Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
In a Misuse Case diagram, what relationship exists between Use Cases and Misuse Cases?
A Misuse Case "threatens" a Use Case, and may "exploit" it — the attacker abuses legitimate functionality to cause harm.
* Use vs Misuse cases — the attacker's misuse case threatens/exploits a use case, and a mitigation use case counters it. *
Diagram Relationships:
| Relationship | Description |
|---|---|
| User -> Use Case | User performs legitimate action |
| Attacker -> Misuse Case | Attacker performs malicious action |
| Misuse Case --threatens--> Use Case | Attack threatens legitimate functionality |
| Misuse Case --exploits--> Use Case | Attack exploits the use case |
Example: Login System
- Use Cases: Enter username, Enter password, Use system
- Misuse Cases: Injection attack, Overflow attack
- Relationships:
- Injection attack exploits Enter username
- Injection attack exploits Enter password
- Overflow attack threatens Use system
Go deeper:
Misuse case (Wikipedia) — the threatens / exploits / mitigates relationships in the same UML diagram.