Distributed Security Agents Propagating Attack Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intrusion prevention systems are unable to hermetically block unknown attacks, such as zero-day worms and DoS/DDoS floods, due to the inherent limitations of behavioral analysis systems that require multiple sequential events for accurate decision-making, allowing potential threats to slip through and compromise networks.
Innovation Solution
A distributed security system utilizing intelligent security agents that share security incident information, automatically create and propagate digital signatures for unknown attacks through behavioral analysis, reducing response time and enhancing protection coverage by updating a black list across the network based on pre-defined propagation rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If behavioral analysis systems analyze multiple sequential events before making accurate decisions, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases allowing attacks to slip through
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary behavioral analysis and creates attack signatures in advance when attack patterns are detected. These pre-characterized signatures are stored and automatically applied when matching traffic is observed, eliminating the need for time-consuming sequential event analysis during active attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The intrusion prevention system is divided into multiple distributed agents that independently analyze behavior and create signatures. Each agent can operate autonomously to detect and characterize attacks locally, then share signatures through propagation mechanisms, distributing the computational burden and reducing centralized analysis time.
2Reliability
If distributed security agents share security incident information and propagate signatures across the network, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each distributed security agent is designed as a multi-functional unit that can detect attacks, analyze behavior, create signatures, and propagate information. This universal design allows agents to perform multiple functions independently, improving reliability through redundancy while avoiding the need for complex centralized coordination infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses signature copying and propagation mechanisms where detected attack patterns are replicated as signatures and distributed across the network. Instead of complex real-time coordination, agents simply copy and share characterized attack signatures, simplifying inter-agent communication while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed security system wherein intelligent security agents (i.e., agent devices) share security incident information between themselves via a controller. An adaptive security decision making involving network worms (non-SMTP worms) and DoS floods attacks is also described; wherein the Worms and DoS flood digital signatures are generated to assist in intrusion prevention process.