What does STRIDE stand for in threat modeling?

STRIDE is a threat modeling framework that is widely used in the field of cybersecurity to identify and categorize potential threats to a system. The acronym stands for Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial-of-Service, and Elevation of Privilege.

Each component of STRIDE addresses a specific aspect of threats:

• Spoofing refers to instances where an attacker impersonates another user or entity.

• Tampering involves unauthorized modifications to data or systems.

• Repudiation is when a user denies having performed an action, which can lead to disputes.

• Information Disclosure pertains to the unauthorized access and exposure of sensitive information.

• Denial-of-Service indicates attacks that disrupt legitimate access to resources or services.

• Elevation of Privilege involves a user gaining higher access rights than intended, potentially allowing for further exploits.

By articulating these threats, STRIDE helps security professionals systematically assess and improve security measures. The other choices do not accurately reflect the components of STRIDE and thus do not provide meaningful guidance for threat modeling in cybersecurity.