Identify and Mitigate Threats

🔑 Key Takeaway: Enumerate threats against real entry points, then apply layered mitigations owned by specific teams — lists without owners do not reduce risk.

Identification and mitigation is the analytic core of threat modeling. Expand STRIDE-style analysis with Web3 attack surfaces such as contracts, wallets, and third-party integrations.

Identifying threats

1. Threat Enumeration

   • Use frameworks like STRIDE (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, Elevation of Privilege) to systematically identify potential threats.
   • Consider various threat actors, including insiders, external attackers, and automated threats.

2. Attack Surface Analysis

   • Analyze the attack surface to identify all potential entry points for attackers.
   • Include smart contracts, wallets, external interfaces, APIs, third-party integrations, and user inputs in the analysis.

3. Adversary Modeling

   • Develop profiles of potential adversaries, including their capabilities, goals, and motivations.
   • Consider different threat actors, such as black hats and nation-state actors.

4. Historical Data

   • Review past security incidents and vulnerabilities to identify common attack patterns and weaknesses.
   • Use vulnerability databases and threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about emerging threats.

Mitigating threats

1. Security Controls

   • Implement security controls to mitigate identified threats. These can include technical controls, administrative controls (e.g., policies, procedures), and physical controls.

2. Defense in Depth

   • Apply the principle of defense in depth by implementing multiple layers of security controls.
   • Ensure that if one control fails, additional controls are in place to provide protection.

3. Least Privilege

   • Follow the principle of least privilege by granting users and systems the minimum level of access necessary to perform their functions.
   • Regularly review and adjust access permissions to reduce the risk of privilege escalation.

4. Security by Design

   • Incorporate security into the design and development processes from the outset.
   • Use secure coding practices, perform regular code reviews, and conduct security testing throughout the development lifecycle.

5. Monitoring and Detection

   • Implement continuous monitoring to detect and respond to security incidents in real time.

6. Incident Response

   • Develop and maintain an incident response plan to quickly and effectively address security incidents.
   • Train team members on incident response procedures and conduct regular drills to ensure readiness.

Further Reading

• Threat modeling overview
• OWASP Threat Modeling
• OWASP Threat Dragon