Side-channel analysis or exfiltration of GPG keys or other sensitive data partially mitigated

THREATQW29 · Partially mitigated: Some controls are in place, but the risk is still too high. · Defined in catalog.py:3434

Risk: High impact × Low likelihood = 6 medium
After mitigations: High impact × Low likelihood = 6 medium (unchanged)

How statuses and scores work

Code in any VM may obtain information about the underlying host, and perform side-channel analysis (e.g. cryptanalysis via power/cpu/acoustic cryptanalysis to obtain submission key.)

Threat actors: Nation State / Law Enforcement

Mitigations

Mitigation	Status
Use non-networked disposible VMs for opening all decrypted files. MITIGQW18	implemented

Where it applies

Applies to 9 components in 3 scenarios.

sd-app (SecureDrop Client) Workstation VMs
sd-devices (export and print) Workstation VMs
sd-gpg Workstation VMs
sd-log Workstation VMs
sd-proxy Workstation VMs
sd-viewer (disposable VMs) Workstation VMs
sys-firewall Workstation VMs
sys-net Workstation VMs
sys-usb Workstation VMs

Workstation: reading submissions · sd-app (SecureDrop Client), sd-proxy, sys-firewall, sys-net, sd-gpg, sd-viewer (disposable VMs), sd-log

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

    subgraph cluster_boundary_Application_Server {
        graph [
            fontsize = 10;
            fontcolor = black;
            style = dashed;
            color = firebrick2;
            label = <<i>Application Server</i>>;
        ]

        component_Journalist_Interface_Application_Server [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Journalist\nInterface";
            URL = "component_Journalist_Interface.html";
            tooltip = "Journalist Interface";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

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

        subgraph cluster_boundary_Workstation_VMs {
            graph [
                fontsize = 10;
                fontcolor = black;
                style = dashed;
                color = firebrick2;
                label = <<i>Workstation VMs</i>>;
            ]

            component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-app\n(SecureDrop\nClient)";
                URL = "component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client_.html";
                tooltip = "sd-app (SecureDrop Client)";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_gpg_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-gpg";
                URL = "component_sd_gpg.html";
                tooltip = "sd-gpg";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_log_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-log";
                URL = "component_sd_log.html";
                tooltip = "sd-log";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_proxy_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-proxy";
                URL = "component_sd_proxy.html";
                tooltip = "sd-proxy";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs__Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-viewer\n(disposable VMs)";
                URL = "component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs_.html";
                tooltip = "sd-viewer (disposable VMs)";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sys_firewall_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sys-firewall";
                URL = "component_sys_firewall.html";
                tooltip = "sys-firewall";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sys_net_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sys-net";
                URL = "component_sys_net.html";
                tooltip = "sys-net";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

        }

    }

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

    actor_Journalist_ -> component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Use the client";    ]
    component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_proxy_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. Journalist API\nrequest";    ]
    component_sd_proxy_Workstation_VMs -> component_sys_firewall_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Route via\nfirewall";    ]
    component_sys_firewall_Workstation_VMs -> component_sys_net_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "4. Route to network";    ]
    component_sys_net_Workstation_VMs -> component_Journalist_Interface_Application_Server [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "5. Reach the\nJournalist Interface";    ]
    component_Journalist_Interface_Application_Server -> component_sys_net_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "6. Encrypted\nsubmissions";    ]
    component_sd_proxy_Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "7. Relay to client";    ]
    component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_gpg_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "8. Decrypt";    ]
    component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "9. Open a file";    ]
    component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_log_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "10. Send logs";    ]
}

Workstation: export and print · sd-app (SecureDrop Client), sd-devices (export and print), sys-usb, sd-viewer (disposable VMs), sd-log

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

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

        subgraph cluster_boundary_Workstation_VMs {
            graph [
                fontsize = 10;
                fontcolor = black;
                style = dashed;
                color = firebrick2;
                label = <<i>Workstation VMs</i>>;
            ]

            component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-app\n(SecureDrop\nClient)";
                URL = "component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client_.html";
                tooltip = "sd-app (SecureDrop Client)";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-devices\n(export and\nprint)";
                URL = "component_sd_devices__export_and_print_.html";
                tooltip = "sd-devices (export and print)";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_log_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-log";
                URL = "component_sd_log.html";
                tooltip = "sd-log";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs__Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-viewer\n(disposable VMs)";
                URL = "component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs_.html";
                tooltip = "sd-viewer (disposable VMs)";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

            component_sys_usb_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sys-usb";
                URL = "component_sys_usb.html";
                tooltip = "sys-usb";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

