mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for daltoniam/starscream

Mitigation Strategy: Regularly Update Starscream

• Description:

  1. Monitor Starscream Releases: Regularly check the Starscream GitHub repository (https://github.com/daltoniam/starscream) for new releases and security advisories. Subscribe to release notifications or use automated tools that monitor dependency updates.
  2. Update Starscream Dependency: When a new stable version of Starscream is released, update your project's dependency management configuration (e.g., Package.swift for Swift Package Manager) to use the latest version.
  3. Test After Update: After updating Starscream, thoroughly test your application's WebSocket functionality to ensure compatibility and that the update hasn't introduced regressions or broken existing features that rely on Starscream.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Known Vulnerabilities in Starscream (High Severity): Outdated versions of Starscream may contain publicly known security vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Severity is high because exploitation can lead to various attacks depending on the vulnerability.

• Impact:

  • Known Vulnerabilities in Starscream (High Impact): Regularly updating Starscream directly reduces the risk of exploitation of known vulnerabilities within the library itself.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Dependency Management Process: Yes, using Swift Package Manager.
  • Monitoring Starscream Releases: No, currently manual checking of GitHub repository is performed occasionally.
  • Test After Update: Yes, updates are tested in a staging environment.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Automated Monitoring of Starscream Releases: Implement automated tools or scripts to monitor Starscream releases and notify the development team of new versions and security advisories.

Mitigation Strategy: Dependency Scanning (Focus on Starscream)

• Description:

  1. Integrate Dependency Scanning Tool: Integrate a dependency scanning tool into your CI/CD pipeline that can analyze your project's dependencies, including Starscream.
  2. Scan for Starscream Vulnerabilities: Configure the tool to specifically scan for known vulnerabilities in the Starscream library and its transitive dependencies.
  3. Review Starscream Scan Results: Regularly review the scan results related to Starscream. Prioritize and address any reported vulnerabilities in Starscream or its dependencies.
  4. Update Starscream or Dependencies: Based on scan results, update Starscream to a patched version or update any vulnerable transitive dependencies of Starscream.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Known Vulnerabilities in Starscream and Transitive Dependencies (High Severity): Proactively identifies known security flaws within Starscream and libraries it relies upon. Severity remains high as these vulnerabilities can be exploited.

• Impact:

  • Known Vulnerabilities in Starscream and Transitive Dependencies (High Impact): Dependency scanning provides early detection of vulnerabilities in Starscream, allowing for timely patching and reducing the window of opportunity for exploitation.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Dependency Scanning Tool: No, dependency scanning is not currently integrated.
  • Integration into CI/CD Pipeline: N/A
  • Scan for Starscream Vulnerabilities: N/A
  • Review Starscream Scan Results: N/A
  • Update Starscream or Dependencies: N/A

• Missing Implementation:

  • Implement Dependency Scanning Tool and Integration: Choose and integrate a dependency scanning tool into the project's CI/CD pipeline, specifically configured to scan Starscream.

Mitigation Strategy: Pin Starscream Version

• Description:

  1. Pin Exact Starscream Version: In your project's dependency file (e.g., Package.swift), specify an exact version of Starscream using your dependency management tool's version pinning feature (e.g., .exact("version") in Swift Package Manager).
  2. Test Pinned Version: Thoroughly test your application with the pinned version of Starscream to ensure it functions correctly and is stable.
  3. Regularly Review Pinned Version: Schedule periodic reviews to assess if the pinned Starscream version is still the most secure and appropriate. Consider updating the pinned version during these reviews, followed by testing.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Unexpected Updates Introducing Regressions or Vulnerabilities (Medium Severity): Prevents automatic updates of Starscream that might introduce new issues, including security vulnerabilities or break existing functionality related to Starscream.

• Impact:

  • Unexpected Updates Introducing Regressions or Vulnerabilities (Medium Impact): Pinning provides stability and control over Starscream updates, reducing risks from uncontrolled changes in the library.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Pin Exact Starscream Version: Yes, Starscream version is pinned in Package.swift.
  • Test Pinned Version: Yes, the pinned version was tested during initial integration.
  • Regularly Review Pinned Version: No, there is no scheduled review process for the pinned version.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Implement Regular Review Process: Establish a schedule (e.g., quarterly) to review the pinned Starscream version and assess if updates are necessary or beneficial.

