IP Library Granted Patent US 7,228,566
Granted Patent B2
US 7,228,566 · App. 10/054,307 · Granted Jun 5, 2007

Automated computer system security compromise

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,228,566
App. No.
10/054,307
Granted
Jun 5, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system is provided for performing penetration testing of a target computer network by installing a remote agent in the target computer network. The system includes a local agent provided in a computer console and configured to receive and execute commands. A user interface is provided in the console and configured to send commands to and receive information from the local agent, process the information, and present the processed information. A database is configured to store the information received from the local agent. A network interface is connected to the local agent and configured to communicate with the remote agent installed in the target computer network via a network. Security vulnerability exploitation modules are provided for execution by the local agent and/or the remote agent.

Claims (75)

1. An agent embodied in a computer-readable medium for use in a system for performing penetration testing of a target computer network having a target host, the agent comprising:

a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute, in the target host, system calls received via a network; and

a virtual machine configured to execute, in the target host, scripting language instructions received via the network,

wherein the system calls received via the network are routed to the system-calls proxy server and the scripting language instructions received via the network are routed to the virtual machine.

2. The agent of claim 1 , further comprising an execution engine configured to control the system-calls proxy server and the virtual machine, wherein the system calls and the scripting language instructions are routed to the system-calls proxy server and the virtual machine, respectively, by the execution engine.

3. The agent of claim 2 , further comprising a remote procedure call module configured to receive commands from the network formatted in a remote procedure call protocol and pass the commands to the execution engine.

4. An agent embodied in a computer-readable medium for use in a system for performing penetration testing of a target computer network, having a target host, the agent comprising:

a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute, in the target host system calls received via a network;

a virtual machine configured to execute, in the target host, scripting language instructions received via the network;

a secure communication module configured to provide secure communication between the virtual machine and the network;

an execution engine configured to control the system-calls proxy server and the virtual machine, wherein the system calls and the scripting language instructions are routed to the system-calls proxy server and the virtual machine, respectively, by the execution engine;

a remote procedure call module configured to receive commands via the network formatted in a remote procedure call protocol and pass the commands to the execution engine; and

a second secure communication module configured to provide secure communication between the remote procedure call module and the network.

5. A method for performing penetration testing of a target network, comprising the steps of:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

sending a system call to the first remote agent via a network; and

executing the system call in the first target host using a system-calls proxy server of the first remote agent to exploit a security vulnerability of a second target host,

wherein the system call comprises a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host.

6. A method for performing penetration testing of a target network, comprising the steps of:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

executing in the first remote agent a second module that generates a system call; and

executing the system call in the first target host to exploit a security vulnerability of a second target host,

wherein the system call comprises a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host.

7. A method for performing penetration testing of a target network, comprising the steps of:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

executing a second module in the first remote agent that generates a system call;

installing a second remote agent in a second target host as a result of exploiting a security vulnerability of the second target host;

sending the system call generated by the second module to the second remote agent via a network; and

executing the system call in the second target host using a system-calls proxy server of the second remote agent,

wherein the system call comprises a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the second target host.

8. A method for performing penetration testing of a target network, comprising the steps of:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in thefirst target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

installing a second remote agent in the second target host as a result of exploiting a security vulnerability of the second target host;

sending a system call to the first remote agent;

sending the system call from the first remote agent to the second remote agent; and

executing the system call in the second target host using a system-calls proxy server of the second remote agent,

wherein the system call comprises a. computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the second target host.

9. A method for performing penetration testing of a target network, comprising the steps of:

installing a first remote agent in a first target host of the target network, the first remote agent having a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute system calls;

executing in the first remote agent a system call received via a network, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host;

installing a second remote agent in the first target host, the second remote agent having a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute system calls and a virtual machine configured to execute scripting language instructions; and

executing in the second remote agent a scripting language instruction or a system call received via the network.

10. Computer code embodied in a computer readable medium for performing penetration testing of a target network, the code comprising code for:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

sending a system call to the first remote agent via a network; and

executing the system call in the first target host using a system-calls proxy server of the first remote agent to exploit a security vulnerability of a second target host, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host.

