What does the acronym STRIDE stand for in security threat modeling?

The acronym STRIDE is a widely recognized framework in security threat modeling that identifies different categories of security threats. It stands for Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege. Each component of STRIDE represents a specific kind of risk that can impact systems and applications.

• Spoofing refers to impersonating another user or system to gain unauthorized access.
• Tampering involves maliciously altering data or software.

• Repudiation means a user denies having performed an action, which can undermine the integrity of logs and audits.
• Information Disclosure occurs when confidential data is exposed to unauthorized parties.
• Denial of Service is an attack that prevents legitimate users from accessing a service by overwhelming it with requests.
• Elevation of Privilege relates to a user gaining higher access rights than intended, allowing them to perform unauthorized actions.

Understanding STRIDE helps security professionals anticipate potential threats and design more robust security measures to mitigate those risks effectively. The framework serves as a guide to systematically analyze and address threats throughout the development process.