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Application & OT Security · Intermediate

Misuse Case

A UML-style use case that models an actor performing actions the system should prevent, linked to the use cases it threatens.

Definition

Misuse cases (Sindre and Opdahl) are drawn on use-case diagrams with a 'mis-actor' and 'threatens' and 'mitigates' relationships. They capture security requirements visually alongside functional ones. Some sources use misuse case and abuse case interchangeably.

Example

A misuse case 'Brute-force login' threatens the use case 'Log in' and is mitigated by 'Rate-limit authentication'.

Exam tip

If an answer mentions use-case diagrams with threatening actors, it describes misuse cases.

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