Patent Document

FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a system, method and computer program for the detection and restriction of the network activity of denial of service attack software. More particularly, the present invention monitors packets being transmitted by a computer over a network and is able to identify when these packets are part of a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack and is able to stop the transmission of these packets before they enter the network.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    With the explosion in Internet  40 , as shown in FIG. 1, access and usage individuals have discovered and become dependent upon the availability of large amount of information as well and the ability to buy and sell goods and services. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical Internet user would have a browser installed in his personal computer (PC)  10  or server  20  such as Internet Explorer™ or Netscape™. Using this browser, the user would access an Internet service provider, such as America-On-Line (AOL™) (not shown), via a modem over the local public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cable network or satellite link. Once logged onto an Internet web server (web server)  30 , the user may utilize one of the many search engines, such as Yahoo™ or Lycos™, to specify search terms. The user could also log onto a web server  30  and view the products or services available for sale or receive the information desired.  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 2 illustrates the software and hardware involved for communications between a server  20  and a web server  30 . Server  20  would contain application software  200 , such as, but not limited to, a browser, communicating to a network protocol  210 , such as, but not limited to, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which in turn would communicate to a network interface  220 . The network interface  220  may be, but not limited to, any type of serial or parallel modem. The network interface  220  would communicate to the network/Internet  40  which in turn would interface to web server  30 . Again, within web server  30 , a network interface  230 , such as a serial or parallel modem, would communicate to the network protocol  240 , such as, but not limited to, TCP/IP or UDP. Thereafter, communications would be established with an application  250  which may be a search engine or any other type of web application.  
           [0004]    However, the Internet  40  has proven to be prone to “hackers” which develop software that infiltrates computers connected to the Internet  40  or software that enables distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on web servers  30 . The most common form of the DDoS attack is the flood attack, using many remotely controlled software applications also known as Zombie Applications (Zombies)  300 , as shown in FIG. 3. Zombie applications  300  look and act to server  20  like any other software application  200 , process, or macro. Therefore, most users would not recognize the presence of a zombie  300  embedded in their server  20  or personal computer (PC)  10 . Often the zombie applications  300  would enter a server  20  or PC  10  via email. The server  20 , PC  10  or web server  30  may also be corrupted with a zombie  300  by some method such as via a false program, called a Trojan Horse, or a virus obtained via file sharing.  
           [0005]    During the most recent widely published DDoS attacks, there were estimates of thousands of zombies  300  all sending small packets to a web server  30 . Unable to tell the real traffic from the DDoS attack, the web server  30  collapses under all the traffic. Virus scanners have proven ineffective in stopping DDoS attacks since the Virus scanners can only fix the trouble after the characteristic signature of a zombie  300  is known.  
           [0006]    Still referring to FIG. 3, once a “hacker” has embedded the zombie  300  in the servers  20  all that is needed to initiate the DDoS attack is a denial of service initiator  310 . This denial of service initiator  310  may be a message from the “hacker” or a specific time of day. It should be noted that FIG. 3 is identical to FIG. 2 with the exception of the zombie  300  and the denial of service initiator  310 . This allows a large and important web server to be easily disabled from use costing, in many cases, millions of dollars in lost revenue.  
           [0007]    Therefore, a system, method, and computer program is needed that well detect the presence of zombie applications and block them from launching a massive number of packets for delivery to a web server. This system, method, and computer program must detect and block the zombie packets before they can cause any denial of service to a web server. Further, this system, method, and computer program must be compatible with existing communications protocols involved in packet switched networks. Further, the system, method, and computer program must be easy to install and not interfere with normal packet transmission and reception  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and the invention is not limited thereto. The spirit and scope of the present invention are limited only by the terms of the appended claims.  