11. Computer code embodied in a computer readable medium for performing penetration testing of a target network, the code comprising code for:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

executing in the first remote agent a second module that generates a system call; and

executing the system call in the first target host to exploit a security vulnerability of a second target host, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host.

12. Computer code embodied in a computer readable medium for performing penetration testing of a target network, the code comprising code for:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

executing a second module in the first remote agent that generates a system call;

installing a second remote agent in the second target host as a result of exploiting a security vulnerability of the second target host;

sending the system call generated by the second module to the second remote agent via a network; and

executing the system call in the second target host using a system-calls proxy server of the second remote agent, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the second target host.

13. Computer code embodied in a computer readable medium for performing penetration testing of a target network, the code comprising code for:

executing a first module to exploit a security vulnerability of a first target host of the target network;

installing a first remote agent in the first target host as a result of exploiting the security vulnerability of the first target host;

installing a second remote agent in the second target host as a result of exploiting a security vulnerability of the second target host;

sending a system call to the first remote agent;

sending the system call from the first remote agent to the second remote agent; and

executing the system call in the second target host using a system-calls proxy server of the second remote agent, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the second target host.

14. Computer code embodied in a computer readable medium for performing penetration testing of a target network, the code comprising code for:

installing a first remote agent in the first target host, the first remote agent having a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute system calls;

executing in the first remote agent a system call received via a network, the system call comprising a computer instruction that is executed in an operating system of the first target host;

installing a second remote agent in the first target host, the second remote agent having a system-calls proxy server configured to receive and execute system calls and a virtual machine configured to execute scripting language instructions; and

executing in the second remote agent a scripting language instruction or a system call received via the network.

Assignments (16)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 51059/0861 Recorded Nov 24, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FORTRA, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC)
Reel/Frame 073783/0406 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 51059/0911 Recorded Nov 21, 2025
From: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERV ICES LLC
To: FORTRA, LLC (F/K/A HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC)
Reel/Frame 073662/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC (AS EXISTING AGENT)
To: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC (AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT)
Reel/Frame 072471/0665 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: PNC BANK. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: COURION CORPORATION; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CORE SDI, INC.; COURIONLIVE CORPORATION; COURION HOLDINGS, INC.; COURION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070086/0008 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 15, 2022
From: HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC
To: FORTRA, LLC
Reel/Frame 062136/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 20, 2021
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS EXISTING AGENT
To: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 056322/0628 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051059/0911 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051059/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: CORE SDI, INC.
To: HELP/SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 048381/0497 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2019
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: COURION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.; CORE SECURITY SDI CORPORATION; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CORE SDI, INC.; CORE SECURITY LIVE CORPORATION; CORE SECURITY HOLDINGS, INC.; DAMABLLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 048281/0835 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: SARATOGA INVESTMENT CORP. SBIC LP
To: COURION CORPORATION; CORE SDI, INC.; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 044535/0830 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 10, 2016
From: COURION CORPORATION; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CORE SDI, INC.
To: SARATOGA INVESTMENT CORP. SBIC LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040298/0816 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2015
From: MULTIPLIER CAPITAL, L.P.
To: CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CORE SDI, INC.
Reel/Frame 037372/0488 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2015
From: COURION CORPORATION; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CORE SDI, INC.; COURIONLIVE CORPORATION; COURION HOLDINGS, INC.; COURION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 037374/0301 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 012900 FRAME 0264. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: CACERES, MAXIMILIANO GERARDO; RICHARTE, GERARDO GABRIEL; FRIEDMAN, AGUSTIN AZUBEL; QUESADA, RICARDO; NOTARFRANCESCO, LUCIANO; FRIEDERICHS, OLIVER; BURRONI, JAVIER; AJZENMAN, GUSTAVO; BECEDILLAS, GABRIEL; LEIDL, BRUCE
To: CORE SDI, INC.
Reel/Frame 037358/0539 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2013
From: CORE SDI, INC.; CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MULTIPLIER CAPITAL, LP
Reel/Frame 031077/0477 →