Automated prioritization of cyber risk mitigation by simulating exploits

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12355798-B2
Application number	US-202217822205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2022
Priority date	Aug 25, 2021
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

Implementations include receiving graph data representative of a process-aware analytical attack graph (AAG) representing paths within an enterprise network with respect to observed facts of the enterprise network, the process-aware AAG at least partially defining a digital twin of the enterprise network, receiving data indicating at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network, generating, from the graph data and the received data, an augmented process-aware AAG representing paths within the enterprise network with respect to the observed facts and the at least one non-observed fact, determining, by a process-aware risk assessment module, a risk assessment based on the augmented process-aware AAG, and providing, by a mitigation simulator module, a mitigation list based on the process-aware AAG and the risk assessment, the mitigation list comprising a prioritized list of observed facts of the process-aware AAG.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for prioritizing mitigation in enterprise networks, the method being executed by one or more processors and comprising:
receiving graph data representative of a process-aware analytical attack graph (AAG) representing paths within an enterprise network with respect to observed facts of the enterprise network, wherein the process-aware AAG at least partially defining a digital twin of the enterprise network, and wherein the process-aware AAG includes a first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network;
receiving data indicating at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
generating, from the graph data and the received data, an augmented process-aware AAG representing paths within the enterprise network with respect to the observed facts and the at least one non-observed fact, wherein the augmented process-aware AAG is different from the process-aware AAG, and the augmented process-aware AAG includes the first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network and a second set of nodes related to the at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
determining, by a process-aware risk assessment module, a risk assessment based on the augmented process-aware AAG; and
providing, by a mitigation simulator module, a mitigation list based on the process-aware AAG and the risk assessment, the mitigation list comprising a prioritized list of observed facts of the process-aware AAG.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a set of remediation actions based on the mitigation list; and
executing at least one remediation action in the set of remediation actions to mitigate risk to the computer network.

3. The method of claim 2 , the at least one remediation action mitigating potential risk based on the at least one non-observed fact.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating the at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network is generated based on user input.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-observed fact represents a non-observed vulnerability of the enterprise network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk assessment is generated based on a risk profile of an enterprise and a risk tolerance profile of the enterprise, wherein the risk tolerance profile represents a minimal acceptance rate of the enterprise for each risk aspect of one or more risk aspects.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the risk profile comprises data representative of the one or more risk aspects comprising one or more of safety, availability, integrity, and confidentiality.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mitigation list is generated based on one of minimizing a risk aspect of two or more risk aspects and minimizing a total score that is determined based on all of the two or more risk aspects.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for prioritizing mitigation in enterprise networks, operations comprising:
receiving graph data representative of a process-aware analytical attack graph (AAG) representing paths within an enterprise network with respect to observed facts of the enterprise network, wherein the process-aware AAG at least partially defining a digital twin of the enterprise network, and wherein the process-aware AAG includes a first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network;
receiving data indicating at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
generating, from the graph data and the received data, an augmented process-aware AAG representing paths within the enterprise network with respect to the observed facts and the at least one non-observed fact, wherein the augmented process-aware AAG is different from the process-aware AAG, and the augmented process-aware AAG includes the first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network and a second set of nodes related to the at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
determining, by a process-aware risk assessment module, a risk assessment based on the augmented process-aware AAG; and
providing, by a mitigation simulator module, a mitigation list based on the process-aware AAG and the risk assessment, the mitigation list comprising a prioritized list of observed facts of the process-aware AAG.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein operations further include:
providing a set of remediation actions based on the mitigation list; and
executing at least one remediation action in the set of remediation actions to mitigate risk to the computer network.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10 , the at least one remediation action mitigating potential risk based on the at least one non-observed fact.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the data indicating the at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network is generated based on user input.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-observed fact represents a non-observed vulnerability of the enterprise network.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the risk assessment is generated based on a risk profile of an enterprise and a risk tolerance profile of the enterprise, wherein the risk tolerance profile represents a minimal acceptance rate of the enterprise for each risk aspect of one or more risk aspects.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the risk profile comprises data representative of the one or more risk aspects comprising one or more of safety, availability, integrity, and confidentiality.

16. A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory device coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for prioritizing mitigation in enterprise networks, operations comprising:
receiving graph data representative of a process-aware analytical attack graph (AAG) representing paths within an enterprise network with respect to observed facts of the enterprise network, wherein the process-aware AAG at least partially defining a digital twin of the enterprise network, and wherein the process-aware AAG includes a first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network;
receiving data indicating at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
generating, from the graph data and the received data, an augmented process-aware AAG representing paths within the enterprise network with respect to the observed facts and the at least one non-observed fact, wherein the augmented process-aware AAG is different from the process-aware AAG, and the augmented process-aware AAG includes the first set of nodes related to the observed facts of the enterprise network and a second set of nodes related to the at least one non-observed fact of the enterprise network;
determining, by a process-aware risk assessment module, a risk assessment based on the augmented process-aware AAG; and
providing, by a mitigation simulator module, a mitigation list based on the process-aware AAG and the risk assessment, the mitigation list comprising a prioritized list of observed facts of the proc

Assignees

• Accenture Global Solutions Ltd

Inventors

• Engelberg Gal
• Klein Dan
• Hadar Eitan
• Genachowski Asher

Classifications

• G06T17/20

  Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, {tesselation} · CPC title

• G06F21/577

  Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security · CPC title

• H04L63/1433 Primary

  Vulnerability analysis · CPC title