attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for pypa/pipenv

Objective: Execute Arbitrary Code (RCE) on Application Server {CRITICAL}

Attack Tree Visualization

                                     +-------------------------------------------------+
                                     |  Execute Arbitrary Code (RCE) on Application Server | {CRITICAL}
                                     +-------------------------------------------------+
                                                     |
         +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
         |                                                                                                                |
         |                                                                                +-----------------------------+
         |                                                                                |  Exploit Pipenv Indirectly   |
         |                                                                                +-----------------------------+
         |                                                                                                                |
         |                                                                                +--------+--------+--------+
         |                                                                                |                 |                 |
         |                                                                                |  Dependency     |  Pipenv         |  Pipenv         |
         |                                                                                |  Confusion      |  Vulnerabilities|  Misconfiguration|
         |                                                                                +--------+--------+--------+
         |                                                                                                                |                 |
         |                                                                                +--------+        +--------+        +--------+
         |                                                                                | {CRITICAL}       | {CRITICAL}       |                 |
         |                                                                                |  Typosquatting  |  Known CVEs     |  Insecure       |
         |                                                                                |  or similar     |  in Pipenv      |  Dependency     |
         |                                                                                |  package names  |                 |  Resolution     |
         |                                                                                +--------+        +--------+        +--------+
         |                                                                                                                |                 |
         |                                                                                +--------+        +--------+        +--------+
         |                                                                                                                |                 |
         |                                                                                                                |  Using '*'      |
         |                                                                                                                |  for version    |
         |                                                                                                                |  specifiers     |
         |                                                                                                                |  (allowing      |
         |                                                                                                                |  arbitrary      |
         |                                                                                                                |  versions)     | [HIGH RISK]
         |                                                                                                                +--------+
         |                                                                                +--------+
         |                                                                                | [HIGH RISK]      |
         |                                                                                |  Unpatched      |
         |                                                                                |  Pipenv         |
         |                                                                                |  installation  |
         |                                                                                +--------+
+-------------------------+
|  Exploit Pipenv Directly  |
+-------------------------+
         |
+--------+--------+
|                 |
|  Pipfile.lock   |
|  Poisoning      |
+--------+--------+
         |
+--------+--------+
|                 |
|  Man-in-the-    |
|  Middle (MITM)  |
|  Attack         |
+--------+--------+
         |
+--------+--------+
| [HIGH RISK]      |
|  Intercept      |
|  network        |
|  traffic        |
|  during         |
|  `pipenv        |
|  install`      |
|  or `pipenv    |
|  sync`          |
+--------+--------+

Attack Tree Path: 1. Exploit Pipenv Directly -> Pipfile.lock Poisoning -> Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack -> Intercept network traffic [HIGH RISK]

• Description: The attacker intercepts the network communication between the developer's machine and the package repository (e.g., PyPI) during the pipenv install or pipenv sync process. This allows the attacker to modify the packages being downloaded or to alter the Pipfile.lock file, injecting malicious code or dependencies.
• Likelihood: Low (if HTTPS is used correctly); Medium (on untrusted networks without a VPN).
• Impact: Very High (RCE, complete system compromise).
• Effort: Medium to High (requires network access and potentially bypassing HTTPS protections).
• Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
• Detection Difficulty: Medium (with network monitoring); Hard (if HTTPS is properly implemented, but the attacker modifies the Pipfile.lock subtly).

Attack Tree Path: 2. Exploit Pipenv Indirectly -> Dependency Confusion {CRITICAL} -> Typosquatting or similar package names

• Description: The attacker publishes a malicious package to a public repository (like PyPI) with a name that is very similar to a legitimate, private, or internal package used by the target application. The attacker hopes that Pipenv will mistakenly install the malicious package from the public repository instead of the intended private package.
• Likelihood: Medium (especially if internal package names are not well-protected or if the organization uses many private packages).
• Impact: Very High (RCE, data exfiltration).
• Effort: Low to Medium (creating a malicious package with a similar name).
• Skill Level: Intermediate.
• Detection Difficulty: Medium to Hard (requires careful review of package names and sources).

Attack Tree Path: 3. Exploit Pipenv Indirectly -> Pipenv Vulnerabilities {CRITICAL} -> Known CVEs in Pipenv -> Unpatched Pipenv installation [HIGH RISK]

• Description: The attacker exploits a known vulnerability (CVE) in Pipenv itself. This is made possible because the application's Pipenv installation is outdated and hasn't been patched. The vulnerability could allow for various attacks, including RCE or data exfiltration.
• Likelihood: Low (if Pipenv is kept up-to-date); Medium to High (if using an outdated, vulnerable version).
• Impact: Medium to Very High (depending on the specific vulnerability; could range from minor issues to RCE).
• Effort: Low to Medium (exploiting a known vulnerability often involves using publicly available exploit code).
• Skill Level: Intermediate (for known vulnerabilities); Advanced (for discovering and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities).
• Detection Difficulty: Easy (if using vulnerability scanners); Hard (for zero-day vulnerabilities).

Attack Tree Path: 4. Exploit Pipenv Indirectly -> Pipenv Misconfiguration -> Insecure Dependency Resolution -> Using '*' for version specifiers [HIGH RISK]

• Description: The Pipfile uses wildcard characters (*) or very loose version constraints for dependencies. This allows Pipenv to install any version of a package, including potentially vulnerable or malicious versions that might be published in the future. This significantly increases the attack surface.
• Likelihood: Medium (common mistake, especially for beginners).
• Impact: High (can lead to installing vulnerable or malicious versions).
• Effort: Very Low (attacker doesn't need to do anything specific; the vulnerability is in the configuration).
• Skill Level: Novice.
• Detection Difficulty: Easy (code review or automated tools can detect this).