Decoy network technology with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems

• US 8,429,746 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoSecure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoSecure, Inc.
• Inventors: Capalik, Alen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehedi, Morshed
• Application Number:
  US11/488,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,472 Days
• Field of Search: 726/22, 726/24, 726/23
• US Class Current: 726/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1441 Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1491 using deception as countermeasure, e.g. honeypots, honeynets, decoys or entrapment

Abstract

Improved methods and systems for decoy networks with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems. A modular decoy network with front-end monitor/intercept module(s) with a processing back-end that is separate from the protected network. The front-end presents a standard fully functional operating system that is a decoy so that the instigator of an attack is lead to believe a connection has been made to the protected network. The front-end includes a hidden sentinel kernal driver that monitors connections to the system and captures attack-identifying information. The captured information is sent to the processing module for report generation, data analysis and generation of an attack signature. The generated attack signature can then be applied to the library of signatures of the intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system of the protected network to defend against network based attacks including zero-day attacks.

Claims

1. A method for protecting a primary computer network with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems, comprising:

providing a decoy network connection on a primary computer network to a decoy that includes a decoy operating system comprising a functional operating system hosted on a monitoring/intercept module that includes a kernel driver coupled with said functional operating system and hidden from an attacker by removing one or more pointers to the kernel driver, wherein the kernel driver is hidden from the attacker by preventing the kernel driver from registering with the decoy operating system;

intercepting a network attack on said primary computer network using the monitoring/intercept module of the decoy, wherein said network attack comprises attack-identifying information that is based on all activities associated with the decoy operating system, where all activities associated with the decoy operating system are assumed to be unauthorized;

processing said attack-identifying information using a processing module connected to the decoy through a second secure computer network to identify said network attack and generate an attack signature, wherein the second secure computer network is distinct from the primary computer network; and

applying said attack signature to a library of signatures contained in an intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system to control access to said primary computer network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a second decoy network connection on said primary computer network to a second decoy operating system wherein said decoy operating system and said second decoy operating system are different operating systems and wherein said second decoy operating system comprises a second functional operating system hosted on a second monitoring/intercept module.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said attack signature is generated based on an attack payload including keystrokes or ASCII or binary files.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the attack signature is generated if an attacker communicates with a port.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said attack signature is generated if an attacker is able to successfully gain access to said decoy operating system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a report of said network attack to an administrator.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said attack signature is maintained in a database.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the all activities on the decoy operating system include:

connections to the decoy operating system, activity on the decoy operating system, and activity on services running on the decoy operating system.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second secure computer network comprises a layer 2 communications link not available to the attacker.

8. A system for a protecting a primary computer network with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems, comprising:

a decoy hosted on a primary computer network, wherein said decoy is configured to provide a decoy operating system over a decoy network connection and wherein said decoy operating system comprises a functional operating system hosted on a monitoring/intercept module;

a kernel driver coupled with said functional operating system and hidden from an attacker by removing one or more pointers to the kernel driver, wherein the monitoring/intercept module including said kernel driver is configured to intercept a network attack on said primary computer network, and said network attack comprises attack-identifying information that is based on all activities associated with the decoy operating system, where all activities associated with the decoy operating system are assumed to be unauthorized, wherein the kernel driver is hidden from the attacker by preventing the kernel driver from registering with the decoy operating system;

a processing module comprising a processor device wherein said processing module is connected to the decoy through a second secure computer network, and wherein said processing module is configured to identify said network attack and generate an attack signature from said attack-identifying information, wherein the second secure computer network is distinct from the primary computer network; and

said processing module further configured to apply said attack signature to a library of signatures contained in an intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system to control access to said primary computer network.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second decoy including a second decoy operating system on said primary computer network, wherein said decoy operating and said second decoy operating system are different operating systems, and said second decoy operating system comprises a second functional operating system hosted on a second monitoring/intercept module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said attack signature is generated based on an attack payload including keystrokes of ASCII or binary filed.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said attack signatures are maintained in a database.

12. The system of claim 8 where the primary network comprises one or more protected network devices comprising at least one server.

13. The system of claim 8 where said attack signature is automatically generated based on said attack-identifying information.

14. A system for protecting a primary computer network having a library of signatures comprising:

means for providing a decoy network connection on a primary computer network to a decoy that includes a decoy operating system comprising a functional operating system hosted on a monitoring/intercept module that includes a kernel driver coupled with said functional operating system and hidden from an attacker by removing one or more pointers to the kernel driver, wherein the kernel driver is hidden from the attacker by preventing the kernel driver from registering with the decoy operating system;

means for intercepting a network attack on said primary computer network using the monitoring/intercept module of the decoy, wherein said network attack comprises attack-identifying information that is based on all activities associated with the decoy operating system, where all activities associated with the decoy operating system are assumed to be unauthorized;

means for processing said attack-identifying information using a processing module connected to the decoy through a second secure computer network to identify said network attack and generate an attack signature, wherein the second secure computer network is distinct from the primary computer network; and

means for applying said attack signature to a library of signatures contained in an intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system to control access to said primary computer network.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for providing a second decoy network connection on said primary computer network to a second decoy operating system wherein said decoy operating system and said second decoy operating system are different operating systems and wherein said second decoy operating system comprises a second functional operating system hosted on a second monitoring/intercept module.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said attack signature is generated based on an attack payload including keystrokes or ASCII or binary files.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said attack signature is maintained in a database.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said attack signature is generated if an attacker communicates with a port.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said attack signature is generated if an attacker is able to successfully gain access to said decoy operating system.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for providing a report of said network attack to an administrator.