# Attack Vectors - Path Security
## Overview
This document provides comprehensive coverage of attack vectors targeting path security and how the Path Security module protects against them.
## Attack Vector Categories
### 1. Path Traversal Attacks
#### Directory Traversal
**Description**: Attackers use `../` sequences to access files outside the intended directory.
**Example**:
```
../../../etc/passwd
../../../../var/log/system.log
../../../home/user/.ssh/id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, TraversalDetector};
let detector = TraversalDetector::new()
.with_patterns(vec![
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
]);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Encoded Directory Traversal
**Description**: Attackers use URL encoding to bypass basic detection.
**Example**:
```
%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2fetc%2fpasswd
%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2fvar%2flog%2fsystem.log
%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2fhome%2fuser%2f.ssh%2fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, EncodingAttackDetector};
let detector = EncodingAttackDetector::new()
.with_url_encoding_detection(true)
.with_utf8_encoding_detection(true)
.with_unicode_encoding_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Double Encoding Traversal
**Description**: Attackers use double URL encoding to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fetc%252fpasswd
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fvar%252flog%252fsystem.log
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fhome%252fuser%252f.ssh%252fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, EncodingAttackDetector};
let detector = EncodingAttackDetector::new()
.with_double_encoding_detection(true)
.with_nested_encoding_detection(true)
.with_encoding_depth_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 2. Unicode Attacks
#### Unicode Normalization Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use Unicode normalization to bypass path validation.
**Example**:
```
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fetc\u002fpasswd
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fvar\u002flog\u002fsystem.log
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fhome\u002fuser\u002f.ssh\u002fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnicodeAttackDetector};
let detector = UnicodeAttackDetector::new()
.with_normalization_detection(true)
.with_encoding_detection(true)
.with_visual_spoofing_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Unicode Visual Spoofing
**Description**: Attackers use visually similar Unicode characters to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
..\u2215..\u2215..\u2215etc\u2215passwd
..\u2215..\u2215..\u2215var\u2215log\u2215system.log
..\u2215..\u2215..\u2215home\u2215user\u2215.ssh\u2215id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnicodeAttackDetector};
let detector = UnicodeAttackDetector::new()
.with_visual_spoofing_detection(true)
.with_homoglyph_detection(true)
.with_character_similarity_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Unicode Encoding Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use Unicode encoding to bypass path validation.
**Example**:
```
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fetc\u002fpasswd
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fvar\u002flog\u002fsystem.log
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fhome\u002fuser\u002f.ssh\u002fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnicodeAttackDetector};
let detector = UnicodeAttackDetector::new()
.with_encoding_detection(true)
.with_unicode_escape_detection(true)
.with_unicode_sequence_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 3. Project Name Attacks
#### Malicious Project Names
**Description**: Attackers use malicious project names to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
../../../etc/passwd
../../../../var/log/system.log
../../../home/user/.ssh/id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, ProjectNameValidator};
let validator = ProjectNameValidator::new()
.with_traversal_detection(true)
.with_encoding_detection(true)
.with_unicode_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_validator(Box::new(validator));
```
#### Reserved Name Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use reserved system names to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
CON
PRN
AUX
NUL
COM1
COM2
COM3
COM4
COM5
COM6
COM7
COM8
COM9
LPT1
LPT2
LPT3
LPT4
LPT5
LPT6
LPT7
LPT8
LPT9
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, ReservedNameDetector};
let detector = ReservedNameDetector::new()
.with_windows_reserved_names(true)
.with_unix_reserved_names(true)
.with_system_reserved_names(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 4. Filename Attacks
#### Malicious Filenames
**Description**: Attackers use malicious filenames to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
../../../etc/passwd
../../../../var/log/system.log
../../../home/user/.ssh/id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, FilenameValidator};
let validator = FilenameValidator::new()
.with_traversal_detection(true)
.with_encoding_detection(true)
.with_unicode_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_validator(Box::new(validator));
```
#### Special Character Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use special characters in filenames to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
file<name>.txt
file>name>.txt
file"name>.txt
file*name>.txt
file?name>.txt
file\name>.txt
file/name>.txt
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, SpecialCharacterDetector};
let detector = SpecialCharacterDetector::new()
.with_windows_special_characters(true)
.with_unix_special_characters(true)
.with_unicode_special_characters(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 5. Cross-Platform Attacks
#### Windows-Specific Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use Windows-specific path features to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
C:\..\..\..\etc\passwd
C:\..\..\..\var\log\system.log
C:\..\..\..\home\user\.ssh\id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, WindowsAttackDetector};
let detector = WindowsAttackDetector::new()
.with_drive_letter_attacks(true)
.with_unc_path_attacks(true)
.with_windows_special_paths(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Unix-Specific Attacks
