Threat Modeling Techniques

Threat Modeling Techniques

Systematic framework for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security threats during system design and architecture phases using proven methodologies like STRIDE, attack trees, and risk assessment frameworks.

When to Use This Skill

• Designing new systems or features with security requirements
• Conducting security architecture reviews
• Identifying attack vectors and threat scenarios
• Assessing security risks before implementation
• Creating security requirements and controls
• Evaluating third-party integrations for security impact
• Planning security testing strategies
• Documenting security design decisions
• Training teams on proactive security thinking
• Supporting security compliance initiatives (SOC 2, ISO 27001)

Core Process

Five-Stage Threat Modeling Process:

1. Define - Understand the system and create architecture diagrams
2. Identify - Enumerate threats using structured methodologies (STRIDE, attack trees)
3. Assess - Evaluate risk severity and likelihood (DREAD scoring)
4. Mitigate - Design controls and countermeasures
5. Validate - Review and test security controls

Quick Reference

Core Concepts

STRIDE Methodology

STRIDE categorizes threats into six types:

• Spoofing: Pretending to be someone/something else (authentication bypass, credential theft)
• Tampering: Malicious modification of data (MITM attacks, data corruption)
• Repudiation: Denying actions without proof (lack of audit trails)
• Information Disclosure: Exposing sensitive data (data leaks, verbose errors)
• Denial of Service: Making systems unavailable (resource exhaustion, DDoS)
• Elevation of Privilege: Gaining unauthorized capabilities (privilege escalation, IDOR)

Apply STRIDE to:

• Each component in data flow diagrams
• Every trust boundary crossing
• All data stores and processes
• External integrations and APIs

Attack Trees

Hierarchical diagrams showing attack paths from goals to methods:

[Root: Attack Goal]
    |
    +-- [OR] Method 1 (alternative paths)
    |       |
    |       +-- [AND] Required Step 1.1
    |       +-- [AND] Required Step 1.2
    |
    +-- [OR] Method 2 (alternative paths)

Use attack trees to:

• Visualize attack scenarios
• Identify easiest attack paths
• Assign attributes (cost, skill, detection likelihood)
• Prioritize mitigations for high-risk paths

DREAD Risk Scoring

DREAD quantifies threat severity (each criterion scored 0-10, average = risk score):

• Damage Potential: How much damage if exploited?
• Reproducibility: How easy to reproduce?
• Exploitability: How easy to exploit?
• Affected Users: How many users affected?
• Discoverability: How easy to discover?

Risk Levels:

• 7.1-10.0: Critical (immediate action)
• 5.1-7.0: High (next sprint)
• 3.1-5.0: Medium (upcoming releases)
• 0.0-3.0: Low (backlog)

Trust Boundaries

Lines separating different trust levels:

• Network: Internet → DMZ → Internal
• Process: User Mode → Kernel, Container → Host
• User: Anonymous → Authenticated → Admin

At each boundary, verify:

• Authentication required?
• Authorization checks enforced?
• Data encrypted?
• Inputs validated?
• Actions logged?

Practical Workflow

1. Scope Definition (30 min)

• Identify system components in scope
• Define trust boundaries
• List assets requiring protection
• Identify compliance requirements

2. Architecture Decomposition (1 hour)

• Create data flow diagrams (DFDs)
• Document external dependencies
• Identify authentication/authorization points
• Map data storage locations

3. Threat Identification (1-2 hours)

• Apply STRIDE to each DFD element
• Create attack trees for high-value assets
• Brainstorm threat scenarios with team
• Use threat modeling tools for suggestions

4. Risk Assessment (1 hour)

• Apply DREAD scoring to each threat
• Prioritize threats by risk score
• Consider business context and compliance
• Identify quick wins vs. long-term efforts

5. Mitigation Planning (1 hour)

• Design security controls (eliminate, reduce, transfer, accept)
• Document mitigation strategies
• Create security requirements (SEC-### format)
• Assign ownership for implementation

6. Documentation (30 min)

• Export threat model diagrams
• Create security requirements document
• Document risk acceptance decisions
• Share with stakeholders

Common Mistakes

Avoid:

• Threat modeling too late (after implementation complete)
• Focusing only on external threats (ignore insider threats)
• Creating static threat models (never updating them)
• Over-complicating diagrams (too much detail)
• Ignoring low-likelihood, high-impact threats
• Failing to document assumptions and decisions
• Not following through on mitigations

Best Practices

Team Involvement:

• Developers: Implementation details, code-level threats
• Architects: System design, integration points
• Security Team: Threat expertise, attack scenarios
• Operations: Deployment, monitoring, incident response
• Product Owners: Business impact, risk acceptance decisions

Process Integration:

• Design phase: Threat model before implementation
• Development: Implement controls, create security tests
• Deployment: Verify controls, enable monitoring
• Maintenance: Update model when features change

Tools

Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool: Visual DFD editor, automated STRIDE threat generation OWASP Threat Dragon: Open source, cross-platform, web and desktop versions IriusRisk: Commercial platform, DevSecOps integration, compliance mapping ThreatModeler: Collaborative, cloud architecture support

Resources

• Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool: https://aka.ms/threatmodelingtool
• OWASP Threat Dragon: https://owasp.org/www-project-threat-dragon/
• STRIDE Documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-threats
• Threat Modeling Manifesto: https://www.threatmodelingmanifesto.org/
• NIST Threat Modeling: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/threat-modeling