         [0009]    The following represents brief descriptions of the drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a systems diagram of a packet switched network;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the software and hardware modules utilized in the packet switched network illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the infiltration of a zombie application  300  within a server  20  and the activation of zombies  300  using a denial of service initiator  310 ;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of the present invention which detects and restricts the transfer of packets by a zombie  300  in a DDoS attack utilizing a ZADAR (Zombie Activity Detection Alerting and Restriction system) intermediate driver  400 ;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a modular configuration diagram of the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  utilized in an example embodiment of the present invention and further detailed in the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS.  6 - 9 ;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the transmit (Tx) algorithm  500 , illustrated in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the receive (Rx) algorithm  520 , shown in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the monitor code  510 , illustrated in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a flowchart further detailing the logic involved in operations  620  and  650 , illustrated in FIG. 6, and  720  and  750 , illustrated in FIG. 7, in an example embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Before beginning a detailed description of the subject invention, mention of the following is in order. When appropriate, like reference numerals and characters may be used to designate identical, corresponding or similar components in differing figure drawings. Further, in the detailed description to follow, exemplary sizes/models/values/ranges may be given, although the present invention is not limited to the same. As a final note, well-known components of computer networks may not be shown within the FIGs. for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of the present invention which detects and restricts the transfer of packets by a zombie  300  in a DDoS attack utilizing a ZADAR (Zombie Activity Detection Alerting and Restriction system) intermediate driver  400 . Otherwise FIG. 4 is identical to FIG. 3, with the exception of the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  and only this difference with be discussed in reference to FIG. 4.  
         [0021]    Still referring to FIG. 4, zombies  300  in their most basic form are user inaccessible applications, process or macros that register for network access with the network protocol  210  like any other application  200 . The denial of service initiator  310  has a list of servers  20 , PCs  10  and web servers  30  that have the Zombie  300  software installed. The denial of service initiator collects this list by sending out requests to the servers  20 , PCs  10  and web servers  30  to which only the zombie  300  application knows the proper response. To start a DDoS attack, the denial of service initiator  310  sends the target information (web server  30  to be attacked) and the start sequence of the list of corrupted servers  20 , PCs  10  and web servers  30 . At this time traffic at the target web server  30  is normal. Once the zombie  300  application has verified the start sequence and processed the delay usually required for a uniform start, it begins sending small requests to the network protocol  210 , with the target web server  30  as the end destination. To the network protocol  210 , this appears normal and it only serves to translate application  200  requests into network traffic. The Network Interface  220  then does as instructed by the network protocol  210  and places all the packets on the network/Internet  40 . At the target web server  30 , the Network interface  230  suddenly sees a massive increase in traffic. The network protocol  240  is seeing so many requests that the infrastructure and resources of the target web server  30  become completely consumed. Since the flood of requests is timed to all arrive at approximately at the same time, the web server  30  cannot tell what is a legitimate request and what is part of the DDoS attack. The web server  30  is unable to handle the requests and the DDoS attack is successful.  
         [0022]    However, still referring to FIG. 4, the zombie  300  must make common network protocol stack calls and register to receive incoming packets with the network protocol  210  just like all other applications  200 . This registering and receiving process is the zombie&#39;s Achilles heel. As will be discussed in further detail in reference to FIGS. 5 through 9, the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  is able to detect the abnormal flow of packets from a zombie  300  to and from web servers  30  to create an identifiable traffic signature. This identifiable traffic signature will allow the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  to detect the Zombie  300  as part of a larger DDoS attack. Since the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  operates below the network protocol  210  layer, the zombie  300  is unaware that its activity has been noticed. From this position the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  can monitor the flow of requests and packets of both sends and receives. Using this control, the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  monitors the flow on each packet as well as tracking the short term and long term trends. Since zombie traffic signature patterns are fairly defined, the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  is able to look for these traffic signature patterns. Therefore, rather than attempting to block a DDoS attack at the target point, web server  30 , the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  is able to detect and restricts the DDoS attack at the source, server  20 , PC  10 , or Web server  30 .  
