Detecting Motifs in System Call Sequences

Wilson, William, Feyereisl, J and Aickelin, Uwe (2007) Detecting Motifs in System Call Sequences. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Information Security Applications (WISA 2007), Jeju, Korea.

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The search for patterns or motifs in data represents an area of key interest to many researchers. In this paper we present the Motif Tracking Algorithm, a novel immune inspired pattern identification tool that is able to identify unknown motifs which repeat within time series data. The power of the algorithm is derived from its use of a small number of parameters with minimal assumptions. The algorithm searches from a completely neutral perspective that is independent of the data being analysed and the underlying motifs. In this paper the motif tracking algorithm is applied to the search for patterns within sequences of low level system calls between the Linux kernel and the operating system’s user space. The MTA is able to compress data found in large system call data sets to a limited number of motifs which summarise that data. The motifs provide a resource from which a profile of executed processes can be built. The potential for these profiles and new implications for security research are highlighted. A higher level system call language for measuring similarity between patterns of such calls is also suggested.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1018092
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Computer Science
Depositing User: Aickelin, Professor Uwe
Date Deposited: 12 Oct 2007 13:50
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 20:29
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/573

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View