IP Library Granted Patent US 11,552,967
Granted Patent B2
US 11,552,967 · App. 17/131,473 · Granted Jan 10, 2023

Determining computing system incidents using node graphs

Inventors: Elisabeth Maida (New York, NY); Roselle Safran (Washington, DC)
Assignee: McAfee, LLC
H04L63/1416H04L63/145H04L63/1441H04L63/1483
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,552,967
App. No.
17/131,473
Granted
Jan 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for performing graph-based analysis of computing system threats and incidents, and determining response and/or mitigation actions for the threats and incidents, are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods generate node graphs of computing system threat artifacts, and perform actions to identify recommended resolutions to the threats, based on information derived from the generated node graphs.

Claims (51)

1. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory and configured to:

generate a single node graph for each of multiple threat artifacts;

derive an intermediate node based on two of the multiple threat artifacts;

build a composite node graph that represents a current threat status, wherein the composite node graph includes the single node graphs and the intermediate node, and wherein the intermediate node connects the single node graphs corresponding to the two of the multiple threat artifacts;

identify one or more attacks based on an analysis of the composite node graph; and

perform an action to mitigate the identified one or more attacks.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to access data from one or more data sources and augment the composite node graph with one or more additional nodes that represent data from the one or more data sources that is related to information associated with one or more nodes of the composite node graph.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

generate a user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the composite node graph; and

present artifact information associated with one or more nodes displayed by the graphical representation of the composite node graph,

wherein the presented artifact information includes information identifying relationships between the artifact and one or more other artifacts.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

generate a user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the composite node graph; and

present artifact information associated with one or more nodes displayed by the graphical representation of the composite node graph,

wherein the presented artifact information includes information identifying relationships between indicators associated with the artifact and one or more other artifacts.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to access information provided by detection tools configured to detect threats.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the single node graphs include nodes that represent indicators for the artifact and edges that represent relationships between the indicators of the artifact.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the single node graphs include nodes having weights associated with a determined maliciousness assigned to the indicators represented by the nodes.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to analyze clusters of nodes in an attack vector of the composite node graph, identify major classes of attack vectors within the composite node graph, or determine distances between nodes associated with malicious entities within the composite node graph.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the performing the action to mitigate the identified one or more attacks comprises dynamically adjusting or modifying operation of a security device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to access phishing emails received by the network of computing resources.

11. A method, comprising: generating a single node graph for each of the multiple threat artifacts;

derive an intermediate node based on two of multiple threat artifacts;

building a composite node graph that represents a current threat status, wherein the composite node graph includes the single node graphs and the intermediate node, and wherein the intermediate node connects the single node graphs corresponding to the two of the multiple threat artifacts;

identifying one or more attacks based on an analysis of the composite node graph; and

performing an action to mitigate the identified one or more attacks.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating a user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the composite node graph; and

presenting artifact information associated with one or more nodes displayed by the graphical representation of the composite node graph,

wherein the presented artifact information includes information identifying relationships between the artifact and one or more other artifacts.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating a user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the composite node graph; and

presenting artifact information associated with one or more nodes displayed by the graphical representation of the composite node graph,

wherein the presented artifact information includes information identifying relationships between indicators associated with the artifact and one or more other artifacts.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising accessing phishing emails received by the network of computing resources.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the single node graphs include nodes that represent indicators for the artifact and edges that represent relationships between the indicators of the artifact.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the single node graphs include nodes having weights associated with a determined maliciousness assigned to the indicators represented by the nodes.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein performing an action to mitigate the identified one or more attacks comprises dynamically adjusting or modifying operation of a security device.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium whose contents, when executed by a hardware processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method for mitigating attacks to the computing system, the method comprising:

generating node graphs for threat artifacts received by the computing system,

wherein the node graphs include nodes representing indicators derived from the threat artifacts and edges that represent relationships between the indicators;

deriving an intermediate node based on two of the multiple threat artifacts;

combining the generated node graphs and the intermediate node into a composite node graph, wherein the intermediate node connects the single node graphs corresponding to the two of the multiple threat artifacts; and

performing an action based on an analysis of the composite node graph to dynamically adjust security operations of the computing system.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

generating a user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the composite node graph; and

presenting artifact information associated with one or more nodes displayed by the graphical representation of the composite node graph,

wherein the presented artifact information includes information identifying relationships between the artifact and one or more other artifacts.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the node graphs include nodes having weights associated with a determined maliciousness assigned to the indicators represented by the nodes.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PATENT TITLES AND REMOVE DUPLICATES IN THE SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059354 FRAME: 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060792/0307 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059354/0335 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15612373 · Jun 2, 2017
Provisional Application 62345468 · Jun 3, 2016
Related Publication 20210152574A1 · May 20, 2021