Kernel-level security agent
View Patent ↗A kernel-level security agent is described herein. The kernel-level security agent is configured to observe events, filter the observed events using configurable filters, route the filtered events to one or more event consumers, and utilize the one or more event consumers to take action based at least on one of the filtered events. In some implementations, the kernel-level security agent detects a first action associated with malicious code, gathers data about the malicious code, and in response to detecting subsequent action(s) of the malicious code, performs a preventative action. The kernel-level security agent may also deceive an adversary associated with malicious code. Further, the kernel-level security agent may utilize a model representing chains of execution activities and may take action based on those chains of execution activities.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
detecting a first action associated with malicious code;
responsive to detecting the first action, gathering data associated with the first action while refraining from taking a preventative action;
upon detecting one or more subsequent actions associated with malicious code, the one or more subsequent actions occurring after the first action, performing the preventative action, wherein the preventative action comprises at least one of:
falsifying data acquired by the malicious code; or
falsifying data transmitted to an adversary associated with the malicious code.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preventative action further comprises preventing the one or more subsequent actions and further actions by the malicious process.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the gathered data in a model that tracks actions taken by processes of a system which executed the first action.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the gathered data to a remote security system.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving, in response, instructions associated with the preventative action or a configuration update for configuring a security agent that performs the detecting, gathering, and performing.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting, gathering, and performing are performed by a kernel-level security agent that utilizes configurable filters.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the first action or the one or more subsequent actions comprises observing events associated with multiple processes or threads in parallel.
8. One or more tangible computer-readable storage devices storing computer-executable instructions configured to implement a kernel-level security agent on a computing device, the kernel-level security agent performing operations comprising:
observing an event associated with a process executing on the computing device;
determining, based at least in part on the observed event, that the process is associated with malicious code; and
responsive to the determining, deceiving an adversary associated with the malicious code, wherein the deceiving comprises at least one of:
falsifying data acquired by the malicious code; or
falsifying data transmitted to the adversary.
9. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 8 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the process is associated with malicious code based at least on part on a model that tracks processes of the computing device.
10. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the model comprising data representing a genealogy of the process executing on the computing device.
11. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 8 , wherein the kernel-level security agent utilizes configurable filters.
12. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise providing gathered data associated with the observed event to a remote security system.
13. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise preventing an action by the process.
14. A method implemented by a kernel-level security agent of a computing device, the method comprising:
observing execution activities of one or more processes of the computing device;
storing data associated with the one or more execution activities in a model of the kernel-level security agent, the model representing one or more chains of execution activities involving at least a first process of the one or more processes; and
taking action based at least in part on the one or more chains of execution activities, wherein the taking action comprises at least one of:
falsifying data acquired by the first process; or
falsifying data transmitted to an adversary associated with the first process.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the chains of execution activities represents a genealogy of one of the processes.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the taking action further comprises halting a process associated with malicious activity.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing the stored data to a remote security system.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving, in response, instructions associated with the action or a configuration update for configuring the kernel-level security agent.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the kernel-level security agent utilizes configurable filters.
20. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise, prior to observing the event:
observing an additional event; and
responsive to observing the additional event, gathering data associated with the additional event while refraining from taking a preventative action.