IP Library Granted Patent US 12,335,317
Granted Patent B2
US 12,335,317 · App. 18/593,909 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring using distributed systems

Inventors: Jason Crabtree (Vienna, VA); Joe Gray (Lenoir City, TN); Michael James (Independence, MO); Richard Kelley (Woodbridge, VA); Andrew Sellers (Monument, CO); Farooq Shaikh (Reston, VA)
Assignee: QOMPLX LLC
H04L63/20G06F16/2477G06F16/951H04L63/1425H04L63/1433H04L63/1441H04L63/1408
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,335,317
App. No.
18/593,909
Filed
Mar 2, 2024
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2497
USPC
726/22
Abstract

A system and method for cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring that uses distributed, cloud-based computing services to provide sufficient scalability for analysis of enterprise IT networks using only publicly available characterizations. The system and method comprise an in-memory associative array which manages a queue of vulnerability search tasks through a public-facing proxy network. The public-facing proxy network has search nodes configurable to present the network to search tools in a desired manner to control certain aspects of the search to obtain the desired results. A distributed data processing engine and cloud-based storage are used to provide scalable computing power and storage. Each of the cloud-based computing services is containerized and orchestrated for management and efficient scaling purposes.

Claims (61)

1. A computing system for cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring using distributed computing services, the computing system comprising:

one or more hardware processor configured for:

upon request by a user application:

receiving a domain name for reconnaissance and scoring; and

creating a first queue of Internet search tasks for the domain name using an in-memory associative array service, the search tasks comprising searches for, and receipt of search results for:

a domain name system search for domain name system records;

a domain name system search for domain name system sender policy framework records;

a domain name system search for domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records; and

a domain name system search for domain name system zone transfer records;

implementing the first queue of Internet search tasks through one or more selectable attribute nodes of a public-facing proxy network;

identifying Internet protocol addresses associated with the domain name from the domain name system records; and

implementing a second queue of Internet protocol address scanning tasks for the identified Internet protocol addresses, the scanning tasks comprising an open port scan for each of a list of open ports for the domain name;

receiving a cybersecurity scoring model comprising category weights for a plurality of categories drawn from: domain name system records, domain name system sender policy framework records, domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records, zone transfer records, and the list of open ports, and further comprising an algorithm for combining the categories using the category weights;

retrieving the search results and the list of open ports stored in a cloud-based storage bin;

calculating a cybersecurity score by applying the algorithm to the weighted categories; and

generating a cybersecurity profile for the domain name based on the cybersecurity score.

2. A computer-implemented method for cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring using distributed computing services, the computer-implemented method comprising:

upon request by a user application:

receiving a domain name for reconnaissance and scoring; and

creating a first queue of Internet search tasks for the domain name using an in-memory associative array service, the search tasks comprising searches for, and receipt of search results for:

a domain name system search for domain name system records;

a domain name system search for domain name system sender policy framework records;

a domain name system search for domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records; and

a domain name system search for domain name system zone transfer records;

implementing the first queue of Internet search tasks through one or more selectable attribute nodes of a public-facing proxy network;

identifying Internet protocol addresses associated with the domain name from the domain name system records; and

implementing a second queue of Internet protocol address scanning tasks for the identified Internet protocol addresses, the scanning tasks comprising an open port scan for each of a list of open ports for the domain name;

receiving a cybersecurity scoring model comprising category weights for a plurality of categories drawn from: domain name system records, domain name system sender policy framework records, domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records, zone transfer records, and the list of open ports, and further comprising an algorithm for combining the categories using the category weights;

retrieving the search results and the list of open ports stored in a cloud-based storage bin;

calculating a cybersecurity score by applying the algorithm to the weighted categories; and

generating a cybersecurity profile for the domain name based on the cybersecurity score.

3. A system for cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring using distributed computing services, comprising one or more computers with executable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon request by a user application:

receive a domain name for reconnaissance and scoring; and

create a first queue of Internet search tasks for the domain name using an in-memory associative array service, the search tasks comprising searches for, and receipt of search results for:

a domain name system search for domain name system records;

a domain name system search for domain name system sender policy framework records;

a domain name system search for domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records; and

a domain name system search for domain name system zone transfer records;

implement the first queue of Internet search tasks through one or more selectable attribute nodes of a public-facing proxy network;

identify Internet protocol addresses associated with the domain name from the domain name system records; and

implement a second queue of Internet protocol address scanning tasks for the identified Internet protocol addresses, the scanning tasks comprising an open port scan for each of a list of open ports for the domain name;

receive a cybersecurity scoring model comprising category weights for a plurality of categories drawn from: domain name system records, domain name system sender policy framework records, domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records, zone transfer records, and the list of open ports, and further comprising an algorithm for combining the categories using the category weights;

retrieving the search results and the list of open ports stored in a cloud-based storage bin;

calculating a cybersecurity score by applying the algorithm to the weighted categories; and

generating a cybersecurity profile for the domain name based on the cybersecurity score.

4. Non-transitory, computer-readable storage media having computer executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system for cybersecurity reconnaissance, analysis, and scoring using distributed computing services, cause the computing system to:

upon request by a user application:

receive a domain name for reconnaissance and scoring; and

create a first queue of Internet search tasks for the domain name using an in-memory associative array service, the search tasks comprising searches for, and receipt of search results for:

a domain name system search for domain name system records;

a domain name system search for domain name system sender policy framework records;

a domain name system search for domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records; and

a domain name system search for domain name system zone transfer records;

implement the first queue of Internet search tasks through one or more selectable attribute nodes of a public-facing proxy network;

identify Internet protocol addresses associated with the domain name from the domain name system records; and

implement a second queue of Internet protocol address scanning tasks for the identified Internet protocol addresses, the scanning tasks comprising an open port scan for each of a list of open ports for the domain name;

receive a cybersecurity scoring model comprising category weights for a plurality of categories drawn from: domain name system records, domain name system sender policy framework records, domain name system domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance records, zone transfer records, and the list of open ports, and further comprising an algorithm for combining the categories using the category weights;

retrieving the search results and the list of open ports stored in a cloud-based storage bin;

calculating a cybersecurity score by applying the algorithm to the weighted categories; and

generating a cybersecurity profile for the domain name based on the cybersecurity score.