**Description**: Attackers use Unix-specific path features to exploit path validation.
**Example**:
```
../../../etc/passwd
../../../../var/log/system.log
../../../home/user/.ssh/id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnixAttackDetector};
let detector = UnixAttackDetector::new()
.with_absolute_path_attacks(true)
.with_relative_path_attacks(true)
.with_unix_special_paths(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
## Advanced Attack Techniques
### 1. Multi-Stage Attacks
#### Encoding Combination Attacks
**Description**: Attackers combine multiple encoding techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2fetc%2fpasswd
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fvar%252flog%252fsystem.log
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fhome\u002fuser\u002f.ssh\u002fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, MultiStageAttackDetector};
let detector = MultiStageAttackDetector::new()
.with_encoding_combination_detection(true)
.with_unicode_combination_detection(true)
.with_traversal_combination_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Unicode Combination Attacks
**Description**: Attackers combine multiple Unicode techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fetc\u002fpasswd
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fvar\u002flog\u002fsystem.log
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fhome\u002fuser\u002f.ssh\u002fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnicodeCombinationDetector};
let detector = UnicodeCombinationDetector::new()
.with_normalization_combination_detection(true)
.with_encoding_combination_detection(true)
.with_visual_spoofing_combination_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 2. Evasion Techniques
#### Unicode Evasion
**Description**: Attackers use Unicode evasion techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fetc\u002fpasswd
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fvar\u002flog\u002fsystem.log
..\u002f..\u002f..\u002fhome\u002fuser\u002f.ssh\u002fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnicodeEvasionDetector};
let detector = UnicodeEvasionDetector::new()
.with_unicode_evasion_detection(true)
.with_encoding_evasion_detection(true)
.with_normalization_evasion_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Encoding Evasion
**Description**: Attackers use encoding evasion techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2fetc%2fpasswd
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fvar%252flog%252fsystem.log
%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252f%252e%252e%252fhome%252fuser%252f.ssh%252fid_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, EncodingEvasionDetector};
let detector = EncodingEvasionDetector::new()
.with_encoding_evasion_detection(true)
.with_double_encoding_evasion_detection(true)
.with_nested_encoding_evasion_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 3. Platform-Specific Evasion
#### Windows Evasion
**Description**: Attackers use Windows-specific evasion techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
C:\..\..\..\etc\passwd
C:\..\..\..\var\log\system.log
C:\..\..\..\home\user\.ssh\id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, WindowsEvasionDetector};
let detector = WindowsEvasionDetector::new()
.with_drive_letter_evasion_detection(true)
.with_unc_path_evasion_detection(true)
.with_windows_special_paths_evasion_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Unix Evasion
