The key concept is that relying on obfuscation instead of approved cryptographic methods leaves sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access and information disclosure.

Scenario: Kyun’s Access to Obfuscated Data

Imagine a scenario where Kyun accesses sensitive data that has been obfuscated but not securely encrypted. This occurs due to:

1. Reliance on Obfuscation: The system uses obfuscation methods, which merely disguise data, instead of employing robust cryptographic functions for security.
2. Lack of Approved Cryptographic Standards: The absence of standard, approved cryptographic techniques leads to weaker data protection.

Example

Kyun targets a system where critical data, such as passwords and user details, are merely obfuscated — for instance, using basic encoding techniques like Base64 — rather than being encrypted. Kyun deciphers this obfuscated data with ease, as these methods do not provide any significant barrier against someone with technical knowledge. The lack of strong, approved cryptographic functions means that what appeared to be protected data is easily accessible to Kyun.

Threat Modeling

STRIDE

The applicable STRIDE category for this scenario is Information Disclosure.

Kyun is able to access sensitive data (passwords, user details) that was not properly protected. The data was only obfuscated, not securely encrypted, so confidential information is exposed to an attacker.

What can go wrong?

Such practices can lead to unauthorized data access and breaches, as obfuscation alone is insufficient to protect against determined attackers.

For more things that can go wrong, see the Common Attack Patterns related to this card in the table below.

What are we going to do about it?

There is no substitute for a proper, approved, cryptographic function where data needs to be protected at rest or in transit. Obfuscation is rarely the correct choice. Use standard-approved functions and consider all cryptographic management requirements (e.g. key creation, distribution, protection, replacement, retirement).

1. Replace obfuscation techniques with approved cryptographic functions for data protection.
2. Ensure the implementation of industry-standard encryption algorithms to secure sensitive data.
3. Regularly review and update cryptographic practices to align with current security standards and best practices.

For detailed advice on how to mitigate threats related to the card, see the ASVS and OWASP Developer Guide requirements in the table below.