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Intrusion detection tools that fail to expose their detection logic with alerts indicate a misalignment between product management and SOC goals. Analysts need visibility into detection signatures to investigate alerts effectively. Vendors often treat detection signatures as proprietary differentiators, but the real value lies in their ability to create and maintain high-quality signatures efficiently.
You Should Know: Practical Steps for SOC Analysts
1. Extracting Detection Logic from IDS/IPS
Many commercial tools hide detection rules, but open-source solutions like Snort and Suricata provide full transparency.
Viewing Suricata Rules
cat /etc/suricata/rules/.rules
Testing a Custom Snort Rule
snort -c /etc/snort/snort.conf -A console -q -l /var/log/snort -i eth0
2. Analyzing Alerts with Full Context
Use Zeek (formerly Bro) to enrich alerts with network metadata:
zeek -C -r suspicious_traffic.pcap
Check logs in:
cat conn.log | jq '. | select(.id.orig_h=="192.168.1.100")'
3. Reverse-Engineering Opaque Alerts
If a vendor doesn’t provide detection logic:
- Packet Capture Analysis
tcpdump -i eth0 -w alert_traffic.pcap
- YARA for Memory Forensics
rule suspicious_process { strings: $malicious_string = "cmd.exe /c powershell" condition: $malicious_string }
4. Building Custom Detections
Use Sigma Rules (generic signature format) to detect threats:
title: Suspicious PowerShell Execution description: Detects PowerShell with hidden window logsource: product: windows service: sysmon detection: selection: EventID: 1 CommandLine: " -WindowStyle Hidden " condition: selection
5. Automating Alert Triage with Python
import pandas as pd
from elasticsearch import Elasticsearch
es = Elasticsearch(['http://localhost:9200'])
alerts = es.search(index="suricata-alerts", query={"match_all": {}})
df = pd.DataFrame([hit['_source'] for hit in alerts['hits']['hits']])
print(df[['src_ip', 'alert.signature', 'payload']].head())
What Undercode Say
Transparency in detection logic is non-negotiable for effective SOC operations. Analysts must demand:
– Full rule visibility (like Snort/Suricata)
– Context-rich alerts (Zeek logs, packet captures)
– Custom detection capabilities (Sigma, YARA)
Vendors prioritizing secrecy over analyst efficiency will lose trust. Open-source tools and scripting (Python, Bash) bridge gaps when commercial solutions fall short.
Prediction
As AI-driven detection grows, vendors may further obscure logic under “proprietary algorithms.” SOC teams must push back, adopting hybrid approaches—leveraging AI alongside transparent, customizable rules.
Expected Output:
- Suricata/Snort rules for signature transparency
- Zeek logs for contextual analysis
- Sigma/YARA for custom detections
- Python/Elasticsearch for automated triage
Relevant URLs:
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Chrissanders88 Threatintel – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
