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Attack Tree Analysis for matrix-org/synapse

Objective: Unauthorized Access/Control/Disruption of Synapse Homeserver

Attack Tree Visualization

[[Attacker Goal: Unauthorized Access/Control/Disruption of Synapse Homeserver]] ||

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[[2. Exploit Synapse Vulnerabilities]] ||

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[[2.1 Federation Vulnerabilities]] [[2.2 Application Logic Flaws]] || || ================= ================================= || || || [[2.1.1 Malicious [[2.2.2 User [[2.2.3 Media Federated Server]] Impersonation]] Upload Vulnerabilities]] || || || ============== ============== ============== || || || [[2.1.1.1 [[2.2.2.1 [[2.2.3.1 Send Masquerade Path Malicious as Another Traversal]] Events]] User in [[2.2.3.3 API Calls]] Malicious File Content]]

Attack Tree Path: Attacker Goal: Unauthorized Access/Control/Disruption of Synapse Homeserver

  • Description: The ultimate objective of the attacker. This encompasses gaining unauthorized access to user data, controlling the server's functionality, or disrupting its operation.
  • Impact: Very High - Complete compromise of the homeserver and its data.

Attack Tree Path: 2. Exploit Synapse Vulnerabilities

  • Description: The attacker leverages vulnerabilities specifically within the Synapse software to achieve their goal. This is the main entry point for the high-risk attacks.
  • Impact: High - Successful exploitation can lead to a wide range of negative outcomes.

Attack Tree Path: 2.1 Federation Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Attacks exploiting the trust relationships between federated Matrix homeservers.
  • Impact: High - Can affect multiple servers and users.
  • Likelihood: Medium - Federation inherently increases the attack surface.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires understanding of the Matrix federation protocol.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires knowledge of network protocols and distributed systems.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires monitoring federation traffic and analyzing event logs.

Attack Tree Path: 2.1.1 Malicious Federated Server

  • Description: An attacker controls or compromises a Matrix homeserver and uses it to attack other servers.
  • Impact: High - A malicious server has significant control over the data it sends.
  • Likelihood: Low - Requires controlling a homeserver or compromising an existing one.
  • Effort: Medium - Setting up or compromising a server takes time and resources.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires server administration and potentially exploit development skills.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires monitoring server behavior and reputation.

Attack Tree Path: 2.1.1.1 Send Malicious Events

  • Description: The malicious server sends specially crafted events designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the target Synapse server's event handling code.
  • Impact: High - Could lead to code execution, denial-of-service, or data corruption.
  • Likelihood: Medium - This is a common attack vector for systems processing external input.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires identifying vulnerable event types and crafting exploits.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires understanding of event parsing and vulnerability exploitation.
  • Detection Difficulty: Hard - Malicious events might look similar to legitimate events.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2 Application Logic Flaws

  • Description: Vulnerabilities within Synapse's core logic, independent of federation.
  • Impact: High - Can lead to direct server compromise.
  • Likelihood: Medium - Complex software is likely to have logic flaws.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires code review, fuzzing, and vulnerability research.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires understanding of web application security.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires good logging and monitoring.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2.2 User Impersonation

  • Description: The attacker gains the ability to act as another user, accessing their data and privileges.
  • Impact: Very High - Complete account takeover.
  • Likelihood: Low - Synapse has authentication and authorization mechanisms.
  • Effort: High - Requires bypassing authentication or finding session management vulnerabilities.
  • Skill Level: Advanced - Requires expertise in web application security.
  • Detection Difficulty: Very Hard - Requires monitoring for unusual user activity.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2.2.1 Masquerade as Another User in API Calls

  • Description: The attacker forges API requests to appear as if they originated from a different user, bypassing authorization checks.
  • Impact: Very High - Complete account takeover.
  • Likelihood: Low - Requires finding vulnerabilities in API authentication or session handling.
  • Effort: Very High - Requires deep understanding of Synapse's API.
  • Skill Level: Expert - Requires advanced web application security skills.
  • Detection Difficulty: Very Hard - Requires monitoring API calls for anomalies.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2.3 Media Upload Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Exploiting vulnerabilities related to how Synapse handles media file uploads (images, videos, etc.).
  • Impact: High - Can lead to code execution, denial-of-service, or data breaches.
  • Likelihood: Medium - Media handling is a common source of vulnerabilities.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires finding vulnerabilities in media processing.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires understanding of file upload vulnerabilities.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires monitoring file uploads and content.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2.3.1 Path Traversal

  • Description: The attacker uploads a file with a crafted filename that allows them to write the file to an arbitrary location on the server.
  • Impact: Very High - Could lead to code execution by overwriting critical files.
  • Likelihood: Low - Synapse should sanitize filenames.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires crafting malicious filenames and testing.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires understanding of path traversal attacks.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires monitoring file system access.

Attack Tree Path: 2.2.3.3 Malicious File Content

  • Description: The attacker uploads a file that, when processed by Synapse or downloaded by a client, exploits a vulnerability (e.g., a malicious image).
  • Impact: High - Could lead to code execution or client-side exploits.
  • Likelihood: Medium - Depends on the vulnerability of media processing libraries.
  • Effort: Medium - Requires finding or creating malicious files.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate - Requires understanding of file format vulnerabilities.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium - Requires malware scanning and sandboxing.