Active Directory Interrogation Agent for Security Vulnerability Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cybersecurity measures lack comprehensive preventative solutions for protecting Active Directory, leaving it vulnerable to attacks despite being a critical target for attackers, as existing methods focus on indirect security approaches and manual, labor-intensive processes that fail to detect suspicious configurations and vulnerabilities in time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing an interrogation agent to collect directory access protocol configuration parameters and activity information, creating cyber-physical graphs and histograms from persisted time-series data to identify weaknesses, detect attacks, and provide IT professionals with centralized graph-centric tools for real-time security insights and alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indirect security approaches (securing access points and responding to attacks) are used to protect Active Directory, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but security reliability deteriorates because comprehensive preventative protection is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring directory access protocol configurations and detecting suspicious patterns before attacks occur. The system proactively identifies weaknesses in directory access protocols and alerts security professionals to potential vulnerabilities, enabling preventive rather than reactive security measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that sits between the directory access protocol and potential attackers. This intermediary continuously observes configurations, detects anomalies, and provides early warning signals, acting as a mediator that enhances security without requiring fundamental changes to the underlying Active Directory infrastructure.
2Speed
If manual processes are used to monitor directory access protocol configurations, then system complexity is minimized, but detection speed deteriorates because suspicious configurations cannot be identified in time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring processes with an automated electronic monitoring system. The system uses software agents to continuously query directory access protocol configurations, automatically analyze data for suspicious patterns, and rapidly detect anomalies without human intervention, dramatically increasing detection speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system implements self-service by autonomously collecting configuration data, analyzing patterns, detecting suspicious activities, and generating alerts without requiring manual analysis. The system serves itself by maintaining continuous monitoring and automatically identifying security concerns as they arise.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive monitoring of all directory access protocol configurations is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but information processing load increases making real-time analysis difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses monitoring efforts on specific critical configuration parameters and suspicious patterns rather than analyzing all directory access protocol data equally. By identifying and prioritizing key security-relevant configurations, the system achieves high measurement precision for critical elements while reducing overall data processing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system applies local quality by differentiating analysis depth based on configuration importance. Critical security configurations receive intensive scrutiny with detailed analysis, while less important configurations receive standard monitoring, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and processing load across different parts of the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for the prevention, mitigation, and detection of cyberattack attacks on computer networks by identifying weaknesses in directory access object allowances and providing professionals with centralized graph-centric tools to maintain and observe key security and performance insights into their security posture. The system uses an interrogation agent to collect Active Directory configuration parameters and activity information about a forest and the devices operating within. Cyber-physical graphs and histograms using persisted time-series data provides critical information, patterns, and alerts about configurations, attack vectors, and vulnerabilities which enable information technology and cybersecurity professionals greater leverage and control over their infrastructure.