         [0023]    Before proceeding into a detailed discussion of the logic used by the embodiments of the present invention it should be mentioned that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 as well as the modular configuration diagram shown in FIG. 5 contain software, firmware, hardware, processes operations that correspond, for example, to code, sections of code, instructions, commands, objects, hardware or the like, of a computer program that is embodied, for example, on a storage medium such as floppy disk, CD Rom, EP Rom, RAM, hard disk, etc. Further, the computer program can be written in any language such as, but not limited to, for example C ++. In the discussion of the flowcharts in FIGS. 6 through 9, reference will be simultaneously made to the corresponding software modules shown in FIG. 5. It should further be noted that the logic illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 may execute on either server  20 , web server  30  or personal computer  10 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a modular configuration diagram of the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  utilized in an example embodiment of the present invention and further detailed in the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9. The ZADAR intermediate driver  400  comprises three major components. The first component is a transmit (Tx) algorithm  500  used to monitor incoming packets. The Tx algorithm  500  is discussed in further detail in reference to FIGS. 6 and 9. The second major component is the receive (Rx) algorithm  520 , which is discussed in further detail in reference to FIGS. 7 and 9. The third major components in the ZADAR intermediate driver  400  is the monitor code  510 , which is discussed in further detail in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 5 the Tx algorithm  500  receives packets from the network protocol  210  and transmits them to the network interface  220 . Further, the Rx algorithm  520  receives packets from the network interface  220  and transmits them to the network protocol  210 . Both the Tx algorithm  500  and Rx algorithm  520  communicate to the monitor code  510 . The monitor code  510  does not actively send or receive packets of information, but does monitor the activities of applications  200  and zombies  300  through information received from the Tx algorithm  500  and the Rx algorithm  520 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the transmit (Tx) algorithm  500 , illustrated in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of the present invention. The Tx algorithm  500  begins execution in operation of  600  and immediately proceeds to operation  610 . In operation  610 , a packet is received by the Tx algorithm from the network protocol  210  either from an application  200  or a zombie  300 . Thereafter, in operation  620  it is determined if the packets are from a known application. Operation  620  is further detailed in the discussion provided in reference to FIG. 9. If the packet is determined in operation  620  to be from a known application  206 , then processing proceeds to operation  630 . In operation  630  the application is registered and processing proceeds to operation  640  where the usage of the network is tracked by storing the destination, packet size and packet count using the monitor code  510 .  
         [0026]    However, still referring to FIG. 6, if in operation  620  the application  200  sending the packet is not known, then processing proceeds to operation  650 . In operation  650  it is determined if this particular packet is from a known zombie  300 . If the packet is from a known zombie  300  then processing proceeds to operation  660  where the packet is discarded. Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  680  where processing is terminated.  
         [0027]    However, still referring to FIG. 6, if in operation  650  it is determined the packet is not from a known zombie  300 , then processing proceeds to operation  640 . In operation  640 , as previously discussed, the network usage is stored based upon the destination address, packet size, and packet count using the monitor code  510 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  670  where the packet is passed to the network interface  220  for transmission. Then, processing proceeds to operation  680  where the Tx algorithm  500  terminates execution.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the receive (Rx) algorithm  520 , shown in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of present invention. The Rx algorithm  520  begins execution in operation  700  and immediately proceeds to operation  710 . In operation  710 , a packet is received by the Rx algorithm  526  from the network interface  220 , either from an application  200  or a zombie  300 . Thereafter, in operation  720 , it is determined if the packet is from a known application. Operation  720  is further detailed in the discussion provided in reference to FIG. 9. If the packet is determined in operation  720  to be from a known application, then processing proceeds to operation  730 . In operation  730 , the application is registered and processing proceeds to operation  740  where the usage of the network is tracked by storing the destination, packet size and packet count using the monitor code  510 .  
         [0029]    However, still referring to FIG. 7, if in operation  720  the application  200  sending the packet is not known, then processing proceeds to operation  760 . In operation  760  it is determined if this particular packet is from a known zombie  300 . If the packet is from a known zombie  300  then processing proceeds to operation  770  where the packet is discarded. Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  780  where processing is terminated.  
