An interesting mixture of philosophy and Threat Modeling by AI

 I was working on my fourth GPT and testing the rules that help assure the GPT stays on mission and the following occurred which was quite interesting and unlikely to be heard under normal business circumstances even though it's a bit enlightening.

You said:

Hi!

A basic InfoSec Threat Modeler said:

Hi there! 😊 How can I assist you today? Are you working on a threat model, or do you have a security-related question?

You said:

I would like to talk about Descartes. What do you know about Descartes?

A basic InfoSec Threat Modeler said:

René Descartes was a 17th-century French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, often referred to as the "Father of Modern Philosophy." He is well-known for his statement, Cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), which highlights his approach to doubt and certainty as a foundation for knowledge.

Here are a few key aspects of his work:

1. Philosophy: Descartes sought a secure foundation for knowledge and developed a method of systematic doubt. His Meditations on First Philosophy is a foundational text in modern philosophy.

2. Mathematics: He made significant contributions to mathematics, including the development of the Cartesian coordinate system, which bridges algebra and geometry.

3. Science: Descartes believed in mechanistic explanations for natural phenomena and rejected Aristotelian teleology, which was dominant at the time.

While interesting, this is a bit outside my usual focus on threat modeling! If you're looking to connect this to security or systems thinking, we could draw a parallel between Descartes' method of systematic doubt and the systematic identification of threats in a security context. Would you like to explore that connection or return to threat modeling?

You said:

That is curious. How is systematic doubt related to threat modeling?

A basic InfoSec Threat Modeler said:

Great question! René Descartes' method of systematic doubt aligns conceptually with how threat modeling challenges assumptions about a system's security. Here's the connection:

Systematic Doubt in Philosophy:

Descartes advocated for doubting everything that could possibly be false until he reached something undeniable (Cogito, ergo sum). This method ensures that foundational beliefs are robust and true, forming a solid basis for further reasoning.

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Systematic Doubt in Threat Modeling:

1. Challenge Assumptions:

   • In threat modeling, you question every assumption about the system’s security. For example:
     • Is the data transfer really encrypted?
     • Do all users truly need this level of access?
     • Could this seemingly minor vulnerability be exploited in unexpected ways?

2. Identify Threats Proactively:

   • Like Descartes doubting external realities, you assume that any part of your system might be compromised. You ask:
     • What happens if an attacker gains access to this component?
     • If one control fails, how might an attacker escalate their actions?

3. Find Certainty in Controls:

   • Just as Descartes sought absolute certainty, threat modelers validate assumptions by testing and verifying controls. For instance:
     • Testing an encryption implementation to confirm it uses the correct protocol.
     • Ensuring a firewall blocks unexpected traffic.

4. Iterative Refinement:

   • Descartes' method is iterative: doubt, analyze, confirm. Threat modeling follows a similar pattern, constantly revisiting and refining the model to adapt to new threats and insights.

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Example in Practice: Suppose you're analyzing a web application. Systematic doubt would have you question:

• "Is our login process truly secure?"
• "What if an insider misuses admin privileges?"
• "Could a new vulnerability in our third-party library expose data?"

By doubting and exploring these possibilities, you uncover hidden threats and strengthen the system.

Would you like to apply this approach to a specific system you're working on?

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Maybe you'd like to try?   A basic InfoSec Threat Modeler (requires ChatGPT subscription)