Threat Model Template

This template is designed to help you create a comprehensive threat model for your application or system. Use this template as a starting point, tailoring it to your specific needs and context.

1. Introduction

Project Name: [Enter Project Name Here]
Version: [Enter Version Number Here]
Author(s): [Enter Author(s) Here]
Date: [Enter Date Here]
Purpose: [Describe the purpose of this threat model. For example: "To identify potential security threats to the [Project Name] application and outline mitigation strategies."]

2. System Overview

Description: [Provide a high-level description of the system. What does it do? What are its key components?]
Architecture Diagram: [Include a diagram showing the system architecture. This could be a simple block diagram or a more detailed representation. Consider using Mermaid diagrams.]
```
graph LR
    A[User] --> B(Web Application);
    B --> C{Database};
    B --> D(API Server);
    D --> E{External Service};
```
[Replace the above Mermaid diagram with your actual system architecture.]
Key Components:
- [Component 1: Name, Description, Functionality]
- [Component 2: Name, Description, Functionality]
- [Component 3: Name, Description, Functionality]
- [...]
Data Flow: [Describe how data flows through the system. Where does data originate? Where is it stored? How is it transformed?]

3. Threat Modeling Methodology

Methodology Used: [Specify the threat modeling methodology used (e.g., STRIDE, PASTA, OCTAVE). If you're using a custom approach, describe it here.]
Assumptions: [List any assumptions made during the threat modeling process. For example: "We assume that the underlying operating system is patched and up-to-date."]
Scope: [Define the scope of the threat model. What parts of the system are included? What parts are excluded?]

4. Threat Identification

Use the following table to document identified threats. Feel free to add columns as needed.

Threat ID	Component	Threat Category	Threat Description	Impact	Likelihood	Risk Rating	Mitigation Strategy	Status	Owner
T-001	Web Application	Injection	SQL injection vulnerability in the login form.	High (Data Breach)	Medium	High	Implement parameterized queries or an ORM.	Planned	Dev Team
T-002	API Server	Authentication	Weak API authentication mechanism.	Medium (Unauthorized Access)	High	High	Implement OAuth 2.0 or JWT authentication.	In Progress	Security Team
T-003	Database	Data Security	Unencrypted sensitive data stored in the database.	High (Data Breach)	Low	Medium	Implement database encryption.	To Do	DBA
T-004	External Service	Availability	Dependency on an external service with no redundancy.	Medium (Service Interruption)	Low	Low	Implement circuit breaker pattern or failover mechanism.	Reviewed	DevOps
[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]	[...]

Column Definitions:

Threat ID: A unique identifier for the threat.
Component: The component of the system affected by the threat.
Threat Category: The category of the threat (e.g., Injection, Authentication, Data Security, Availability). You can use STRIDE categories (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, Elevation of Privilege) as a starting point.
Threat Description: A detailed description of the threat.
Impact: The potential impact of the threat if it is realized (e.g., High, Medium, Low). Consider factors like data breach, service disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage.
Likelihood: The likelihood of the threat being realized (e.g., High, Medium, Low). Consider factors like the attacker's skill level, the attractiveness of the target, and the presence of existing security controls.
Risk Rating: The overall risk rating, typically calculated by multiplying Impact and Likelihood (e.g., High, Medium, Low).
Mitigation Strategy: The proposed mitigation strategy to address the threat.
Status: The current status of the mitigation strategy (e.g., Planned, In Progress, Completed, Reviewed).
Owner: The individual or team responsible for implementing the mitigation strategy.

5. Data Flow Diagram (DFD) Analysis (Optional)

If a Data Flow Diagram (DFD) was created, include an analysis of potential threats at each stage of the data flow. This can supplement the table above.

Data Flow 1: [Describe the data flow. e.g., User Login]
- Process: [Describe the process. e.g., User enters credentials on the login form.]
  - Potential Threats: [List potential threats. e.g., Credential stuffing, XSS on the login page.]
  - Mitigation Strategies: [List mitigation strategies. e.g., Rate limiting, input validation, output encoding.]
- Data Store: [Describe the data store. e.g., Database containing user credentials.]
  - Potential Threats: [List potential threats. e.g., SQL injection, brute-force attack.]
  - Mitigation Strategies: [List mitigation strategies. e.g., Parameterized queries, account lockout policy.]
Data Flow 2: [Describe the data flow]
- [...]

6. Security Requirements

Based on the identified threats, define specific security requirements for the system.

Requirement 1: [e.g., Implement multi-factor authentication for all user accounts.]
- Justification: [e.g., Mitigates the risk of unauthorized access due to compromised credentials.]
Requirement 2: [e.g., Encrypt all sensitive data at rest and in transit.]
- Justification: [e.g., Protects data from unauthorized disclosure in case of a data breach.]
Requirement 3: [e.g., Regularly scan the application for vulnerabilities.]
- Justification: [e.g., Identifies and addresses potential security flaws before they can be exploited.]

7. Conclusion

Summary of Findings: [Summarize the key findings of the threat model.]
Recommendations: [Provide recommendations for improving the security of the system.]
Next Steps: [Outline the next steps to be taken, such as implementing the mitigation strategies and security requirements.]

8. Appendix (Optional)

Glossary of Terms: [Define any technical terms used in the threat model.]
References: [List any relevant references, such as security standards, best practices, or vendor documentation.]

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