**Description**: Attackers use Unix-specific evasion techniques to bypass detection.
**Example**:
```
../../../etc/passwd
../../../../var/log/system.log
../../../home/user/.ssh/id_rsa
```
**Protection**:
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UnixEvasionDetector};
let detector = UnixEvasionDetector::new()
.with_absolute_path_evasion_detection(true)
.with_relative_path_evasion_detection(true)
.with_unix_special_paths_evasion_detection(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
## Detection Strategies
### 1. Pattern-based Detection
#### Regex Patterns
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, PatternDetector};
let patterns = vec![
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
r"\.\.",
r"%2e%2e%2f",
r"%252e%252e%252f",
r"\.\u002f",
r"\.\u2215",
];
let detector = PatternDetector::new()
.with_patterns(patterns)
.with_case_sensitive(false)
.with_fuzzy_matching(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Fuzzy Matching
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, FuzzyPatternDetector};
let base_patterns = vec![
"..",
"..",
"..",
"..",
"%2e%2e%2f",
"%252e%252e%252f",
".\u002f",
".\u2215",
];
let detector = FuzzyPatternDetector::new()
.with_base_patterns(base_patterns)
.with_fuzzy_matching(true)
.with_edit_distance_threshold(2)
.with_similarity_threshold(0.8);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
### 2. Semantic Detection
#### Intent Analysis
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, IntentAnalyzer};
let analyzer = IntentAnalyzer::new()
.with_traversal_intent_detection(true)
.with_encoding_intent_detection(true)
.with_unicode_intent_detection(true)
.with_confidence_threshold(0.8);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(analyzer));
```
#### Context Analysis
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, ContextAnalyzer};
let analyzer = ContextAnalyzer::new()
.with_path_context_analysis(true)
.with_platform_context_analysis(true)
.with_encoding_context_analysis(true)
.with_unicode_context_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(analyzer));
```
### 3. Machine Learning-based Detection
#### Classification Models
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, MLDetector};
let detector = MLDetector::new()
.with_model_path("models/path_attack_classifier.onnx")
.with_input_preprocessing(true)
.with_output_postprocessing(true)
.with_confidence_threshold(0.8);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
#### Anomaly Detection
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, AnomalyDetector};
let detector = AnomalyDetector::new()
.with_model_path("models/path_anomaly_detector.onnx")
.with_anomaly_threshold(0.8)
.with_statistical_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(detector));
```
## Mitigation Strategies
### 1. Input Sanitization
#### Character Filtering
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, CharacterFilter};
let filter = CharacterFilter::new()
.with_dangerous_characters(vec![
'<', '>', '|', ':', '"', '*', '?', '\\', '/'
])
.with_unicode_normalization(true)
.with_encoding_standardization(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_sanitizer(Box::new(filter));
```
#### Content Filtering
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, ContentFilter};
let filter = ContentFilter::new()
.with_traversal_patterns(vec![
"..",
"..",
"..",
"..",
])
.with_encoding_patterns(vec![
"%2e%2e%2f",
"%252e%252e%252f",
])
.with_unicode_patterns(vec![
".\u002f",
".\u2215",
]);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_sanitizer(Box::new(filter));
```
### 2. Output Validation
#### Path Validation
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, PathValidator};
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.with_traversal_detection(true)
.with_encoding_detection(true)
.with_unicode_detection(true)
.with_project_name_validation(true)
.with_filename_validation(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_validator(Box::new(validator));
```
#### Format Validation
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, FormatValidator};
let validator = FormatValidator::new()
.with_path_format_validation(true)
.with_filename_format_validation(true)
.with_project_name_format_validation(true)
.with_cross_platform_validation(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_validator(Box::new(validator));
```
### 3. Behavioral Analysis
#### Path Analysis
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, PathAnalyzer};
let analyzer = PathAnalyzer::new()
.with_path_pattern_analysis(true)
.with_path_anomaly_analysis(true)
.with_path_risk_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(analyzer));
```
#### User Behavior Analysis
```rust
use path_security::{PathValidator, UserBehaviorAnalyzer};
let analyzer = UserBehaviorAnalyzer::new()
.with_user_pattern_analysis(true)
.with_user_anomaly_analysis(true)
.with_user_risk_analysis(true);
let validator = PathValidator::new()
.add_detector(Box::new(analyzer));
```
## Best Practices
### 1. Defense in Depth
- **Multiple Detection Layers**: Use multiple detection methods
- **Redundant Validation**: Validate paths at multiple points
- **Continuous Monitoring**: Monitor for new attack patterns
- **Regular Updates**: Keep detection patterns and models updated
### 2. Adaptive Security
- **Dynamic Patterns**: Update detection patterns based on new threats
- **Machine Learning**: Use ML models for adaptive detection
- **Feedback Loops**: Learn from false positives and negatives
- **Threat Intelligence**: Incorporate threat intelligence feeds
### 3. User Education
- **Security Awareness**: Educate users about attack vectors
- **Best Practices**: Provide security best practices
- **Incident Response**: Train users on incident response
- **Regular Updates**: Keep users informed about new threats
### 4. Continuous Improvement
- **Threat Modeling**: Regular threat modeling exercises
- **Penetration Testing**: Regular security testing
- **Vulnerability Assessment**: Regular vulnerability assessments
- **Security Reviews**: Regular security architecture reviews