Automated Security Risk Assessment Using Attack Logic Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current risk analysis methods for information security are inadequate due to high subjectivity, difficulty in traceability, and excessive documentation effort, leading to under- or over-assessment of risks and inefficient countermeasure implementation.
Innovation Solution
A method that separates the modeling of attack logic from the system topology, allowing for automated generation of attack paths and evaluation of information security risks using qualitative probabilities, enabling flexible and adaptable risk assessments across diverse infrastructures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional risk analysis methods are used, then risk assessment can be performed, but the process requires excessive documentation effort and has high subjectivity leading to poor traceability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the risk assessment process into distinct components: attack tree generation, vulnerability identification, and automated risk calculation. Each component is handled separately by the processing system, allowing precise tracking of how each risk value is derived without requiring comprehensive manual documentation of every step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of risk assessment documentation with an automated computational system. The processing system automatically generates attack trees, identifies vulnerabilities, and calculates risk values based on predefined criteria, eliminating the need for extensive manual documentation while maintaining full traceability through automated logging of the assessment process.
2Measurement precision
If attack tree approaches are used for risk assessment, then detailed analysis of attack measures is possible, but the documentation and analysis outlay becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining vulnerability criteria and attack tree structures before the actual risk assessment. The processing system has pre-loaded knowledge bases of common vulnerabilities and attack patterns, allowing it to rapidly generate and analyze attack trees without requiring time-consuming manual analysis during the assessment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system performs self-service by automatically generating attack trees and identifying vulnerabilities without requiring continuous human intervention. The system autonomously traverses the infrastructure topology, applies vulnerability criteria, and calculates risk values, significantly reducing the time investment required compared to manual attack tree analysis.
3Productivity
If subjective probability assessment is used, then risk evaluation can be performed quickly, but the results vary between assessors and are difficult to trace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the subjective probability assessment parameter into an objective calculation based on measurable infrastructure characteristics. Instead of relying on assessors' subjective judgments, the processing system calculates risk probabilities by analyzing concrete parameters such as vulnerability presence, attack path complexity, and security control effectiveness, ensuring consistent results across different assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the calculated risk values and attack tree results are automatically logged and can be reviewed. This feedback loop ensures that the automated assessment process remains consistent and traceable, as each probability calculation is based on the same predefined criteria and can be verified by examining the generated attack trees and vulnerability identifications.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional risk assessment methods are used, then existing infrastructure can be evaluated, but adaptation to changes in infrastructure requires re-assessment with high documentation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic risk assessment approach where the processing system can automatically re-evaluate infrastructure changes without requiring complete re-documented assessments. The system maintains current state information and can perform incremental updates when infrastructure changes are detected, adjusting attack trees and risk values based on the specific changes while preserving the ability to trace these adjustments through the automated system logs.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the automatic assessment of information security risks, especially for the automatic assessment of information security risks in an information technology, IT, infrastructure, and to a corresponding system for the automatic information security risk assessment.