Mitigation Strategy: Enforce TLS/SSL (WSS) with Starscream

• Description:

  1. Use wss:// Scheme with Starscream: When initializing a WebSocket object in Starscream, always use the wss:// scheme in the WebSocket URL string instead of ws:// for production connections.
  2. Verify wss:// Configuration: Double-check your code where you create Starscream WebSocket instances to ensure wss:// is consistently used for secure connections.
  3. Rely on Starscream's Default TLS: Starscream defaults to using TLS when wss:// is specified. Ensure you are not inadvertently disabling TLS configuration options provided by Starscream unless for specific, controlled testing.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks (High Severity): Using ws:// with Starscream (unencrypted WebSocket) makes communication vulnerable to MitM attacks.
  • Data Eavesdropping (High Severity): Without TLS encryption in Starscream, WebSocket communication is in plaintext, allowing eavesdropping.
  • Data Tampering (Medium Severity): In ws:// connections with Starscream, attackers can tamper with messages.

• Impact:

  • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks (High Impact): Enforcing wss:// with Starscream and TLS/SSL effectively mitigates MitM attacks for WebSocket communication handled by Starscream.
  • Data Eavesdropping (High Impact): TLS/SSL encryption within Starscream renders WebSocket traffic unreadable to eavesdroppers.
  • Data Tampering (Medium Impact): TLS/SSL provides integrity checks, making tampering difficult when using Starscream with wss://.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Use wss:// Scheme with Starscream: Yes, wss:// is used for WebSocket connections in production code using Starscream.
  • Verify wss:// Configuration: Yes, code review process includes verification of wss:// usage with Starscream.
  • Rely on Starscream's Default TLS: Yes, default TLS configuration of Starscream is used.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Continuous Monitoring of wss:// Usage in Starscream Code: Implement automated checks to prevent accidental introduction of ws:// URLs when using Starscream in production code.

Mitigation Strategy: Validate Server Certificates with Starscream

• Description:

  1. Maintain Starscream's Default Certificate Validation: Starscream, by default, performs certificate validation. Ensure you do not disable this default behavior in Starscream's configuration unless for specific testing purposes.
  2. Avoid Disabling Validation in Starscream Production Code: Never disable certificate validation in production code that uses Starscream.
  3. Implement Custom Validation via Starscream Delegates (If Needed): If custom certificate validation is required, use Starscream's delegate methods or configuration options to implement it carefully. Ensure custom validation is robust and doesn't bypass security.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks via Certificate Spoofing (High Severity): Disabling or improperly implementing certificate validation in Starscream allows MitM attacks via fraudulent certificates.

• Impact:

  • Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks via Certificate Spoofing (High Impact): Proper certificate validation in Starscream is crucial for preventing MitM attacks based on certificate spoofing for WebSocket connections managed by Starscream.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Maintain Starscream's Default Certificate Validation: Yes, default certificate validation is maintained in Starscream.
  • Avoid Disabling Validation in Starscream Production Code: Yes, certificate validation is not disabled in production Starscream code.
  • Implement Custom Validation via Starscream Delegates (If Needed): No custom validation is implemented.

• Missing Implementation:

  • More Granular Certificate Validation Testing with Starscream: Implement more specific tests focused on Starscream's certificate validation, including testing with invalid and expired certificates in a controlled testing environment.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Proper Handshake Validation using Starscream Delegates

• Description:

  1. Utilize Starscream Delegate for Handshake Access: Use Starscream's delegate methods, specifically websocketDidConnect(_:headers:), to access the handshake headers received from the server after a successful WebSocket connection is established.
  2. Validate Handshake Headers in Delegate: Within the websocketDidConnect delegate method, implement validation logic to check relevant handshake headers (e.g., Sec-WebSocket-Accept, Upgrade, Connection, custom headers) provided by Starscream.
  3. Validate Subprotocol in Delegate (If Applicable): If using subprotocols, validate the negotiated subprotocol from the handshake within the Starscream delegate method to ensure it's the expected one.
  4. Handle Validation Failures in Delegate: If handshake validation fails within the delegate method, trigger connection closure using Starscream's API and log the failure.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Connection to Unauthorized or Malicious WebSocket Servers (Medium Severity): Handshake validation using Starscream delegates can help prevent connections to unintended servers.
  • Subprotocol Mismatches or Downgrade Attacks (Low Severity): Validating subprotocol negotiation in Starscream delegates ensures protocol integrity.

• Impact:

  • Connection to Unauthorized or Malicious WebSocket Servers (Medium Impact): Handshake validation using Starscream delegates adds a layer of defense against connecting to unintended servers when using Starscream.
  • Subprotocol Mismatches or Downgrade Attacks (Low Impact): Handshake validation for subprotocols within Starscream ensures protocol integrity for Starscream-managed connections.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Utilize Starscream Delegate for Handshake Access: Yes, delegate methods are used for handling WebSocket events in Starscream.
  • Validate Handshake Headers in Delegate: No, handshake headers are not currently explicitly validated in Starscream delegates.
  • Validate Subprotocol in Delegate (If Applicable): No, subprotocol negotiation is not explicitly validated in Starscream delegates.
  • Handle Validation Failures in Delegate: Basic error handling for connection failures is implemented in Starscream delegates, but not specifically for handshake validation failures.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Implement Handshake Header and Subprotocol Validation in Starscream Delegates: Implement validation logic within Starscream's websocketDidConnect delegate method to check relevant handshake headers and subprotocol negotiation.
  • Enhance Error Handling for Handshake Failures in Starscream Delegates: Improve error handling within Starscream delegates to specifically detect and log handshake validation failures.

