Attack Tree Construction

---
name: attack-tree-construction
description: Build comprehensive attack trees to visualize threat paths. Use when mapping attack scenarios, identifying defense gaps, or communicating security risks to stakeholders.
---

# Attack Tree Construction

Systematic attack path visualization and analysis.

## When to Use This Skill

- Visualizing complex attack scenarios
- Identifying defense gaps and priorities
- Communicating risks to stakeholders
- Planning defensive investments
- Penetration test planning
- Security architecture review

## Core Concepts

### 1. Attack Tree Structure

```
                    [Root Goal]
                         |
            ┌────────────┴────────────┐
            │                         │
       [Sub-goal 1]              [Sub-goal 2]
       (OR node)                 (AND node)
            │                         │
      ┌─────┴─────┐             ┌─────┴─────┐
      │           │             │           │
   [Attack]   [Attack]      [Attack]   [Attack]
    (leaf)     (leaf)        (leaf)     (leaf)
```

### 2. Node Types

| Type     | Symbol    | Description             |
| -------- | --------- | ----------------------- |
| **OR**   | Oval      | Any child achieves goal |
| **AND**  | Rectangle | All children required   |
| **Leaf** | Box       | Atomic attack step      |

### 3. Attack Attributes

| Attribute     | Description             | Values             |
| ------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------ |
| **Cost**      | Resources needed        | $, $$, $$$         |
| **Time**      | Duration to execute     | Hours, Days, Weeks |
| **Skill**     | Expertise required      | Low, Medium, High  |
| **Detection** | Likelihood of detection | Low, Medium, High  |

## Templates and detailed worked examples

Full template library lives in `references/details.md`. Read that file when you need concrete templates for this skill.

## Best Practices

### Do's

- **Start with clear goals** - Define what attacker wants
- **Be exhaustive** - Consider all attack vectors
- **Attribute attacks** - Cost, skill, and detection
- **Update regularly** - New threats emerge
- **Validate with experts** - Red team review

### Don'ts

- **Don't oversimplify** - Real attacks are complex
- **Don't ignore dependencies** - AND nodes matter
- **Don't forget insider threats** - Not all attackers are external
- **Don't skip mitigations** - Trees are for defense planning
- **Don't make it static** - Threat landscape evolves

Run this skill on a real model without leaving the page. Every run is saved to your history for this skill.

How to use

1. 1Save the content below as SKILL.md in your agent's skills directory (e.g. .claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md).
2. 2Or paste it directly into the conversation as context before asking the agent to do the task.
3. 3Adjust any project-specific paths or conventions mentioned in the skill to match your setup.