Key Threat Modeling Methodologies

Several methodologies have been developed to provide a structured approach to threat modeling. Each has its own focus and strengths, and the choice of methodology often depends on the specific context, system complexity, and organizational preferences. Here are some of the most widely recognized methodologies:

Diagram showing different paths, symbolizing various threat modeling methodologies

Various paths representing different threat modeling methodologies.

STRIDE

Developed by Microsoft, STRIDE is one of the oldest and most well-known threat modeling methodologies. It's a mnemonic for categorizing threats based on the kind of exploit or motivation behind them. STRIDE is often applied to software applications to identify threats related to security properties.

STRIDE Categories:

Category	Threat	Violated Security Property
Spoofing	Illegitimately claiming an identity.	Authentication
Tampering	Modifying data or code.	Integrity
Repudiation	Denying an action.	Non-Repudiation
Information Disclosure	Exposing information to unauthorized individuals.	Confidentiality
Denial of Service	Denying or degrading service to valid users.	Availability
Elevation of Privilege	Gaining capabilities without proper authorization.	Authorization

STRIDE is effective for ensuring comprehensive coverage of common threat types, particularly when analyzing data flows and system components. For those interested in the complexities of data management, resources like Navigating NoSQL Databases can provide complementary knowledge.

Abstract representation of STRIDE threat categories

Visual concept of STRIDE methodology's threat categories.

DREAD

DREAD is a risk assessment model used to prioritize threats once they have been identified. It helps quantify the severity of each threat based on five categories. Though Microsoft has largely moved away from DREAD in favor of other risk rating systems, it's still a useful conceptual tool for some teams.

DREAD Categories (typically rated 1-10):

Damage Potential: How great is the damage if the vulnerability is exploited?
Reproducibility: How easy is it to reproduce the attack?
Exploitability: How easy is it to launch an attack?
Affected Users: How many users will be affected?
Discoverability: How easy is it to find the vulnerability?

The DREAD score is often calculated by summing or averaging the scores. Higher scores indicate higher-risk threats that should be prioritized. This data-driven approach to risk assessment is similar to how advanced financial analysis tools help investors make informed decisions based on various market factors.

PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis)

PASTA is a seven-step, risk-centric methodology. It aims to align business objectives with technical requirements, taking a threat-centric view that combines an attacker's perspective with risk and impact analysis. PASTA is known for its comprehensive and contextual approach.

PASTA Stages:

Define Objectives (DO) for the Analysis of Risks
Define the Technical Scope (DTS)
Application Decomposition and Analysis (ADA)
Threat Analysis (TA)
Weakness and Vulnerability Analysis (WVA)
Attack Modeling & Simulation (AMS)
Risk Analysis & Management (RAM)

PASTA emphasizes understanding the attacker's motivations and likely attack patterns. It is particularly useful for applications with significant business impact or complex architectures.

Other Methodologies

While STRIDE, DREAD, and PASTA are prominent, other methodologies and frameworks exist, such as:

VAST (Visual, Agile, and Simple Threat Modeling): Focuses on scalability and integration with agile development.
Trike: A risk-based approach with a focus on modeling threats from an attacker's perspective using a requirements model.
OCTAVE (Operationally Critical Threat, Asset, and Vulnerability Evaluation): A risk-management framework from Carnegie Mellon's SEI, more focused on organizational risk rather than just software.

The choice of methodology can also be influenced by the type of system being analyzed. For instance, understanding concepts from Understanding Microservices Architecture is crucial when threat modeling distributed systems, as the attack surface and inter-service communication present unique challenges.

Understanding these methodologies provides a solid foundation for identifying and mitigating threats. The next step is to learn about the Threat Modeling Process itself.