Zero-Day Privilege Escalation Detection via UI Event Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current malware detection systems are ineffective in identifying zero-day privilege escalation malware, as they rely on signature-based methods and do not analyze all subroutines, failing to detect new exploits and malwares that escalate operating system privileges, especially in real-time environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize keystroke and mouse event monitoring, combined with optical character recognition (OCR) of screen images, to differentiate between user-initiated and malware-initiated privilege escalations, detecting zero-day privilege escalation malware by correlating keystrokes, mouse movements, and screen content to identify suspicious processes and user control commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signature-based methods are used for malware detection, then detection accuracy for known malware is improved, but detection capability for zero-day malware deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments malware detection into multiple analysis dimensions: UI event sequences (keystrokes, mouse movements), screen content analysis via OCR, process behavior monitoring, and API call patterns. This segmentation allows the system to detect zero-day malware by analyzing behavioral patterns rather than relying on a single signature-based approach, thereby maintaining detection accuracy for known malware while gaining adaptability to new threats.
2Reliability
If virtual machine execution is used for malware analysis, then malware behavior observation is improved, but malware evasion capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer that monitors UI events and screen content without requiring full virtual machine execution. By capturing keystrokes, mouse movements, and OCR data from the graphical interface, the system observes malware behavior in the real environment while avoiding the detection and evasion issues associated with virtual machines. This intermediary approach maintains reliable behavior observation while preventing malware from recognizing and adapting to virtualized environments.
3Productivity
If single execution cycle analysis is used for malware classification, then processing speed is improved, but detection completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by continuously monitoring and storing UI event sequences, screen content, and process information during normal system operation. When a privilege escalation event occurs, the pre-collected data enables immediate comprehensive analysis without requiring extended execution cycles. This preliminary action approach maintains high processing speed while ensuring detection completeness by having all necessary behavioral data ready for analysis.
4Measurement precision
If user behavior profiling is used for privilege escalation validation, then false positive reduction is improved, but system complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by leveraging the operating system's existing user authentication and privilege management mechanisms. Instead of implementing a separate complex user behavior profiling system, the solution validates privilege escalations by checking whether they originate from authenticated user contexts through standard OS APIs. This self-service approach reduces false positives by utilizing built-in system intelligence while avoiding the complexity of creating and maintaining separate user behavior databases and analysis engines.
Data Source
AI summary
The various embodiments herein disclose a system and method for detecting zero-day privilege escalation malware at host level. The method identifies whether a privileged escalation state is initiated and executed by a user or by a malware program. The method uses keystrokes, Mouse events along with OCR output extracted from recorded background screen image for checking if user has initiated the privilege escalation. If a new process starts automatically without any pattern in Key Strokes, Mouse Strokes and background screen, then the process is identified as zero-day privilege escalation malware.