Vulnerability Chain Modeling for Runnable Exploit Script Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional IT environments lack effective methods to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities without degrading functionality or performance, especially when moving sensitive workloads to cloud computing environments exposes them to security risks.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method involving a network entity scanner, chained vulnerability identifier, and foundation model to scan IT environments, identify vulnerability chains, and generate runnable exploit scripts using AI-based models to secure the environment without affecting functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional security configurations are applied to mitigate vulnerabilities, then security is improved, but functionality and performance are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidfunctionality and performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning and vulnerability identification before deploying security configurations. By using AI models to predict attack paths and generate exploit scripts in advance, the system can proactively mitigate vulnerabilities through targeted remediation rather than broad security configurations that degrade performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying uniform security configurations across the entire IT environment, the system identifies specific vulnerability chains and generates targeted exploit scripts for particular attack paths. This localized approach allows security mitigations to be applied only where needed, preserving overall system functionality and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If architectural security recommendations are implemented to mitigate severe vulnerabilities, then security is improved, but economic viability is worsened due to re-architecting requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoideconomic viability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the IT environment into discrete vulnerability chains and attack paths, allowing security remediation to be applied to individual segments rather than requiring complete re-architecting of the entire system. This enables incremental security improvements without prohibitively expensive overhaul costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses AI foundation models to generate synthetic exploit scripts that replicate actual attack behavior without requiring physical re-architecting or rebuilding of the IT environment. These generated scripts allow security testing and mitigation in a cost-effective manner compared to full architectural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If cloud computing is used to improve data processing capability, then productivity is improved, but security is worsened due to exposure risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing capabilityVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system acts as an intermediary layer between the IT environment and cloud computing resources. By deploying the vulnerability scanning and exploit script generation system at the boundary, it provides security monitoring and control without preventing the use of cloud computing for data processing, thus maintaining both productivity and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250384138A1Generating runnable scripts from vulnerability chains
Publication Date: 2025.12.18 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US20250384138A1 patent drawing
  • US20250384138A1 patent drawing
  • US20250384138A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method, according to one approach, includes: causing a network entity scanner to scan an Information Technology (IT) environment and collect information associated with the IT environment. A chained vulnerability identifier identifies vulnerability chains based at least in part on the IT environment information. A foundation model builds a new vulnerability chain model that is trained on the IT environment information and the vulnerability chains. Moreover, a visualizer converts the new vulnerability chain model into a visualization of the IT environment and identified exploit paths. The visualization is further transmitted to a user interface.