Non-Invasive API Discovery for Third-Party Exploitation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cybersecurity methods, such as eBPF or instrumentation-based techniques, are not feasible for environments where direct instrumentation or modification of compiled APIs, legacy systems, and enterprise applications is not viable, necessitating a non-invasive approach for API discovery, monitoring, and exploitation detection.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive methodology that scans memory, monitors opened streams and file descriptors, and analyzes runtime signals to discover APIs, detect sensitive credentials, and monitor for exploitation attempts without disrupting the process, using modules for memory scanning, file descriptor monitoring, network activity, and loaded library tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional instrumentation-based methods (eBPF, probes) are used for API discovery and monitoring, then detection accuracy is improved, but the methods become inapplicable to compiled APIs, legacy systems, and enterprise applications that cannot be instrumented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidapplicability to third-party processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary agent that operates between the monitoring system and the third-party process. This agent performs non-invasive memory scanning and runtime signal analysis to discover APIs and detect exploitation attempts without requiring direct instrumentation of the target process, thereby bridging the gap between detection accuracy and applicability to instrumentless environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical instrumentation approaches (eBPF probes, code injection) with a software-based memory scanning and runtime analysis system. This substitution enables API discovery and exploitation detection in compiled and legacy systems where physical or direct code-level access is not feasible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-invasive memory scanning is performed to discover APIs in third-party processes, then applicability to compiled and legacy systems is improved, but the complexity of analyzing runtime signals increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to instrumentless environmentsVSAvoidcomplexity of runtime analysis system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the runtime analysis system into distinct functional modules: memory scanning module for API discovery, runtime signal analysis module for monitoring process behavior, and exploitation detection module for identifying attacks. This segmentation manages complexity by dividing the overall system into specialized, independently manageable components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional single-dimension code-level monitoring to multi-dimensional analysis by examining memory contents, runtime signals, process behavior patterns, and system calls simultaneously. This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive API discovery and exploitation detection in instrumentless environments through diverse data perspectives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If comprehensive runtime monitoring is implemented to detect exploitation attempts, then detection coverage is improved, but performance overhead and disruption to the monitored process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexploitation detection coverageVSAvoidprocess performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial monitoring by focusing runtime analysis on specific high-value targets such as memory regions containing API keys, tokens, and sensitive credentials, rather than monitoring all process activities uniformly. This selective approach maintains comprehensive exploitation detection coverage while minimizing performance overhead by concentrating resources on critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20260080069A1Methods for non-invasive API discovery, monitoring and exploitation detection in third-party processes

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 WALLARM INC

AI summary

System and method for non-invasive monitoring and exploitation detection in third-party software processes. The system includes modules for scanning process memory to identify sensitive credentials such as application programming interface (API) keys and tokens, monitoring opened file descriptors including files, sockets, and inter-process communication channels, and analyzing network activity including domain name system (DNS) requests and encrypted connections. Runtime metadata such as privileges, environment variables and resource usage is also collected. The system correlates these signals to detect indicators of exploitation, such as unauthorized access, privilege escalation, or injected payloads, without modifying or instrumenting the monitored process. Integration with external security systems may enhance detection accuracy. Alerts and reports are generated in real-time to support incident response and forensic analysis.