Assignment: Threat Model Report
Threat modeling begins with a clear understanding of the system in question. There are several areas to consider when trying to understand threats to an application. The areas of concern include the mobile application structure, the data, identifying threat agents and methods of attack, and controls to prevent attacks. The threat model should be created with an outline or checklist of items that need to be documented, reviewed, and discussed when developing a mobile application.
In this project, you will create a threat model. There are seven steps that will lead you through this project, beginning with the scenario as it might occur in the workplace, and continuing with Step 1: "Describe Your Mobile Application Architecture." Most steps in this project should take no more than two hours to complete, and the project as a whole should take no more than two weeks to complete.
Mobile Application Threat Modeling
You are a cyber threat analyst at a mobile applications company. One morning, your supervisor, Dan, tells you about a mobile application security project that is already under way, but needs more guidance. Because of your success on previous projects, he wants your help.
Your expertise and oversight will enable the mobile app team to meet its approaching deadline. "Mobile applications and their security are on the technology roadmap for our organization. Of course, this means we need to be well-informed of mobile application security management," Dan says.
"Without the proper threat modeling, leadership can't be sure of the issues that lie ahead. I want you to oversee the project and manage the team," Dan says. "We'd also like you to contribute to this project by preparing a report for senior management." The report should include threat models to this technology as well as remediation for management to consider. The report should give senior management a greater understanding of mobile application security and its implementation.
Your report should consist of the following sections: mobile application architecture, mobile data, threat agent identification, methods of attack, and possible controls. The goal is to convince senior managers that your proposals will benefit the company. If you succeed, leadership will move forward with its plan for mobile applications. The report is due in two weeks.
Project: Mobile Application Threat Modeling (8-10 pages) the following points to be included.
A. Describe Your Mobile Application Architecture
B. Define the Requirements for Your Mobile Application
C. Identify Threats and Threat Agents
D. Identify Methods of Attack
E. Controls
The keyword details are as below.
Describe Your Mobile Application Architecture
A. Describe device-specific features used by the application, wireless transmission protocols, data transmission media, interaction with hardware components, and other applications.
B. Identify the needs and requirements for application security, computing security, and device management and security.
C. Describe the operational environment and use cases.
D. Identify the operating system security and enclave/computing environment security concerns, if there are any.
Include an overview of topics such as mobile platform security, mobile protocols and security, mobile security vulnerabilities, and related technologies and their security, in your report.
Include the Mobile Application considerations that are relevant to your mobile application
What is the design of the architecture (network infrastructure, web services, trust boundaries, third-party APIs, etc.)?
What are the common hardware components?
What are the authentication specifics?
What should or shouldn't the app do?
Define the Requirements for Your Mobile Application
A. What is the business function of the app?
B. What data does the application store/process? (provide data flow diagram)
C. This diagram should outline network, device file system, and application data flows
D. How are data transmitted between third-party APIs and app(s)?
E. Will there be remote access and connectivity? Read this resource about mobile VPN security, and include any of these security issues in your report.
F. Are there different data-handling requirements between different mobile platforms? (iOS/Android/Windows/J2ME)
G. Does the app use cloud storage APIs (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, Lookout) for device data backups?
H. Does personal data intermingle with corporate data?
I. Is there specific business logic built into the app to process data?
J. What does the data give you (or an attacker) access to? Think about data at rest and data in motion as they relate to your app.
a. Do stored credentials provide authentication?
b. Do stored keys allow attackers to break crypto functions (data integrity)?
K. Are third-party data being stored and/or transmitted?
a. What are the privacy requirements of user data? Consider, for example, a unique device identifier (UDID) or geolocation being transmitted to a third party.
b. Are there user privacy-specific regulatory requirements to meet?
L. How do other data on the device affect the app? Consider, for example, authentication credentials shared between apps.
M. Compare between jailbroken (i.e., a device with hacked or bypassed digital rights software) and nonjailbroken devices.
a. How do the differences affect app data? This can also relate to threat agent identification.
Identify Threats and Threat Agents
1. Identify possible threats and specific threat agents to the mobile application
2. Outline the process for defining what threats apply to your mobile application
3. Does personal data intermingle with corporate data?
4. Identify Methods of Attack
5. Provide senior management an understanding of the possible methods of attack of your app.
Controls
1. What are the controls to prevent an attack? Conduct independent research and then define these controls by platform (e.g., Apple iOS, Android, Windows Mobile).
2. What are the controls to detect an attack? Define these controls by platform.
3. What are the controls to mitigate/minimize impact of an attack? Define these controls by platform.
4. What are the privacy controls (i.e., controls to protect users' private information)? An example of this would be a security prompt for users to access an address book or geolocation.