Threat Modeling Framework

Overview of the Threat Modeling Framework

Goals

The Threat Modeling Framework strives for:

• A structured step-by-step approach
• Ease of use within an enterprise environment
• Alignment and integration with existing architecture, development, and security processes
• Usage within any stage of the development lifecycle

Inputs into the Framework

The threat modeling framework incorporates:

• Regulatory Requirements: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, etc., varying by industry, geography, and business.
• Security Policies: Internal policies and standards that define security practices.
• Threat Intelligence: Information about current and emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and attacker tactics.
• Threat Actors: Entities that pose potential threats, including malicious insiders, accidental errors, disgruntled employees, hackers, organized crime, nation-states, competitors, and AI-powered attackers.

Other Considerations

• Exposure: Identify internal and external threats the system is exposed to.
• Features: Analyze the system's features and use cases to identify potential abuse cases and threats.
• Applications, Platforms & Infrastructure: The technology stack and infrastructure can influence the threat model.

Core High-Level & Detailed Threats and Security Requirements

The threats and security requirements are the main ingredients of the threat model and, thus, the threat modeling framework.

1. Identity & Access Management

Threats related to gaining unauthorised access to system(s) or data or performing unauthorised actions.

Threat	Security Requirement
Unauthorized access is gained from a compromised password	Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when accessing all parts of the system.
Unauthorized access is gained from compromised credentials	Use Single-Sign-On (SSO) where possible.
Privileged access is gained through abusing complicated access rights	Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), with a clear overview of roles, rights, and user assignments.
Users who should no longer have access gain unauthorized access to the system	Perform periodic access reviews for all users, administrators, and highly privileged users.
Unauthorized (and privileged) access is gained by abusing NPAs or system accounts	Manage Non-Personal Accounts (NPAs), High-Privileged Accounts, and Service Accounts effectively.
Users abuse access rights that are not required	Use the least privilege principle, meaning users only have essential access rights.
Users abuse sensitive functions and access rights	Use Segregation of Duties (SoD) for privileged or highly-sensitive actions & activities.

Table 1: Identity & Access Management related threats and security requirements.

2. Data Security & Privacy

Threats related to unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of sensitive data.

Threat	Security Requirement
Data is intercepted or accessed without authorization (in transit or at rest).	Encrypt data in transit and at rest using strong algorithms. Implement robust key management.
Data is leaked or unintentionally disclosed.	Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions. Enforce granular access controls based on the principle of least privilege.
Data is tampered with or modified without authorization.	Implement data integrity controls (checksums, digital signatures) and version control. Enforce strong access controls to prevent tampering.
Sensitive data is not disposed of securely.	Define and enforce data retention and disposal policies according to legal and regulatory requirements. Use secure data erasure methods.
Organization fails to comply with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA).	Establish and enforce comprehensive data privacy policies and procedures aligned with relevant regulations. Conduct privacy impact assessments.

Table 2: Data Security & Privacy related threats and security requirements.

3. Infrastructure Security

Threats related to vulnerabilities and attacks against systems, networks, and physical infrastructure.

Threat	Security Requirement
System vulnerabilities are exploited.	Implement vulnerability management program: regular scanning, prioritization, and patching. Harden systems by removing unnecessary software, disabling unused services, and applying secure configurations.
Network attacks, such as DoS or intrusion attempts.	Deploy firewalls, Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and network segmentation. Implement secure remote access solutions.
Physical security breaches compromise systems or data.	Implement physical access controls (locks, badges, security guards), surveillance systems (cameras, motion detectors), and environmental controls (e.g., temperature control, fire suppression).
Misconfigurations lead to security weaknesses.	Define and enforce secure configuration standards. Use automated configuration management tools and conduct regular configuration audits.

Table 3: Infrastructure security-related threats and security requirements.

