attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for dingo/api

Objective: Gain Unauthorized Access/Disrupt API

Attack Tree Visualization

                                     +-------------------------------------------------+
                                     |  Gain Unauthorized Access/Disrupt API (Goal)    |
                                     +-------------------------------------------------+
                                                  /                                     \
          -----------------------------------------                                      -----------------------------------------
          |                                                                              |
+---------------------+                                                     +---------------------+
| Exploit Auth Flaws |[HIGH RISK]                                          | Exploit Input Valid |[HIGH RISK]
+---------------------+                                                     +---------------------+
          |                                                                              |
  --------+--------                                                               --------+--------
  |                                                                                      |
+-------+                                                                     +-------+[!]
| Bypass|[CRITICAL]                                                              |Inject |
|Auth   |                                                                     |Invalid|
|Checks |                                                                     |Data   |
+-------+                                                                     +-------+
  |                                                                                      |
  |...                                                                                     |...
  |
+-------+                                                                     +-------+
|JWT    |[HIGH RISK]                                                              |Missing|[HIGH RISK]
|Manip. |                                                                     |Valid. |
|       |                                                                     |       |
+-------+                                                                     +-------+
          \                                                                              /
           -----------------------------------------                  -----------------------------------------
           |                                       |                  |               |
+---------------------+             +---------------------+    +-------+   +-------+
| Exploit Error Handl |             |                     |    |       |   |       |
+---------------------+             |                     |    |       |   |       |
          |                                       |                  |               |
  --------+--------                       --------+--------    --------+--------
  |               |                       |               |    |               |
+-------+[CRITICAL]|   +-------+[!]    +-------+   +-------+    +-------+   +-------+
|Leak   |           |Trigger|    |       |   |       |    |       |   |       |
|Sensit.|           |DoS via|    |       |   |       |    |       |   |       |
|Info   |           |Error  |    |       |   |       |    |       |   |       |
+-------+           +-------+    +-------+   +-------+    +-------+   +-------+
                                                        |               |
                                                        +-------+   +-------+
                                                        |Missing|   |Un-    |
                                                        |Handl. |   |handled|
                                                        |       |   |Except.|
                                                        +-------+   +-------+

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Authentication Flaws [HIGH RISK]

• Bypass Authentication Checks [CRITICAL]
  • Description: The attacker attempts to access protected API endpoints without providing valid credentials or by circumventing the authentication process altogether.
  • Attack Vectors:
    • JWT Manipulation [HIGH RISK]:
      • Forging JWTs: Creating JWTs without the correct secret key. This requires knowledge of the JWT structure and potentially the algorithm used.
      • Altering Existing JWTs: Modifying the payload of a valid JWT (e.g., changing the user ID or roles) to gain unauthorized access. This requires intercepting a valid token.
      • Exploiting Weak JWT Validation: Taking advantage of misconfigurations in the JWT validation process, such as not verifying the signature, expiration, or issuer.
      • "None" Algorithm Attack: Exploiting a severe misconfiguration where the alg header in the JWT is set to "none," allowing unsigned tokens to be accepted.

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Input Validation [HIGH RISK]

• Inject Invalid Data
  • Description: The attacker sends malformed or unexpected data to the API, aiming to cause errors, bypass security checks, or execute malicious code.
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Missing Validation [HIGH RISK]:
      • Description: The API fails to properly validate input parameters, allowing attackers to send arbitrary data. This is a fundamental flaw that enables many other attacks.
      • Consequences: Can lead to SQL injection, NoSQL injection, command injection, XSS, and other vulnerabilities, depending on how the unvalidated data is used.

Attack Tree Path: Exploit Error Handling

• Leak Sensitive Information [CRITICAL] * Description: The attacker triggers errors in the API that reveal sensitive information, such as database credentials, internal file paths, API keys, or stack traces. * Attack Vectors:

  • Missing Handling: If dingo/api's error handling is not properly configured, detailed error messages (including stack traces, database queries, or internal file paths) might be returned to the attacker.
  • Verbose Error Messages: Even with custom error handlers, the application might inadvertently include sensitive information in error responses.

• Trigger DoS via Error

  • Description: The attacker crafts requests designed to trigger errors that consume excessive server resources or cause the application to crash.
  • Attack Vectors:
    • Unhandled Exceptions: If the API doesn't properly handle exceptions, a single malicious request could crash the entire API or application.
    • Resource Exhaustion on Error: If error handling logic itself consumes significant resources (e.g., excessive logging), the attacker can trigger errors to exhaust resources.