         [0030]    However, still referring to FIG. 7, if in operation  760  it is determined the packet is not from a known zombie  300 , then processing proceeds to operation  740 . In operation  740 , as previously discussed, the network usage is stored based upon the destination address, packet size and, packet count using the monitor code  510 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  750  where the packet is passed to the network protocol  210  for transmission to the desired application  200 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  780  where the Rx algorithm  520  terminates execution.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the logic involved in the monitor code  510 , illustrated in FIG. 5, in an example embodiment of the present invention. The monitor code  510  begins execution in operation  800  based upon a callback timer which periodically causes the execution of the monitor code  510 . The frequency of execution of the monitor code  510  may be adjusted dependent upon the traffic load experienced by the server  20 , PC  10 , or web server  30 . In operation  802 , data received from the Tx algorithm  500  is first analyzed since if the packets received are from a zombie then potential harm might occur to the receiving system and it would be desirable to block this activity as quickly as possible. Thereafter, in operation  804 , it is determined whether a registered application  200  (or possible zombie  300 ) is transmitting a large number of packets. Such a transmission of a large number of packets would cause the application  200  to be considered a possible zombie  300 . If in operation  804  it is determined that the application  200  is not transmitting a large number of packets then processing proceeds to operation  806 . In operation  806 , it is determined if the registered application  200  is not receiving any packets. If the application  200  is receiving packets then processing proceeds to operation  808  where data received from the Rx algorithm  520  is analyzed. Then in operation  810  it is determined whether application  200  (or possible zombie  300 ) is rarely receiving any packets. If in operation  810  it is determined that the application  200  is not rarely receiving packets, then processing proceeds to operation  812 . In operation  812 , it is determined if the application  200  was receiving packets and is no longer receiving or sending packets. If the application  200  is determined to be still receiving packets which are not an inordinate amount of packets, then processing proceeds to operation  814 . In operation  814  it is determined if the application  200  has been placed on a watch list. This watch list serves to identify applications  200  which may be zombie&#39;s  300  and require further monitoring. If in operation  814  it is determined that the application  200  is not listed in the watch list then processing loops back to operation  800 .  
         [0032]    Still referring to FIG. 8, if in operation  804  it is determined that an application  200  is transmitting a large number of packets then processing proceeds to operation  816  where the application  200  is considered to be a high-risk of being a zombie  300  and that a possible DDoS attack is in progress. Thereafter, in operation  816  it is determined whether the application  200  is also receiving a large number of packets. If the application  200  is receiving a large number of packets then processing proceeds to operation  818  where it is determined that the application  200  is simply exchanging large amounts of data and therefore is a harmless application  200 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  806  as previously discussed. However, if in operation  816  the application  200  is not receiving a large number of packets then processing proceeds to operation  830 . In operation  830  the application  200  is identified as a zombie  300  and processing proceeds to operation  842 . In operation  842  it is determined if the application  200  has previously been placed on the previously discussed watch list. If the application has been previously placed on the watch list, then processing proceeds to operation  856  where the user is notified that the application  200  is a zombie application and is restricted from further accessing the network  40 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  844  where it is determined if the application is now receiving packets. If the application  200  is now receiving packets then processing proceeds to operation  832  where the application  200  is removed from the zombie list and thereafter processing proceeds to operation  818  as previously discussed. Operation  844  serves the function of identifying ordinary applications  200  which have transmitted large amounts of data but have not received any due to a slow response from another piece of equipment in network  40 .  
         [0033]    Still referring to FIG. 8, if however in operation  844  the application  200  has not yet received any incoming packets then processing proceeds to operation  822 . In operation  822 , the application  200  is placed upon a watch list and processing proceeds to operation  824 . In operation  824 , it is determined whether the application  200  is a known good application. A list of known good applications may be specified by the user or systems administrator. If the application  200  is known to be a good application then processing proceeds to operation  828  where the application is removed from the watch list and zombie list. Thereafter, processing proceeds from operation  828  back to operation  800 .  
         [0034]    Still referring to FIG. 8, if the application  200  is determined in operation  824  not to be a known good application then processing proceeds to operation  834 . Operations  834  through  838  and  846  through  854  attempt to rate the probability that a particular application  200  is considered to be a zombie  300 . A numerical rating system is used where a rating of 2 or greater is considered suspect and the application  200  is kept on the watch list until the next cycle through the monitor code  510 . In operation  834 , the zombie rating for this particular application  200  is incremented by a value of 2. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art the rating values supplied in operations  834  through  838  and  846  through  854  may vary based on testing or the judgment of the systems administrator. Thereafter, processing proceeds from operation  834  to operation  846  where it is determined whether the application  200  is executing as a process or an application. Typically, applications are easily noticed by users since they normally entail the opening of a window or some other indications that they are active. However, processes normally operate in the background and a user may not necessarily be aware of their execution.  
