Emergent Mind

LTRDetector: Exploring Long-Term Relationship for Advanced Persistent Threats Detection

(2404.03162)

Published Apr 4, 2024 in cs.CR

Abstract

Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is challenging to detect due to prolonged duration, infrequent occurrence, and adept concealment techniques. Existing approaches primarily concentrate on the observable traits of attack behaviors, neglecting the intricate relationships formed throughout the persistent attack lifecycle. Thus, we present an innovative APT detection framework named LTRDetector, implementing an end-to-end holistic operation. LTRDetector employs an innovative graph embedding technique to retain comprehensive contextual information, then derives long-term features from these embedded provenance graphs. During the process, we compress the data of the system provenance graph for effective feature learning. Furthermore, in order to detect attacks conducted by using zero-day exploits, we captured the system's regular behavior and detects abnormal activities without relying on predefined attack signatures. We also conducted extensive evaluations using five prominent datasets, the efficacy evaluation of which underscores the superiority of LTRDetector compared to existing state-of-the-art techniques.

Long-term feature extraction process in data analysis.

Overview

LTRDetector introduces a novel framework for detecting Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) by analyzing long-term relationships in system behaviors using graph embedding techniques.
The methodology of LTRDetector comprises three phases: data embedding from system logs, long-term feature extraction using an Autoencoder and multi-head attention algorithm, and attack detection through clustering analysis.
Extensive evaluations across five prominent datasets verify LTRDetector's effectiveness in accurately identifying APT scenarios, surpassing current state-of-the-art methods.
LTRDetector's potential for future improvements includes adaptive learning mechanisms for model updates and refined attack detection to handle complex data distributions, aiming to enhance cybersecurity defenses.

LTRDetector: Advanced Persistent Threats Detection via Long-Term Relationship Exploration

Introduction to LTRDetector

Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) pose significant challenges to cyber security due to their long-duration, low-frequency, and highly covert nature. Traditional detection methodologies often fail to effectively identify such threats as they typically rely on observable attack patterns or predefined signatures, which do not account for the intricate, long-term relationships established during an APT lifecycle. Addressing this gap, the LTRDetector framework introduces an innovative approach, leveraging graph embedding techniques for the comprehensive analysis of system provenance graphs. This method not only accommodates the detection of APT attacks utilizing zero-day exploits by capturing the system's normative behavior but also surpasses current state-of-the-art techniques in efficacy, as evidenced by extensive evaluations across five prominent datasets.

Core Components of LTRDetector

LTRDetector's methodology encapsulates three critical stages: data embedding, long-term feature extraction, and attack detection.

Data Embedding: Initiated with the capture of system logs, creating a trace graph that encompasses every system call step. Through an innovative graph embedding technique, nodes within the provenance graph are represented in an embedding space, retaining rich contextual information while effectively reducing data redundancy.
Long-Term Features Extraction: At this juncture, LTRDetector employs an Autoencoder structure model with a multi-head attention algorithm. This setup is adept at extracting long-term features from the graph, highlighting the latent and prolonged correlations present within system behavior amid an APT's stealthy nature.
Attack Detection: The final phase utilizes a clustering analysis algorithm to model the system behavior during the training phase. Anomalies are identified based on their deviation from a predefined threshold of normal behavior, enabling the detection process to operate without the need for manual signature definitions.

Evaluation and Implications

Extensive testing of LTRDetector across multiple datasets reveals its superior capability in detecting APT scenarios accurately. This bench-marking showcases not just the framework's practical value in enhancing cybersecurity defenses but also its theoretical contributions to understanding long-term behavioral patterns indicative of APT attacks. Furthermore, the framework's efficacy in processing vast datasets with minimal information loss represents a significant advancement in the field.

Future Directions in AI and Security

The advent of LTRDetector marks a significant stride towards combating the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Yet, the journey does not end here. Future research could explore adaptive learning mechanisms for model updating, ensuring the detection framework remains effective without susceptibility to model poisoning. Moreover, refining the attack detection phase to accommodate complex data distributions could further enhance the precision of APT identification.

In conclusion, LTRDetector not only sets a new precedence in the detection of Advanced Persistent Threats through its nuanced analysis of long-term system behavior relationships but also opens avenues for further innovation in the realm of cybersecurity. This framework stands as a testament to the potential of leveraging deep learning alongside graph analysis techniques in crafting robust and adaptive cybersecurity defenses.

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