Threat Modeling Guide for Web Apps

Full Title

Threat Modeling Guide for Web Applications

Web applications are a prime target for security threats. A solid **threat modeling** process helps identify vulnerabilities early, ensuring your app remains secure.

Understand the Application Architecture

Before modeling threats, map out the web application’s architecture: - Identify **entry points** (e.g., login pages, APIs). - Define **trust boundaries** (e.g., database vs. front-end). - Document **components** (e.g., authentication systems, third-party integrations).

Tools

- Diagrams.net (formerly draw.io) - OWASP Threat Dragon - Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool

Identify Potential Threats Using STRIDE

Use the **STRIDE** framework to categorize risks:

**Threat**	**Description**	**Example**
**Spoofing**	Impersonating an entity	Stolen credentials used to access admin portal
**Tampering**	Modifying data	Injection attacks manipulating database entries
**Repudiation**	Denying actions	Lack of logging allows attackers to erase footprints
**Information Disclosure**	Leaked API keys or SQL errors revealing database schema
**Denial of Service**	Disrupting service	DDoS attacks flooding the application
**Elevation of Privilege**	Gaining higher access	Bypassing access controls to become an admin

Recommended Approach

- **Map attack vectors** for each STRIDE category. - **Assess impact** of each threat scenario.

Tools

- OWASP ZAP - Burp Suite - Mitre ATT&CK framework

Define Mitigation Strategies

To defend against threats: - **Authentication security:** Use **OAuth 2.1** or **FIDO2** for identity management. - **Input validation:** Implement **strict sanitization** to prevent SQL Injection & XSS. - **Encryption & Secure Storage:** Protect data at rest with AES-256 and in transit using TLS 1.3. - **Logging & Monitoring:** Use **SIEM tools** (Splunk, ELK) to detect suspicious behavior. - **Rate Limiting & Firewalls:** Deploy **WAF** (Cloudflare, AWS Shield) to prevent DDoS.

Tools

- OWASP Dependency Check - SIEM (Splunk, Elastic Security) - Web Application Firewalls (ModSecurity, AWS WAF)

Validate & Iterate the Model

Threat modeling is **not a one-time process**—it should evolve as the application grows. - Conduct **regular security audits.** - Perform **penetration testing** (ethical hacking). - Update **threat models** when infrastructure changes occur.

Recommended Practices

• Integrate threat modeling into **DevSecOps workflows**.
• Use **CI/CD pipelines** for automated security checks.
• Encourage **security awareness** among developers.