Environment-Sensitive Intrusion Detection

Abstract

Abstract. We perform host-based intrusion detection by constructing a model from a program’s binary code and then restricting the program’s execution by the model. We improve the effectiveness of such model-based intrusion detection systems by incorporating into the model knowledge of the environment in which the program runs, and by increasing the accuracy of our models with a new dataflow analysis algorithm for context-sensitive recovery of static data. The environment—configuration files, command-line parameters, and environment variables—constrains acceptable process execution. Environment dependencies added to a program model update the model to the current environment at every program execution. Our new static data-flow analysis associates a program’s data flows with specific calling contexts that use the data. We use this analysis to differentiate systemcall arguments flowing from distinct call sites in the program. Using a new average reachability measure suitable for evaluation of call-stackbased program models, we demonstrate that our techniques improve the precision of several test programs ’ models from 76 % to 100%