Identity and Verifiable Credential Risks
- Scott Perry
- Arjun Govind
- Vinod Panicker
Owned by Scott Perry
As part of an initial and ongoing governance process, Ecosystems must appropriately consider the risks affecting the set of transactions and credentials they are charged with governing. The attached matrix identifies risks related to digital identity and verifiable credentials at all layers of the ToIP stack:
| |||||||
| RISK | ToIP LAYER | TRUST AREAS AFFECTED | SEVERITY | LIKELIHOOD | RISK IMPACT | CONSIDERATIONS | |
| Governance Authority Risks | |||||||
| Lack of competence to perform role | Ecosystem | Governance | Need for experienced personnel, proper training and governance framework | ||||
| Lack of sufficient policy and practices | Ecosystem | Governance | Need for complete governance framework and feedback look | ||||
| lack of consistency in operating practices of roles | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires proper oversight and trust assurance mechanisms | ||||
| Lack of accountability of roles in network | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires proper oversight and trust assurance mechanisms | ||||
| Lack of communication about governance practices | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires appropriate communication channels | ||||
| Lack of appropriate authority | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires recognition and endorsement by relying parties | ||||
| Ineffective bias in authority | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires even representation, voting standards and non-discrimination practices | ||||
| Lack of Relying Party recognition | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires recognition and endorsement by relying parties | ||||
| Ecosystem Lacks Jurisdictional Acceptance | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Mapping of Jurisdictional Regulation | ||||
| Ecosystem Lacks Industry Acceptance | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Mapping of Industry Regulation | ||||
| Ecosystem Issues Trust Marks Inappropriately or Without Basis | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Adequate Trust Marks Policies | ||||
| Ecosystem Allowing Inappropriate Actors to Participate in Network | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Provider Evaluation and Acceptance Processes | ||||
| Ecosystem Inappropriately Blacklisting or White Listing Other Ecosystems | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Adequate Ecosystem Black and White Listing Processing | ||||
| Issuer Risks | |||||||
| Credential Issued without sufficient basis | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires training, trust assurance practices and controlled practices | ||||
| Credential Issued before appropriate proofing of basis | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires training, trust assurance practices, controlled practices and proper workflow | ||||
| Credential Issued in the wrong format or structure | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires standard formats and formatting controls | ||||
| Credential issued to impostors | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Trusted Issuers, trust assurance practices | ||||
| Credential Lacking Uniqueness | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Appropriate Credential Serialization | ||||
| Credential Becoming Obsolete | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Appropriate Credential Validity Periods | ||||
| Lack of Credential Revocation | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Credential Status Checking Procedures | ||||
| Identity Proofing Practices Inadequate for Level of Assurance | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Ecosystem Governance Conformance Procedures | ||||
| Issuer Practices Not Accepted by Ecosystem | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Issuer Practice Conformance Procedures | ||||
| Issuer Operations Unavailable | Data Exchange | Availability | Requires Network Redundancy Procedures | ||||
| Verifier Risks | |||||||
| Lack of competence to perform role | Data Exchange | Governance | Requires training, trust assurance practices and controlled practices | ||||
| Lack of consistent verification practices | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires training, trust assurance practices and controlled practices | ||||
| Missing verification | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires training, trust assurance practices and controlled practices | ||||
| Untimely verification | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires time-based controls | ||||
| Evidence of verification incomplete or in incorrect format | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires standard formats and formatting controls | ||||
| Verifier Practices Not Accepted by Ecosystem | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Verifier Conformance Procedures | ||||
| Suspended Credential Being Accepted | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Credential Suspension Processes | ||||
| Revoked Credential Being Accepted | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Credential Status Checking Procedures | ||||
| Man-In-The-Middle Attack During Legitimate Verification | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Verifier Vulnerability Practices | ||||
