High to Critical. Potential data breaches (local file access), SSRF attacks, or DoS.
• Affected XMPPFramework Component: XMPPStream (XML Parsing, Stanza Processing)
• Risk Severity: High (Assuming potential for high impact vulnerabilities like local file access or SSRF)
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Disable External Entity Processing: Configure the XML parser used by xmppframework to disable external entity processing.
  • Regularly Update xmppframework: Updates may include fixes for XML parsing vulnerabilities.
  • Security Audits and Static Analysis: Conduct security audits to identify potential XXE vulnerabilities in application and xmppframework usage.

Threat: Denial of Service via Malformed XML Stanzas

• Threat: Denial of Service via Malformed XML Stanzas
• Description: An attacker can send malformed XML stanzas to the application. If xmppframework's XMPPStream component's XML parsing or stanza processing is not robust, it can lead to excessive resource consumption, crashes, or hangs, causing a Denial of Service.
• Impact: High. Application unavailability, disrupting XMPP functionality.
• Affected XMPPFramework Component: XMPPStream (XML Parsing, Stanza Processing)
• Risk Severity: High (Due to potential for application unavailability)
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Robust Error Handling: Ensure xmppframework and application stanza processing handle malformed XML gracefully.
  • Input Validation (Stanza Level): Validate incoming XMPP stanzas to reject or sanitize malformed stanzas.
  • Resource Limits and Rate Limiting: Implement resource limits and rate limiting on XMPP traffic.
  • Regularly Update xmppframework: Updates may include fixes for parsing vulnerabilities and improved error handling.

Threat: Memory Leaks or Buffer Overflows in xmppframework (Potential)

• Threat: Memory Leaks or Buffer Overflows in xmppframework (Potential)
• Description: Potential memory management issues within xmppframework's code (especially in Objective-C or C/C++ parts) could be exploited. Attackers might trigger these vulnerabilities by sending crafted XMPP messages or actions. Buffer overflows can lead to code execution, and memory leaks to DoS. Core xmppframework code is affected.
• Impact: High to Critical. Buffer overflows can lead to code execution and system compromise. Memory leaks can cause DoS.
• Affected XMPPFramework Component: Core xmppframework code (string handling, XML parsing, network operations).
• Risk Severity: High (Considering potential for code execution from buffer overflows)
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Regular Security Audits of xmppframework (Project Level): Ideally, the xmppframework project should undergo security audits.
  • Memory Safety Tools during Development: Use memory safety tools during development with xmppframework.
  • Regularly Update xmppframework: Updates may include fixes for memory safety vulnerabilities.
  • Monitor Application Resource Usage: Monitor memory usage in production to detect potential leaks.