Reconnaissance Agent Software Modules for Penetration Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current penetration testing systems face challenges in efficiently determining network node compromisability due to high communication requirements between reconnaissance agents and remote computing devices, leading to bandwidth and processing power consumption issues, and reliance on extensive data exchange for vulnerability assessment.
Innovation Solution
A simulative penetration testing system where reconnaissance agent software modules on network nodes communicate directly to determine node compromisability by sending queries and receiving information, reducing the need for extensive communication with the remote device, and allowing local determination of compromisability in some cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reconnaissance agents communicate extensively with remote computing devices for vulnerability assessment, then measurement precision of node compromisability is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the vulnerability assessment process into local agent actions and remote coordination actions. Agents autonomously perform reconnaissance and vulnerability detection locally, while only coordinating with remote devices when necessary for cross-node attack path analysis. This segmentation reduces unnecessary network communication while maintaining assessment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication protocol where agents exchange structured vulnerability data and attack path information through controlled channels. This intermediary mechanism enables precise information exchange for compromisability assessment while filtering out redundant data, thus reducing overall network bandwidth consumption.
2Measurement precision
If reconnaissance agents exchange extensive data for determining node compromisability, then measurement precision is improved, but processing power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and processes only the essential vulnerability attributes and attack path data needed for compromisability assessment. Agents filter out redundant information and exchange only critical data elements, reducing processing power consumption while maintaining assessment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms vulnerability data into standardized parameters and structured formats that enable efficient processing and comparison. By changing data representation to optimized parameters, the system reduces computational overhead while preserving measurement precision for node compromisability determination.
3Reliability
If penetration testing is performed frequently to detect new threats, then reliability of security protection is improved, but loss of time for system operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic vulnerability scanning and penetration testing cycles that efficiently assess security posture without requiring exhaustive full-system analysis each time. Agents perform targeted reconnaissance and reporting at optimized intervals, maintaining security reliability while minimizing operational disruption and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Reconnaissance agents continuously perform preliminary vulnerability detection and monitoring activities in the background before formal penetration testing is initiated. This preliminary action prepares vulnerability data and attack path information in advance, enabling faster and more reliable security assessment when needed without significant operational interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for carrying out penetration testing campaigns of a networked system. These include having a reconnaissance agent software module (RASM) installed on a first network node detect an occurrence of a risky event in the node, an event that would allow an attacker of the penetration testing campaign to compromise the node if a specific Boolean condition is satisfied; in response to detecting the risky event, the RASM sends queries to a second network node requesting information, receives answers to the queries including at least one or more portions of the requested information, and, based on the received information, determines that the specific Boolean condition is satisfied and concludes that the node could be compromised by the attacker of the penetration testing campaign. Based on the above, a security vulnerability my be reported.