Various threat models can be deployed, including data flow diagrams (DFDs), attack trees, and the STRIDE model.
DFDs: Offer a visual representation of data movement and interactions within a system, detailing processes, data sources, sinks, and their interconnections. By spotlighting these data pathways, DFDs help identify vulnerabilities where data might be at risk. Furthermore, they assist in threat modeling by pinpointing areas susceptible to attack or unauthorized access. For example, a direct link from user input to a pivotal database in a DFD might signify a potential attack point. Hence, DFD analysis is crucial for organizations implementing appropriate security measures and safeguards throughout the data lifecycle.
Attack trees: Offer a visual map of potential breach routes an attacker might navigate to compromise a system. Organizations can visualize all possible attack avenues by detailing each sequential step, represented as nodes. This deep dive into the various exploit routes allows cybersecurity professionals to analyze each potential move, laying the groundwork for countermeasures. Through this, attack trees facilitate the anticipation of attack scenarios, the evaluation of their possible consequences, and the crafting of preventive strategies.
STRIDE model: Systematically places threats into six categories: spoofing, tampering, repudiation, information disclosure, denial of service, and elevation of privilege. Organizations can efficiently dissect potential vulnerabilities and tailor mitigation efforts by organizing threats into these distinct classes, pinpointing security gaps, and developing targeted countermeasures.
Spoofing: Addresses threats related to impersonation or false identity
Tampering: Focuses on threats that involve unauthorized modification of data or systems
Repudiation: Deals with issues of non-repudiation and tracking user actions
Information disclosure: Encompasses threats where unauthorized parties gain access to sensitive information
Denial of service: Addresses threats targeting the availability of systems or resources
Elevation of privilege: Concerns threats that enable unauthorized access to elevated privileges.