        }

    }

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

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

    actor_Journalist_ -> component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Choose export";    ]
    component_sd_app__SecureDrop_Client__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. Hand file to\nexport VM";    ]
    component_sys_usb_Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Attach USB device";    ]
    component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs -> component_Export_Device_ [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "4. Write to drive";    ]
    component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_viewer__disposable_VMs__Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "5. Preview in\ndisposable VM";    ]
    component_sd_devices__export_and_print__Workstation_VMs -> component_sd_log_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "6. Send logs";    ]
}

Workstation: boot, provisioning and updates · sd-gpg

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_FPF_apt_repository_External_Services [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "FPF apt\nrepository";
            URL = "component_FPF_apt_repository.html";
            tooltip = "FPF apt repository";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

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

        subgraph cluster_boundary_Workstation_VMs {
            graph [
                fontsize = 10;
                fontcolor = black;
                style = dashed;
                color = firebrick2;
                label = <<i>Workstation VMs</i>>;
            ]

            component_sd_gpg_Workstation_VMs [
                shape = circle;
                color = black;
                fontcolor = black;
                label = "sd-gpg";
                URL = "component_sd_gpg.html";
                tooltip = "sd-gpg";
                margin = 0.02;

                style = "filled";

                fillcolor = "#c0392b";

                fontcolor = "white";

                class = "highlighted";
            ]

        }

        component_Qubes_OS_and_Xen_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Qubes OS and Xen";
            URL = "component_Qubes_OS_and_Xen.html";
            tooltip = "Qubes OS and Xen";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Workstation_bootloader_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Workstation\nbootloader";
            URL = "component_Workstation_bootloader.html";
            tooltip = "Workstation bootloader";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Workstation_firmware_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Workstation\nfirmware";
            URL = "component_Workstation_firmware.html";
            tooltip = "Workstation firmware";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Workstation_hardware_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Workstation\nhardware";
            URL = "component_Workstation_hardware.html";
            tooltip = "Workstation hardware";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_Workstation_provisioning_code_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "Workstation\nprovisioning\ncode";
            URL = "component_Workstation_provisioning_code.html";
            tooltip = "Workstation provisioning code";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

        component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation [
            shape = circle;
            color = black;
            fontcolor = black;
            label = "dom0";
            URL = "component_dom0.html";
            tooltip = "dom0";
            margin = 0.02;
        ]

    }

    actor_Administrator_ [
        shape = square;
        color = black;
        fontcolor = black;
        label = "Administrator";
        URL = "component_Administrator.html";
        tooltip = "Administrator";
        margin = 0.02;
    ]

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

    actor_Journalist_ -> component_Workstation_hardware_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "1. Power on";    ]
    component_Workstation_hardware_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_Workstation_firmware_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "2. Start firmware";    ]
    component_Workstation_firmware_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_Workstation_bootloader_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "3. Load bootloader";    ]
    component_Workstation_bootloader_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_Qubes_OS_and_Xen_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "4. Boot Qubes";    ]
    component_Qubes_OS_and_Xen_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "5. Start dom0";    ]
    actor_Administrator_ -> component_Workstation_provisioning_code_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "6. Install and\nconfigure";    ]
    component_Workstation_provisioning_code_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "7. Apply salt states";    ]
    component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_sd_gpg_Workstation_VMs [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "8. Provide secret\nkeys";    ]
    component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation -> component_FPF_apt_repository_External_Services [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "9. Fetch updates";    ]
    component_FPF_apt_repository_External_Services -> component_dom0_SecureDrop_Workstation [        color = black;        fontcolor = black;        dir = forward;        label = "10. Signed packages";    ]
}

Notes

In scope for audit: No. Existing mitigations: Display VM (sd-viewer) is a disposable VM and is recreated for each submission (MITIGQW18), Qubes uses Xen-based PVH virtualization for VMs. Display VM, App VM, and GPG VM do not have network access. Further mitigations: Strip down hardware to reduce likelihood of side-channel exfiltration: (remove wireless cards and used wired LAN, inpug/desolder microphones and disconnect speakers). Decrease the time the VM is allowed to request decryption from the sd-gpg VM, or change the RPC policy to always ask: side channel attacks reconstructing private keys require many. Display VM is denied access to mic. decryptions (Genken, Shamir & Tromer 2013 was a CCA attack that required ~30k ciphertexts = an hour to reconstruct a 4096-bit RSA GPG key).

How this threat is matched

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