4. Security Logging, Monitoring & Response

Threats related to inadequate logging, ineffective monitoring, and insufficient incident response capabilities

Threat	Security Requirement
Security events are not logged comprehensively or log integrity is compromised.	Implement comprehensive logging to capture all relevant events. Protect log data from unauthorized modification or deletion. Ensure log integrity.
Logs are not analyzed or monitored effectively.	Utilize a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system and log analysis tools to centralize, analyze, and correlate security logs.
Slow or ineffective incident response leads to greater damage.	Develop and test a detailed incident response plan. Establish a dedicated incident response team. Implement real-time threat detection and alerting.
Lack of visibility into security events hinders detection and response.	Use security dashboards and visualizations. Integrate threat intelligence into security monitoring processes for context and threat prioritization.

Table 4: Security Logging, Monitoring & Response related threats and security requirements.

5. IT Resilience

Threats related to disruptions to business operations, data loss, and system downtime.

Threat	Security Requirement
Natural disasters, power outages, or hardware failures disrupt operations.	Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan and maintain off-site backups. Regularly test the recovery process.
Cyberattacks (ransomware, DDoS) cause system downtime and data loss.	Develop a business continuity plan and ensure redundancy and failover mechanisms.
Lack of backup and recovery capabilities leads to data loss.	Implement regular data backups and test data restoration processes.
Human error leads to accidental data deletion or system outages.	Implement strong change management processes. Provide user training on secure practices and change management.

Table 5: IT resilience-related threats and security requirements.

6. Secure Development

Threats related to insecure coding practices, application vulnerabilities, and deployment processes.

Threat	Security Requirement
Vulnerabilities in application code are exploited.	Train developers in secure coding practices. Define and enforce secure coding standards. Conduct code reviews and use static analysis tools (SAST) to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Malicious code is injected into applications.	Use secure source code management (SCM) systems with version control, access controls, and audit trails. Implement code signing.
Applications are deployed with insecure configurations.	Implement secure deployment pipelines (CI/CD) with security gates and automated security checks. Utilize configuration management tools.
Third-party libraries or dependencies introduce vulnerabilities.	Carefully vet and manage third-party dependencies. Use dependency scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities and keep them updated.

Table 6: Secure Development related threats and security requirements.

7. Cloud Security

Threats related to the unique security challenges of cloud environments.

Threat	Security Requirement
Misconfigurations in cloud services expose data or systems.	Use Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools to continuously monitor for misconfigurations. Adhere to cloud security best practices and guidelines provided by your cloud service provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
Unauthorized access to cloud accounts and resources.	Implement strong authentication methods, including MFA, for all cloud accounts. Use Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) services to manage permissions and enforce least privilege.
Data breaches in cloud environments.	Encrypt data in the cloud both in transit and at rest. Use secure cloud storage services with encryption, access controls, and logging.
Lack of visibility into cloud security posture.	Implement cloud security monitoring and logging. Utilize dashboards and visualizations for security insights.

Table 7: Cloud security-related threats and security requirements.

8. Attack Surface Management

Threats related to the organisation's overall attack surface.

Threat	Security Requirement
Unknown or unmanaged assets create vulnerabilities.	Conduct regular asset discovery and inventory management to identify and track all assets.
Publicly exposed systems or services are targeted by attackers.	Minimize the attack surface by reducing unnecessary exposure, disabling unused services, limiting public access, and using firewalls and network segmentation.
Outdated or vulnerable software creates security risks.	Implement a comprehensive vulnerability management program to identify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities.
Lack of awareness of emerging threats and attacker tactics.	Integrate threat intelligence feeds and analysis to stay informed about current threats, vulnerabilities, and tactics.

Table 8: Attack Surface Management related threats and security requirements.

9. AI Security

Threats related to the security and integrity of AI models, training data, and AI-driven processes.

Threat	Security Requirement
AI models are poisoned with malicious data, leading to incorrect or malicious outputs.	Implement data integrity checks, validate training data, and use techniques like differential privacy. Secure data storage and access controls.
AI models are manipulated or reverse-engineered.	Implement access controls, encryption, and regular model integrity testing. Consider obfuscation techniques to protect model internals.
AI systems are used for unauthorized or unethical purposes.	Establish clear AI ethics guidelines and governance processes. Implement explainability measures for AI decisions to ensure transparency.

Table 9: AI security-related threats and security requirements.