         [0035]    Still referring to FIG. 8, if in operation  846  it is determined that the application  200  is a software application, then processing proceeds to operation  848  where the associated zombie rating for the application  200  is decremented by a value of one. Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  850  where it is determined if the application  200  was launched by the user or at startup. If the application was launched by the user then it cannot be assumed not to be a zombie  300 . Therefore, in operation  854  the associated zombie rating for the application  200  is incremented by a value of zero and processing proceeds to operation  838 . However, in operation  850 , if it is determined that the application  200  was initiated at startup then processing proceeds to operation  852  where the associated zombie rating is incremented by value of  3 . Since viruses such a zombies are often placed in the startup list to be executed upon systems startup, incrementing the zombie rating by a high value is warranted. Either from operation  854  or operation  852  processing then proceeds to operation  838  where it is determined if the associated zombie rating for the application  200  is greater than a value of 2. If the zombie rating is less than a value of 2 then processing proceeds to operation  828 , as previously discussed, where the application  200  is removed from the watch list and the zombie list. However, if the zombie rating is greater than a value of 2 then processing proceeds to operation  840  where the application is kept on the watch list with its current zombie rating value kept intact. Thereafter, from operation  840 , processing loops back to operation  800 .  
         [0036]    Still referring to FIG. 8, returning to operation  806 , if an application  200  is not receiving any packets then processing proceeds to operation  820  where it is considered to be a low risk for a candidate as a zombie  300 . Processing also proceeds from operation  810  to  820  if the application  200  is rarely receiving any packets. Also, processing proceeds from operation  812  to operation  820  when a particular application  200  is no longer receiving or sending any packets after receiving a few packets. In any of the foregoing situations the application  200  is considered a low risk candidate as a zombie  300  in operation  820  and as previously discussed processing proceeds to operation  822 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a flowchart further detailing the logic involved in operations  620  and  650  illustrated in FIG. 6 and  720  and  750  illustrated in FIG. 7, in an example embodiment of the present invention. The logic involved in FIG. 9 attempts to determine whether a particular application is a known good application  200  or a zombie  300  based upon the destination port specified. Execution begins in operation  906  and immediately proceeds to operation  905  where the destination port number provided by the TCP/IP or UDP header is checked. Thereafter, in operation  910  it is determined whether the particular destination port is from a known good port. If the port number is known to be a good port then processing proceeds to operation  945  where the classification process is completed and processing terminates in operation  950 .  
         [0038]    Still referring to FIG. 9, if it is determined that the port number from the TCP/IP or UDP header is not a known good port then processing proceeds to operation  915 . In operation  515 , it is determined whether the port number in question is a known the zombie port. If the port number is known to be from a zombie port then processing proceeds to operation  940  where packets received counter is incremented for the connection value and processing proceeds, as previously discussed, to operation  945 . However, if in operation  915  the port number is not a known zombie port then processing proceeds to operation  920 . In operation  920  it is determined whether the source port number from the TCP/IP or UDP header is a known zombie port. If the source port number is from a known zombie port then again processing proceeds to operation  940 . However, if the source port number is not known to be a zombie port then processing proceeds to operation  925 . In operation  925  the IP address, IP destination address, destination port number, and source port number are hashed to form a single connection value. This single connection value will serve as a unique identifier for this particular application  200 . Thereafter, processing proceeds to operation  930  where the connection value computed in operation  925  is checked against a list to determine if it is present. If the connection value is not present in the list then processing proceeds to operation  935  where it is added to the list and again processing then proceeds to operation  940 .  
         [0039]    The benefit resulting from the present invention is that a simple, reliable system, method and computer program is provided for detecting and restricting network activities of software engaged in distributed denial of service attacks. Utilizing the present invention it is possible to block a DDoS attacks at the source rather than at the target server.  
         [0040]    While we have shown and described only a few examples herein, it is understood that numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art could be made to the example embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5