threat-modeling.md

Threat Model Analysis for bkeepers/dotenv

Threat: Accidental Inclusion of .env in Version Control

• Description: An attacker gains access to a version control repository where developers have mistakenly committed the .env file. The attacker can then read the .env file and extract sensitive environment variables.
• Impact: Full compromise of the application and potentially related services. Attackers can use exposed credentials to access databases, APIs, and other resources, leading to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized actions.
• Affected dotenv component: .env file storage and developer practices.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Add .env to .gitignore file.
  • Implement pre-commit hooks to prevent committing .env.
  • Educate developers on secure secret management.
  • Regularly audit repository history for accidentally committed secrets and remove them.

Threat: Web Server Serving .env File

• Description: An attacker sends an HTTP request to a misconfigured web server, directly requesting the .env file. If the web server is incorrectly set up to serve static files from the application root and .env is located there, the attacker can download and read the file, exposing sensitive environment variables.
• Impact: Full compromise of the application and potentially related services. Exposed credentials can lead to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized actions.
• Affected dotenv component: Web server configuration and .env file location.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Configure web server to deny access to .env and dotfiles.
  • Store .env outside the web server's document root.
  • Regularly review web server configurations.

Threat: Directory Traversal Vulnerability Leading to .env Access

• Description: An attacker exploits a directory traversal vulnerability in the application code. This allows the attacker to navigate the server's file system and access files outside the intended application directories, including the .env file, even if it's not directly served by the web server.
• Impact: Full compromise of the application and potentially related services. Access to .env exposes sensitive credentials, leading to potential data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized actions.
• Affected dotenv component: Application code interacting with file system and .env file location.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Implement robust input validation and sanitization to prevent directory traversal.
  • Follow secure coding practices to avoid directory traversal flaws.
  • Regularly perform security audits and penetration testing.

Threat: Storing Highly Sensitive Secrets Directly in .env Files

• Description: Even if the .env file is not externally exposed, an attacker who gains access to the server through other vulnerabilities can read the local file system and access the .env file. If highly sensitive secrets are stored directly in plaintext within .env, the attacker immediately gains access to these secrets.
• Impact: Significant impact if server is compromised. Attackers gain direct access to sensitive secrets, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and control over related systems.
• Affected dotenv component: .env file content and secret storage practices.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Minimize storing highly sensitive secrets in .env, even for development.
  • Use secure secret management solutions (vault, cloud secret managers) for production.
  • Consider encrypting .env files at rest (with key management considerations).