Malicious Action Activation in Electronic Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional malware detection systems fail to detect hidden malware embedded in electronic documents, as these malicious elements only exhibit harmful behavior when activated, evading detection by relying on behavioral analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that activate embedded malicious actions within electronic documents using application plug-ins or APIs, analyzing document structures and behaviors to identify and execute embedded code, applying weighted values to determine malicious activity, and performing security actions to prevent harm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional behavioral analysis systems are used to detect malware, then false positives are reduced, but malicious actions embedded in electronic documents cannot be detected because they remain inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically executing embedded objects (such as macros, scripts, or code) within the electronic document before actual user interaction. This preliminary execution reveals hidden malicious behaviors that would otherwise remain dormant, allowing detection systems to identify and block threats before they can harm the user's system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a controlled execution environment between the embedded malicious code and the user's system. This intermediary layer allows the system to safely execute and observe the behavior of embedded objects without directly exposing the user's system to potential harm, thus enabling detection while maintaining security.
2Measurement precision
If embedded malicious code is executed to reveal its behavior, then detection accuracy improves, but the complexity of the analysis system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the analysis process into distinct phases: identification of embedded objects, controlled execution in isolation, behavior observation, and threat assessment. This segmentation allows each component to be independently managed and analyzed, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy through systematic progression through each analysis stage.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary execution environment is introduced that provides a controlled sandbox between the malicious code and the analysis system. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of code execution, isolation, and monitoring, allowing the main analysis system to remain relatively simple while still achieving sophisticated malware detection through the specialized intermediary component.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If automatic execution of embedded objects is performed, then hidden malware is detected, but false positives may increase due to legitimate embedded actions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the behavior of executed embedded objects and compare observed actions against known patterns of both malicious and legitimate code. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from execution results, refine its detection criteria, and adjust its behavior to reduce false positives while maintaining high detection accuracy for actual threats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the execution environment, such as modifying system settings, resource availability, or execution constraints, to observe how embedded objects respond under different conditions. Legitimate code typically behaves consistently across parameter variations, while malicious code may exhibit anomalous responses, allowing the system to distinguish between the two and reduce false positives through comparative analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for activating malicious actions within electronic documents is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, by a processor of a computing device, the electronic document; identifying, by the processor, an object embedded within the electronic document; identifying, by the processor, an action associated with execution of the object; executing, by the processor, the action within a context of rules associated with the object; identifying, by the processor, at least one behavior that results from execution of the action; and determining, by the processor, an existence of at least one malicious element from the identified behavior.