attack-tree.md

Attack Tree Analysis for skwp/dotfiles

Objective: Compromise Application Using Dotfiles (High-Risk Paths)

Attack Tree Visualization

Root: Compromise Application Using Dotfiles (High-Risk) ├───[AND] Exploit Dotfile Vulnerabilities ├───[OR] Malicious Dotfile Introduction [HIGH RISK PATH] │ └─── Compromise Local Dotfile Storage (If stored locally) [HIGH RISK PATH] │ └─── Attack: Local File Inclusion (LFI) if path is user-controlled [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Attack: Directory Traversal if path is user-controlled [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Maliciously Crafted Dotfiles [HIGH RISK PATH] │ └─── Attack: Attacker provides malicious dotfiles (e.g., via user input, upload) [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Vulnerability: Insufficient input validation on dotfile content/path [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Vulnerability: Application trusts user-provided dotfiles [CRITICAL NODE] ├───[OR] Dotfile Parsing Vulnerabilities [HIGH RISK PATH] │ ├─── Command Injection [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application executes dotfile scripts without sanitization [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application uses eval or similar unsafe execution methods [CRITICAL NODE] │ ├─── Path Traversal during Dotfile Access [HIGH RISK PATH if leads to code execution] │ │ └─── Attack: Craft dotfile paths to access sensitive files outside intended dotfile directory [CRITICAL NODE if leads to code execution] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application doesn't properly sanitize or validate dotfile paths [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application uses user-controlled input to construct dotfile paths [CRITICAL NODE] ├───[OR] Dotfile Injection/Substitution [HIGH RISK PATH] │ ├─── Environment Variable Injection [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application uses environment variables to locate or load dotfiles [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application doesn't sanitize environment variables used in dotfile operations [CRITICAL NODE] │ ├─── Symbolic Link Attacks [HIGH RISK PATH if leads to sensitive file access/overwrite] │ │ └─── Attack: Create symbolic links within dotfiles to point to malicious or sensitive files [CRITICAL NODE if leads to sensitive file access/overwrite] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application follows symbolic links when accessing dotfiles [CRITICAL NODE] │ │ └─── Vulnerability: Application doesn't restrict access within the intended dotfile directory [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Path Manipulation [HIGH RISK PATH] │ └─── Attack: Manipulate file paths to force application to load attacker-controlled dotfiles [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Vulnerability: Application uses user-controlled input to construct dotfile paths [CRITICAL NODE] │ └─── Vulnerability: Application doesn't perform sufficient path sanitization and validation [CRITICAL NODE]

Attack Tree Path: Malicious Dotfile Introduction - Compromise Local Dotfile Storage (High Risk Path)

Attack Vector: Exploiting vulnerabilities to modify dotfiles stored locally on the server.

• Critical Node: Local File Inclusion (LFI) if path is user-controlled:
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if LFI vulnerability exists).
  • Impact: Significant (Read/write access to local files, potential for code execution).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Directory Traversal if path is user-controlled:
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if directory traversal vulnerability exists).
  • Impact: Significant (Read/write access to files outside intended directory, potential for code execution).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.

Attack Tree Path: Malicious Dotfile Introduction - Maliciously Crafted Dotfiles (High Risk Path)

Attack Vector: Providing malicious dotfiles to the application, often through user input or uploads.

• Critical Node: Attacker provides malicious dotfiles (e.g., via user input, upload):
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if application accepts user-provided dotfiles without validation).
  • Impact: Critical (Code execution, application compromise).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low to Medium.
  • Detection Difficulty: Hard.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Insufficient input validation on dotfile content/path:
  • Description: Application fails to properly validate the content or path of provided dotfiles.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application trusts user-provided dotfiles:
  • Description: Application assumes user-provided dotfiles are safe and trustworthy.

Attack Tree Path: Dotfile Parsing Vulnerabilities - Command Injection (High Risk Path)

Attack Vector: Injecting malicious commands within dotfile scripts that are executed by the application.

• Critical Node: Command Injection:
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if application executes dotfile scripts without sanitization).
  • Impact: Critical (Code execution, full system compromise).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application executes dotfile scripts without sanitization:
  • Description: Application directly executes dotfile scripts without any security checks.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application uses eval or similar unsafe execution methods:
  • Description: Application uses eval or similar functions to execute dotfile content.
  • Likelihood: High to Very High (if eval is used).
  • Impact: Critical (Direct code execution, full system compromise).
  • Effort: Very Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Easy.

Attack Tree Path: Dotfile Parsing Vulnerabilities - Path Traversal during Dotfile Access (High Risk Path if leads to code execution)

Attack Vector: Crafting dotfile paths to access sensitive files outside the intended dotfile directory, potentially leading to code execution if sensitive executable files are accessed or overwritten.

• Critical Node: Attack - Craft dotfile paths to access sensitive files outside intended dotfile directory (if leads to code execution):
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if application doesn't sanitize paths).
  • Impact: Significant (Information disclosure, potential for privilege escalation, code execution).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application doesn't properly sanitize or validate dotfile paths:
  • Description: Application fails to sanitize or validate file paths used to access dotfiles.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application uses user-controlled input to construct dotfile paths:
  • Description: Application uses user input to construct dotfile paths without proper sanitization.

Attack Tree Path: Dotfile Injection/Substitution - Environment Variable Injection (High Risk Path)

Attack Vector: Injecting environment variables to influence dotfile paths or execution, forcing the application to load attacker-controlled dotfiles.

• Critical Node: Environment Variable Injection:
  • Likelihood: Low to Medium (depends on application's environment variable usage and attacker control).
  • Impact: Significant to Critical (Loading malicious dotfiles, code execution).
  • Effort: Low to Medium.
  • Skill Level: Low to Medium.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application uses environment variables to locate or load dotfiles:
  • Description: Application relies on environment variables to determine dotfile locations.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application doesn't sanitize environment variables used in dotfile operations:
  • Description: Application doesn't sanitize environment variables used in dotfile path construction or loading.

Attack Tree Path: Dotfile Injection/Substitution - Symbolic Link Attacks (High Risk Path if leads to sensitive file access/overwrite)

Attack Vector: Creating symbolic links within dotfiles to point to malicious or sensitive files, allowing access or modification of unintended files.

• Critical Node: Attack - Create symbolic links within dotfiles to point to malicious or sensitive files (if leads to sensitive file access/overwrite):
  • Likelihood: Low to Medium (depends on application's file access patterns and symlink handling).
  • Impact: Significant (Information disclosure, potential for privilege escalation).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application follows symbolic links when accessing dotfiles:
  • Description: Application follows symbolic links when accessing dotfiles.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application doesn't restrict access within the intended dotfile directory:
  • Description: Application doesn't enforce access restrictions within the dotfile directory, allowing symlink escapes.

Attack Tree Path: Dotfile Injection/Substitution - Path Manipulation (High Risk Path)

Attack Vector: Manipulating file paths to force the application to load dotfiles from attacker-controlled locations.

• Critical Node: Attack - Manipulate file paths to force application to load attacker-controlled dotfiles:
  • Likelihood: Medium to High (if application uses user-controlled input for dotfile paths without sanitization).
  • Impact: Critical (Loading malicious dotfiles, code execution).
  • Effort: Low.
  • Skill Level: Low.
  • Detection Difficulty: Medium.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application uses user-controlled input to construct dotfile paths:
  • Description: Application uses user-controlled input to construct dotfile paths.
• Critical Node: Vulnerability - Application doesn't perform sufficient path sanitization and validation:
  • Description: Application lacks proper path sanitization and validation mechanisms.