| Verifier Network Unavailable | Data Exchange | Availability | Requires Network Redundancy Procedures | ||||
| Credential Registry Risks | |||||||
| Lack of competence to perform role | Data Exchange | Governance | Requires training, trust assurance practices and controlled practices | ||||
| Unavailable registry | Data Exchange | Availability | Requires availability controls | ||||
| Lack of appropriate access to registry | Data Exchange | Security | Requires appropriate access controls | ||||
| Inappropriate access writes to registry | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires appropriate access management controls | ||||
| Breach of registry | Data Exchange | Security | Requires appropriate security perimeter, breach detection and notification controls | ||||
| Exploited Use of Stolen Credentials | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Breach Notification Processes | ||||
| Credential Registry Not Accepted by Ecosystem | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Credential Verifier Conformance Procedures | ||||
| Audit Accreditor Risks | |||||||
| Insufficient vetting of auditor population | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires training, and generally accepted auditor accreditor practices | ||||
| Lack of competence to perform role | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires training, and generally accepted auditor accreditor practices | ||||
| Auditor Risks | |||||||
| Lack of competence to perform role | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires training, sufficient experience and generally accepted auditor practices | ||||
| Credential Holder Risks | |||||||
| Holder Threat of Litigation over Issuer | Data Exchange | Confidentiality | Proper Agreement in pace between Issuer and Holder detailing rights. | ||||
| Counterfeit Credentials Being Created | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Credential Non-Repudiation Practices | ||||
| Lack of Binding Between Holder and Credential | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Credential Holder Given Inappropriate Access Rights | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Adequate User Enrollment Processes | ||||
| Imposter Using Valid Credential | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Adequate Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Credential Wallet Private Key is Compromised | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Adequate User Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Credential Holder's Private Data is Compromised | Data Exchange | Privacy | Requires Adequate User Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Lack of Portability of Credential | Data Exchange | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Credential Interoperability Practices | ||||
| Lack of Credential Federation Across Ecosystems | Ecosystem | Governance | Requires Adequate Credential Interoperability Practices | ||||
| Exploited Private PIN Code Capture | Data Exchange | Confidentiality | Requires Adequate Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Social Engineering Attacks Successfully Gather Credentials by Perpetrators | Data Exchange | Security | Requires Adequate Wallet Protection Measures | ||||
| Provider Risk | |||||||
| Provider Software Does not Operate as Intended | Provider | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Provider SDLC Processes | ||||
| Provider Software Does Not Operate on User Devices | Provider | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Provider SDLC Processes | ||||
| Provider Code Updates Cause Operational Issues | Provider | Data Integrity | Requires Adequate Provider SDLC Processes | ||||
| Provider System Unavailable | Provider | Availability | Requires Adequate Provider Hardware Integration Practices | ||||
| Utility Risks | |||||||
| Inconsistent Steward Acceptance Practices | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utliity Steward Acceptance Practices | ||||
| Stewards Not Abiding by Governance Practices | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Steward Conformance Practices | ||||
| Stewardship Not Available to Qualified Applicants | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utliity Steward Acceptance Practices | ||||
| Utility Not a Viable Going Concern | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utility Monitoring Practices | ||||
| Utility Using an Ineffective Consensus Model | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utility Monitoring Practices | ||||
| Utility Consensus Model Not Operating as Designed. | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utility Monitoring Practices | ||||
| Utility Charging Inaccurate Fees For Service | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utility Monitoring Practices | ||||
| Inadequate Number of Stewards for Consensus Protocol | Utility | Governance | Requires Adequate Utility Monitoring Practices | ||||
| Inadequate Infrastructure Supporting Steward Operations | Utility | Availability | Requires Adequate Steward Conformance Practices | ||||
| Inadequate Network Throughput Supporting Steward Operations | Utility | Availability | Requires Adequate Steward Conformance Practices | ||||
| Inadequate Network Availability Supporting Steward Operations | Utility | Availability | Requires Adequate Steward Conformance Practices |