You're reading from Aligning Security Operations with the MITRE ATT&CK Framework

Product typeBook

Published inMay 2023

PublisherPackt

ISBN-139781804614266

Edition1st Edition

Concepts

Cybersecurity

Author (1)

Rebecca Blair

Reviewing Different Threat Models

Threat modeling is a key component within any security operation center (SOC) and security environment as a whole, and just as with any SOC environment, there is no one size fits all for threat models.

This chapter will cover multiple threat models, their use cases, and their advantages and disadvantages. Doing so will allow the reader to apply the one that makes the most sense for their environment as well as provide a comparison point for comparing those threat models to ATT&CK:

Reviewing the PASTA threat model and use cases
Reviewing the STRIDE threat model and use cases
Reviewing the VAST threat model and use cases
Reviewing the Trike threat model and use cases
Reviewing attack trees

Technical requirements

For this specific chapter, there are no installations or specific technologies that are required.

Reviewing the PASTA threat model and use cases

Threat modeling is a critical part of any SOC environment and team. It can be used as discussed to identify risks and gaps and for strategy, or it can be used for informational campaigns. Like all things, there are multiple different types of threat models, and there is no one size fits all for the types. The first threat model that we’ll analyze and talk through use cases is the Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis (PASTA) threat model. PASTA is a risk-centered threat model that combines risk analysis and the surrounding context into your risk mitigation and security strategy. In development terms, thinks of PASTA as an incremental development process where you constantly go through cycles and make changes without having to start at the beginning of the model again. The main steps of the PASTA method are as follows:

Define the objective: This means setting the overall purpose for the threat model. This could...

Reviewing the STRIDE threat model and use cases

The Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege (STRIDE) threat model is unique in that it is primarily used for development environments and, for a while, was known for being synonymous with Microsoft because it was created by two Microsoft employees, Loren Kohnfelder and Praerit Garg. Each of the six categories in this model can be correlated to a core security concept that the authors tried to focus on. The concepts are like the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad.

The CIA triad is used to guide security policies and guidelines based on what is more important in your organization. This simple model is the basis for all security in that it provides a core focus for making security decisions based on how you value those three principles. Confidentiality is the principle of keeping data and systems private and can be linked to items like the principle...

Reviewing the VAST threat model and use cases

The Visual, Agile, and Simple Threat (VAST) threat model is an approach that casts a wide net, as the word vast suggests. It’s a threat model that attempts to look at all possible threats in all scenarios and, as we may imagine, it can be a daunting task to take on. The basis of this model, similar to other models, is based on an open source threat analysis tool, in this case, called ThreatModeler. In the case of the VAST model, you use a data flow diagram for the organization as well as an organizational flow diagram to identify any operational threats. One of the benefits of the VAST model is that it addresses operational risks, whereas some of the other models do not. Another benefit of this model is that it is far-reaching, so you can look at an organization as a whole and both technical and non-technical components to complete the threat model. Some of the downsides of the VAST threat model are that it can be overwhelming, depending...

Reviewing the Trike threat model and use cases

The Trike threat model is focused on the objective of threat modeling from a risk standpoint. This type of threat model is typically paired with risk registries so that it can be targeted to the specific risks and needs that you perceive. Most of the time, these threat models are tied to auditing or compliance requirements, and they are based on the specific requirements of the organization. It combines those requirements with risk owners and establishes the level of acceptable risk. It differs from the PASTA and STRIDE models because it is a risk-based approach instead of utilizing the systems and attack approach of the other models. The point of this model is to accomplish the following:

Communicate what the risks are within the organization
Determine the acceptable risk threshold with input from all stakeholders for the organization
Establish the risk owners for the applicable risks, to be held accountable for mitigations...

Reviewing attack trees

As with all threat models, there are visual representations that coincide with the respective threat models, and attack trees are no different. An attack tree is a logical and step-based way to represent a threat and how it would affect an organization or system. It starts with the initial vector; for example, a phishing email is received, and an employee falls for the malicious email. The next level of the tree shows the possible outcomes; so, in this case, one branch could be for the malicious user to gain access to the system or account. Another branch could be that credentials are compromised, and it would continue from there. If we wanted to see an example of a simple phishing attack tree from a risk perspective, it would look like this:

Figure 3.6 – Simple phishing risks attack chart

Again, the preceding example is strictly based around documenting risks, whereas you can also use attack trees to document how the attacks...

Summary

In this chapter, we reviewed the PASTA, STRIDE, VAST, and Trike threat models as well as attack trees from both a risk- and attack-identification perspective. Throughout your career, you will use a combination of the threat models discussed, or even others, to find the best combination to fit your organization because, like most things, there is no true “one size fits all” for threat models. Threat models are also a concept that you want to be comfortable with because they are a constant task; whether it’s creating the initial models or validating them to ensure they are still accurate; threat models are constantly changing. For a quick reference on the different models, use this chart:

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Author (1)

Rebecca Blair

Rebecca Blair currently serves as the SOC Manager at a Boston-based tech company, where she is in the process of building out a SOC team to include analyst workflows, playbooks, and processes. Also, she served at IronNet as the Director of SOC Operations, at Tenable Inc as a Test Engineer, and at the Army Research Lab as a Technical Compliance Lead, among other things. She has deep expertise in technology integrations and security operations and holds a BS degree from Norwich University in Computer Security and Information Assurance, an MS degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus in Cybersecurity and an MBA from Villanova University. She has found a niche in building SOC environments and maturing them in fast-paced environments.
Read more about Rebecca Blair

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PASTA threat model	STRIDE threat model	VAST threat model	Trike threat model	Attack trees
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