Compound Threat Detection Using Topology-Guided Penetration Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer security systems struggle to effectively identify and manage compound threat vectors and their linkages, often missing these threats due to seed space explosion in complex computing environments, and lack automation in penetration and fuzzing tests.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of compound threat detection that includes generating and running penetration and fuzzing tests based on topology graphs and environment policies, identifying threat vectors and linkages, and outputting them in a graph format, thereby automating the process and addressing seed space explosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If penetration tests and fuzzing tests are manually conducted in complex computing environments, then security analysis can be performed, but the seed space explosion makes it difficult to effectively identify and manage compound threat vectors and their linkages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex security testing process into distinct components: topology graph generation, penetration test generation, fuzzing test generation, and threat linkage analysis. Each component handles a specific aspect of the security assessment, making the overall complex task manageable and effective despite the seed space explosion in computing environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by generating topology graphs and penetration tests before executing the actual security assessment. This preliminary structuring of the testing framework enables systematic exploration of threat vectors and their linkages, preventing loss of information in complex environments.
2Extent of automation
If automated penetration testing is implemented, then the testing process can be automated, but existing systems lack automation in penetration and fuzzing tests and fail to identify compound threat vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the results of penetration tests and fuzzing tests are fed back into the analysis engine to identify threat vectors and their linkages. This feedback loop ensures that automated testing maintains reliability by systematically analyzing test results to detect compound threats that would otherwise be missed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple testing methodologies (penetration testing and fuzzing testing) into a composite automated security assessment system. This composite approach leverages the strengths of each method to reliably identify both individual and compound threat vectors, ensuring complete threat identification through automation.
3Reliability
If comprehensive security analysis is performed to identify all threat vectors and linkages, then missed threats can be mitigated, but the process becomes time-consuming and manual
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic test generation where penetration tests and fuzzing tests are adaptively created based on the topology graph and environment policies. This dynamic approach enables comprehensive security analysis to be performed efficiently by focusing testing efforts on the most relevant threat vectors and their linkages, rather than exhaustively testing all possible scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the testing process by using topology graphs and environment policies to guide test generation. This parameter-driven approach transforms the comprehensive but time-consuming manual analysis into an automated process that maintains detection completeness while significantly reducing testing duration.
4Ease of operation
If manual security testing is used, then the process can be simple to understand, but it lacks automation and cannot effectively manage compound threat vectors in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system automatically generates penetration tests and fuzzing tests based on topology graphs and environment policies without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving productivity by efficiently managing compound threat vectors in complex computing environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A topology graph for a computing system can be collected. An environment and application policy posture for at least one regulation relevant to the computing system can be collected. A plurality of penetration tests can be generated, the plurality of penetration tests determined based on the at least one topology graph for the computing system and the environment and application policy posture for the at least one regulation relevant to the computing system. The plurality of penetration tests can be run against the computing system, the plurality of penetration tests determining a plurality of threat vectors and at least one threat linkage between at least two of the plurality of threat vectors. The threat vectors and the at least one threat linkage between the at least two of the plurality of threat vectors can be output.