Source reveals that they are using securedrop/leaking documents partially mitigated

THREAT76 · Partially mitigated: Some controls are in place, but the risk is still too high. · Defined in catalog.py:1339

Risk: High impact × Medium likelihood = 9 high
After mitigations: High impact × Low likelihood = 6 medium

How statuses and scores work

A source may inadvertently discuss leaking in a way that may compromise a source's operational security.

Threat actors: Nation State / Law Enforcement Large Corporation Troll

Mitigations

Mitigation	Status
Guidelines for OPSEC in the landing page MITIG42	optional
Source guide contains some OPSEC considerations MITIG86	implemented

Possible further mitigations

SecureDrop has default (but potentially customizable) text on source interface with post-Tor OPSEC information MITIG85 proposed

Residual risk

Source error or omission

Where it applies

Applies to 1 component in 1 scenario.

Source environment Source Area

Source discovery and OPSEC · Source environment

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

    subgraph cluster_boundary_External_Services {
        graph [
            fontsize = 10;
            fontcolor = black;
            style = dashed;
            color = firebrick2;
            label = <<i>External Services</i>>;
        ]

        component_Landing_page_External_Services [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Landing page";
            URL = "component_Landing_page.html";
            tooltip = "Landing page";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_SecureDrop_org_directory_External_Services [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "SecureDrop.org\ndirectory";
            URL = "component_SecureDrop_org_directory.html";
            tooltip = "SecureDrop.org directory";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

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

        component_Dedicated_Hardware_Firewall_SecureDrop_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Dedicated\nHardware\nFirewall";
            URL = "component_Dedicated_Hardware_Firewall.html";
            tooltip = "Dedicated Hardware Firewall";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

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

        actor_Source_Source_Area [
            shape = square;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Source";
            URL = "component_Source.html";
            tooltip = "Source";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Source_Tor_Browser_Source_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Source Tor\nBrowser";
            URL = "component_Source_Tor_Browser.html";
            tooltip = "Source Tor Browser";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Source_environment_Source_Area [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Source\nenvironment";
            URL = "component_Source_environment.html";
            tooltip = "Source environment";
            margin = 0.02;

            style = "filled";

            fillcolor = "#c0392b";

            fontcolor = "white";

            class = "highlighted";
        ]

    }

    actor_Source_Source_Area -> component_Source_environment_Source_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Research / browse";    ]
    component_Source_environment_Source_Area -> component_SecureDrop_org_directory_External_Services [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. Check directory";    ]
    component_Source_environment_Source_Area -> component_Landing_page_External_Services [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Visit landing\npage";    ]
    actor_Source_Source_Area -> component_Source_Tor_Browser_Source_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "4. Open Tor Browser";    ]
    component_Source_Tor_Browser_Source_Area -> component_Dedicated_Hardware_Firewall_SecureDrop_Area [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "5. Connect to onion";    ]
}

Notes

Existing mitigations: Securedrop source guide states that users should not discuss whistleblowing activities as do many landing pages (MITIG42, MITIG86). Further mitigations: Source interface should be updated with operational security guidelines to strongly discourage discussing about leaking either publicly or privately (MITIG85). Automated test for mitigation: No.

How this threat is matched

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