Systematic Threat Identification Techniques

Effective threat identification requires structured approaches that ensure comprehensive coverage without getting lost in unlikely scenarios. The key is balancing thoroughness with practicality, identifying relevant threats while avoiding analysis paralysis. Different techniques work better for different systems and teams, so understanding multiple approaches allows you to select the most appropriate for your context.

Attack libraries provide pre-compiled threat catalogs based on system type and technology stack. OWASP maintains threat libraries for web applications, APIs, and mobile applications. MITRE ATT&CK framework catalogs adversary tactics and techniques based on real-world observations. Cloud providers publish threat matrices specific to their platforms. These libraries accelerate threat identification by providing proven starting points that you customize for your specific system.

Abuse case modeling flips traditional use cases to explore malicious usage. For each legitimate use case, ask "How could this be abused?" A login function designed to authenticate users could be abused for username enumeration, password brute forcing, or account lockout attacks. This technique proves particularly effective for identifying business logic flaws that technical vulnerability scanning misses.

Kill chain analysis examines each stage of potential attacks from initial reconnaissance through final impact. By systematically considering what attackers need to accomplish at each stage, you identify threats that might otherwise be overlooked. Early-stage threats like information disclosure through error messages enable later-stage attacks. This comprehensive view helps identify where breaking the chain would prevent entire attack classes.