Threat Assessment Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction to Threat Assessment
Threat assessment is a structured process used to identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential security threats to an organization's assets, people, and operations.
Key Components:
- Asset Identification
- Threat Analysis
- Vulnerability Assessment
- Risk Evaluation
- Mitigation Planning
Assessment Methodology
STRIDE Model
| Category |
Description |
Example |
| Spoofing |
Impersonating something or someone |
Fake login pages, email spoofing |
| Tampering |
Modifying data or code |
SQL injection, code manipulation |
| Repudiation |
Denying actions |
Log deletion, fake transactions |
| Information Disclosure |
Exposing information |
Data breaches, leaks |
| Denial of Service |
Service disruption |
DDoS attacks, resource exhaustion |
| Elevation of Privilege |
Gaining unauthorized access |
Privilege escalation attacks |
Risk Assessment Matrix
Impact Levels:
- Critical (5): Severe business impact
- High (4): Significant disruption
- Medium (3): Moderate impact
- Low (2): Minor impact
- Negligible (1): Minimal effect
Likelihood Levels:
- Very Likely (5): Expected to occur
- Likely (4): Probably will occur
- Possible (3): Might occur
- Unlikely (2): Not expected
- Rare (1): Highly unlikely
Threat Identification
Common Threat Sources
- External Attackers
- Malicious Insiders
- Natural Disasters
- System Failures
- Human Error
- Third-party Vendors
Asset Classification
| Category |
Examples |
Protection Level |
| Critical |
Customer data, financial records |
Maximum |
| Sensitive |
Internal documents, source code |
High |
| Internal |
Employee records, procedures |
Medium |
| Public |
Marketing materials, public docs |
Basic |
Threat Analysis
Analysis Methods
Common Approaches:
- Quantitative Analysis
- Qualitative Analysis
- Hybrid Analysis
Threat Modeling Process
1. Define the Scope
- System boundaries
- Assets involved
- Stakeholders
2. Identify Threats
- Use STRIDE model
- Consider attack vectors
- Review historical incidents
3. Analyze Threats
- Assess likelihood
- Evaluate impact
- Calculate risk scores
4. Prioritize Risks
- Risk = Likelihood × Impact
- Create risk matrix
- Set treatment priorities
Mitigation Strategies
Control Categories
- Preventive Controls
- Detective Controls
- Corrective Controls
- Deterrent Controls
Critical Considerations:
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Implementation feasibility
- Operational impact
- Compliance requirements
Vulnerability Scanners
- Nessus
- OpenVAS
- Qualys
- Nexpose
Security Testing Tools
# Network scanning
nmap -sV -sC target.com
# Web application testing
nikto -h target.com
# Vulnerability assessment
openvas-start
openvas-setup
Reporting and Documentation
Report Components
- Executive Summary
- Scope and Methodology
- Findings and Risks
- Recommendations
- Action Plan
Documentation Best Practices
Key Elements:
- Clear threat descriptions
- Risk ratings with justification
- Detailed mitigation steps
- Implementation timeline
- Resource requirements
Follow-up Actions
1. Implement Controls
- Deploy security measures
- Update policies
- Train staff
2. Monitor Effectiveness
- Regular testing
- Metrics tracking
- Incident review
3. Update Assessment
- Periodic reviews
- New threat evaluation
- Control effectiveness