Mitigation Strategy: Limit Message Size (Application-Level Checks with Starscream)

• Description:

  1. Determine Maximum Message Size: Analyze application needs to determine the maximum acceptable size for WebSocket messages processed by Starscream.
  2. Implement Size Checks in Starscream Delegate: In your Starscream delegate method websocketDidReceiveMessage(_:text:) or websocketDidReceiveMessage(_:data:), add code to check the size of the received message (text or data).
  3. Reject Oversized Messages in Delegate: If a message received by Starscream exceeds the defined maximum size, handle it as invalid. You can choose to ignore the message, close the WebSocket connection using Starscream's API, and log the event.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks via Large Messages (Medium Severity): Attackers can send excessively large WebSocket messages to overwhelm the application using Starscream.

• Impact:

  • Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks via Large Messages (Medium Impact): Limiting message size, with checks implemented in Starscream delegates, helps mitigate DoS attacks by preventing processing of excessively large messages received via Starscream.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Determine Maximum Message Size: No formal analysis has been conducted.
  • Implement Size Checks in Starscream Delegate: No application-level message size checks are currently implemented in Starscream delegates.
  • Reject Oversized Messages in Delegate: No specific handling for oversized messages is implemented in Starscream delegates.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Analyze and Determine Maximum Message Size: Conduct an analysis to determine appropriate maximum message size limits for WebSocket communication handled by Starscream.
  • Implement Message Size Checks in Starscream Delegates: Implement message size checks within the websocketDidReceiveMessage delegate methods.
  • Enhance Error Handling for Oversized Messages in Starscream Delegates: Implement specific error handling for oversized messages within Starscream delegates, including connection closure and logging.

Mitigation Strategy: Implement Robust Error Handling for Starscream WebSocket Events

• Description:

  1. Implement Error Handling in Starscream Delegates: Implement comprehensive error handling within all relevant Starscream delegate methods, such as websocketDidDisconnect(_:error:), websocketDidReceiveError(_:), and error handling within websocketDidReceiveMessage for message processing failures.
  2. Log Starscream Error Details (Securely): When Starscream reports errors through its delegate methods, log relevant error details provided by Starscream (e.g., error codes, error messages) for debugging and security monitoring.
  3. Handle Starscream Connection Disconnections Gracefully: Implement logic to gracefully handle WebSocket disconnections reported by Starscream in websocketDidDisconnect. Attempt reconnection if appropriate, and ensure application stability when Starscream reports disconnections.

• Threats Mitigated:

  • Information Disclosure via Error Messages (Low Severity): Verbose error messages from Starscream, if exposed, can reveal internal details.
  • Denial of Service (DoS) via Error Handling Failures (Medium Severity): Poor error handling of Starscream events can lead to crashes or resource exhaustion.
  • Application Instability due to Unhandled Starscream Errors (Medium Severity): Unhandled errors from Starscream can lead to application instability.

• Impact:

  • Information Disclosure via Error Messages (Low Impact): Robust error handling and secure logging of Starscream events prevent exposure of sensitive information through Starscream error messages.
  • Denial of Service (DoS) via Error Handling Failures (Medium Impact): Proper error handling of Starscream events improves application resilience to unexpected WebSocket events reported by Starscream.
  • Application Instability due to Unhandled Starscream Errors (Medium Impact): Comprehensive error handling of Starscream events prevents application crashes and instability caused by issues reported by Starscream.

• Currently Implemented:

  • Implement Error Handling in Starscream Delegates: Basic error handling is implemented in some Starscream delegate methods, but not comprehensively.
  • Log Starscream Error Details (Securely): Error logging for Starscream events is implemented, but security and content of logs could be improved.
  • Handle Starscream Connection Disconnections Gracefully: Basic reconnection logic is implemented for disconnections reported by Starscream, but user communication and stability could be improved.

• Missing Implementation:

  • Implement Comprehensive Error Handling in Starscream Delegates: Enhance error handling in all relevant Starscream delegate methods to cover a wider range of error scenarios reported by Starscream.
  • Improve Security of Starscream Error Logs: Review and improve security of logs related to Starscream events, ensuring secure storage and no sensitive user data.
  • Enhance User Communication and Stability During Starscream Disconnections: Improve user communication during disconnections reported by Starscream and enhance application stability to handle these events gracefully.