Honey Network Synchronization via Virtual Clone Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual machine environments for malware detection and security analysis fail to provide a realistic emulation of a target host and network environment, allowing attackers to detect the virtualization and terminate their attacks, and they lack synchronization with actual host attributes and network communications, leading to inadequate threat intelligence.
Innovation Solution
A honey network configuration is synchronized to reflect a target network environment by using a device profile data store, virtual machine images, and a virtual clone manager to instantiate virtual clones of target devices, providing a high-fidelity emulation that mimics actual devices and network interactions, making it difficult for attackers to detect the virtual environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a virtual machine environment is used for malware detection, then security analysis capability is improved, but the environment can be detected by attackers reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual clones of target devices that copy the hardware configuration, software environment, and network characteristics of actual devices. These clones serve as decoys in a honey network, making it difficult for attackers to distinguish between real and virtual environments, thereby preventing them from detecting the virtualization and terminating their attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network into multiple virtual clones distributed across different physical hosts. Each clone appears as an independent device with unique identifiers and characteristics, breaking the monolithic virtual environment into smaller, indistinguishable units that collectively form a realistic network landscape.
2Manufacturing precision
If virtual clones are instantiated to emulate target devices, then realism of emulation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a universal cloning mechanism that can replicate multiple device types and configurations using a standardized virtual machine framework. The virtual clones share common infrastructure components while maintaining unique device characteristics, allowing high emulation fidelity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of manually configuring each virtual clone with high fidelity details, the system automatically copies device profiles, hardware configurations, and software environments from target devices. This automated copying process achieves high emulation precision while reducing the manual complexity of setting up and maintaining the honey network.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for synchronizing a honey network configuration to reflect a target network environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for synchronizing a honey network configuration to reflect a target network environment includes a device profile data store that includes a plurality of attributes of each of a plurality of devices in the target network environment; a virtual machine (VM) image library that includes one or more VM images; and a virtual clone manager executed on a processor that instantiates a virtual clone of one or more devices in the target enterprise network using a VM image selected from the VM image library that is customized based on one or more attributes for a target device in the device profile data store.