SVS activity compromised physical surveillance (e.g.: video camera) partially mitigated Legacy (Tails/SVS)

THREAT154 · Partially mitigated: Some controls are in place, but the risk is still too high. · Defined in catalog.py:2651

Risk: Medium impact × Low likelihood = 4 medium
After mitigations: Medium impact × Low likelihood = 4 medium (unchanged)

How statuses and scores work

While video surveillance is suggested in the SecureDrop area, an adversary who can access these recordings may be able to observe keystrokes and SVS usage

Threat actors: Nation State / Law Enforcement Large Corporation

Mitigations

Mitigation	Status
SecureDrop hardware encouraged to be stored in a secure room / safe / environment MITIG114 Legacy (Tails/SVS)	optional

Possible further mitigations

Admin guide should speak clearly to physical security considerations MITIG115 proposed

Residual risk

Candidate for further mitigation efforts. Covert recording is possible.

Where it applies

Applies to 1 component in 2 scenarios.

Secure Viewing Station Legacy (Tails/SVS) Airgapped Viewing Area

Transfer & decrypt Legacy (Tails/SVS) · Secure Viewing Station

digraph tm {
    graph [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 14;
    ]
    node [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 14;
    ]
    edge [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 12;
    ]
    nodesep = 1;

    subgraph cluster_boundary_Airgapped_Viewing_Area {
        graph [
            fontsize = 10;
            fontcolor = black;
            style = dashed;
            color = firebrick2;
            label = <<i>Airgapped Viewing Area</i>>;
        ]

        component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Secure Viewing\nStation";
            URL = "component_Secure_Viewing_Station.html";
            tooltip = "Secure Viewing Station (Legacy (Tails/SVS))";
            margin = 0.02;

            style = "filled,dashed";

            fillcolor = "#c0392b";

            fontcolor = "white";

            class = "tagged highlighted";
        ]

    }

    actor_Journalist_ [
        shape = square;
        color = black;
        fontcolor = black;
        label = "Journalist";
        URL = "component_Journalist.html";
        tooltip = "Journalist";
        margin = 0.02;
    ]

    component_Transfer_Device_ [
        shape = circle;
        color = black;
        fontcolor = black;
        label = "Transfer Device";
        URL = "component_Transfer_Device.html";
        tooltip = "Transfer Device (Legacy (Tails/SVS))";
        margin = 0.02;
        style = "dashed";
        class = "tagged";
    ]

    actor_Journalist_ -> component_Transfer_Device_ [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Copy to transfer\ndevice";    ]
    component_Transfer_Device_ -> component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. Carry to air-gap";    ]
    component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area -> component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Decrypt offline";    ]
    component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area -> component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "4. Sanitize";    ]
}

Publish & export Legacy (Tails/SVS) · Secure Viewing Station

digraph tm {
    graph [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 14;
    ]
    node [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 14;
    ]
    edge [
        fontname = Arial;
        fontsize = 12;
    ]
    nodesep = 1;

    subgraph cluster_boundary_Airgapped_Viewing_Area {
        graph [
            fontsize = 10;
            fontcolor = black;
            style = dashed;
            color = firebrick2;
            label = <<i>Airgapped Viewing Area</i>>;
        ]

        component_Offline_Printer_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Offline Printer";
            URL = "component_Offline_Printer.html";
            tooltip = "Offline Printer (Legacy (Tails/SVS))";
            margin = 0.02;
            style = "dashed";
            class = "tagged";
        ]

        component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Secure Viewing\nStation";
            URL = "component_Secure_Viewing_Station.html";
            tooltip = "Secure Viewing Station (Legacy (Tails/SVS))";
            margin = 0.02;

            style = "filled,dashed";

            fillcolor = "#c0392b";

            fontcolor = "white";

            class = "tagged highlighted";
        ]

    }

    subgraph cluster_boundary_Publishing_Area {
        graph [
            fontsize = 10;
            fontcolor = black;
            style = dashed;
            color = firebrick2;
            label = <<i>Publishing Area</i>>;
        ]

        component_Sanitized_submission_Publishing_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Sanitized\nsubmission";
            URL = "component_Sanitized_submission.html";
            tooltip = "Sanitized submission";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

    component_Export_Device_ [
        shape = circle;
        color = black;
        fontcolor = black;
        label = "Export Device";
        URL = "component_Export_Device.html";
        tooltip = "Export Device";
        margin = 0.02;
    ]

    component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area -> component_Export_Device_ [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Export sanitized";    ]
    component_Export_Device_ -> component_Sanitized_submission_Publishing_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. To publishing\narea";    ]
    component_Secure_Viewing_Station_Airgapped_Viewing_Area -> component_Offline_Printer_Airgapped_Viewing_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Print";    ]
}

Notes

Existing mitigations: Secure room for SVS use (MITIG114). Further mitigations: Suggest admins be mindful of camera systems as they are typing passwords or displaying sensitive information on screen, consider using privacy filters. (MITIG115). Automated test for mitigation: No.

How this threat is matched

Listed for these components. A boundary covers every component inside it.