Threat Management

This page explains how to manage threats using Mitigation Rules in ACE Cloud App Analyzer.

Mitigation Rules are used by the CI pipeline in GitHub and the CD pipeline in AWS ECR (Elastic Container Registry) and Azure Container Registry (CR) and GCP Artifact registry (AR) to determine if container images should be flagged as high-risk.

By scanning container images both statically and dynamically, Cloud App Analyzer ensures comprehensive coverage against a wide range of security threats. Cloud App Analyzer detonates the containers to analyze their behavior dynamically across different behavioral characteristics like IP addresses, Domains, Countries and Open Ports. Static scanning includes the detection of any malware and vulnerabilities within images.

Cloud App Analyzer classifies rules into six different classes of artifact types.

1. IP Addresses

2. Domains

3. Countries

4. Open Ports

5. CVEs

6. Malware names

The built-in default lists of Mitigation Rules that Cloud App Analyzer uses are collected from a number of sources including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), US government databases, the OECD, other public websites, and the ClamAV engine, updated daily.

The default values of the artifact rules include the artifact item and its risk severity level. You can define the minimum risk-level Cloud App Analyzer will use to block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline). For example, when the minimum risk-level is set to high in CI/CD Container Security, an IP address defined as medium-level risk in Mitigation Rules will not be blocked in a GitHub pull request. However, if the minimum risk-level is set to medium in CI/CD Container Security, an IP address that is defined as a medium-level risk in Mitigation Rules will be blocked in a GitHub pull request.

You can adjust default individual mitigation rules to meet your specific use case by maintaining a Custom Blocklist to extend the existing Default (Block)lists or by using a Default Allowlist to override definitions in the Default (Block)lists.

• For more information about the CI pipeline in GitHub and to set minimum risk-level, see Cloud App Analyzer CI/CD Container Security.

• For more information about the CD pipeline and to set minimum risk-level, see:

  • For AWS ECR: Enable Threat Management on AWS ECR

  • For Azure ACR: Enable Threat Management on Azure ACR

  • For GCP AR: Enable Threat Management on GCP AR

Below is a technical rundown of the six categories of artifacts that Cloud App Analyzer monitors. The first four artifacts are dynamic and the last two are static:

IP Addresses

The following details IP address rules management, including how Cloud App Analyzer identifies and responds to IP address-related threats in CI/CD environments.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer scans for attempts to connect to high-risk remote IPs.*
Analysis type	Dynamic
CI Blocking Mechanism	If a container attempts to connect to a high-risk IP address, Cloud App Analyzer will block the GitHub pull request before that container is deployed into the production environment.
CD Protection Strategy	Cloud App Analyzer scans containers pushed to AWS ECR and will block those with high-risk characteristics, to prevent them from entering the production environment.
Default Blocklist	Cloud App Analyzer generates a fresh list daily of almost 30,000 high-risk IP addresses across more than 100 categories known to be associated with malicious activities.
Severities	Critical High Medium Low Informational
Custom Blocklist	You can personalize the Default Blocklist by adding specific IP addresses (or the CIDR notation of that IP address) you specifically want to block.
Custom Allowlist	You can create exceptions to the Default Blocklist by adding IP addresses (or the CIDR notation of that IP address), preventing these from being flagged by Cloud App Analyzer as high-risk.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

Domains

The following details domains rules management, including Cloud App Analyzer identifies and responds to domain-related threats in CI/CD environments.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer scans and analyzes if traffic is directed to known high-risk domains*.
Analysis type	Dynamic
CI Blocking Mechanism	When a container connects to a high-risk domain, Cloud App Analyzer blocks the related GitHub pull request to prevent deployment to production.
CD Protection Strategy	Containers pushed to AWS ECR are scanned for domain risks, and those with connections to high-risk domains can be blocked by Cloud App Analyzer to prevent it from entering the production environment.
Default Blocklist	Cloud App Analyzer compiles a fresh list daily of over half a million high-risk domains across more than 2000 categories.
Severities	Domains are categorized by risk level, with a vast array of categories to cover the spectrum of internet-based threats. Critical High Medium Low Informational
Custom Blocklist	You can personalize the Default Blocklist by adding domains you specifically want to block.
Custom Allowlist	You can create exceptions by adding domains to the Custom Allowlist, preventing those domains from being flagged as high-risk.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

Open Ports

The following details Open Ports rules management, including Cloud App Analyzer identifies and responds to Open Ports-related threats in CI/CD environments.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer checks for open ports that could expose vulnerabilities.*
Analysis type	Dynamic
Database Source
CI Blocking Mechanism	If a container has high-risk ports open, Cloud App Analyzer will block the associated GitHub pull request to prevent CI deployment.
CD Protection Strategy	If high-risk open ports are detected, Cloud App Analyzer will block the container's delivery to AWS ECR to prevent it from entering the production environment.
Default Blocklist	Cloud App Analyzer maintains a list of high-risk ports known to introduce vulnerabilities within containers. Updated daily.
Severities	Ports in the Default Blocklist are considered critical vulnerabilities that require immediate attention and are blocked to protect the container's security. Critical High Medium Low Informational
Custom Blocklist	Users can add to the Default Blocklist by specifying additional ports they want to block based on their security policies or risk assessments.
Custom Allowlist	Users can override the Default Blocklist by adding ports to the Custom Allowlist if they are necessary for their operations and are not considered a security risk.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

Countries

Cloud App Analyzer manages geographical IP address risks associated with container traffic, offering a framework for users to adapt security measures based on country risk assessments and specific operational needs.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer checks container traffic to determine if the geographical location of an IP is a potential risk.*
Analysis Type	Dynamic
Database Source	US government published lists on embargoed countries. OECD info comes from OECD website.
CI Blocking Mechanism	Blocks containers during CI if they communicate with high-risk countries.
CD Protection Strategy	Blocks deployment of containers in the CD phase if they are associated with high-risk countries.
Default List	Countries are categorized by OECD status and risk level, indicating allowed and blocked connections. Updated daily. Embargo/Sanctioned: Flagged as Critical. Non-OECD: Considered high severity. OECD Accession: Low severity, unlikely to be blocked. OECD Membership: Informational level, not blocked.
Severities	Critical High Medium Low Informational
Custom Blocklist	You can personalize the Default Blocklist by adding countries you specifically want to block.
Custom Allowlist	You can create exceptions to the Default Blocklist by adding countries to the Custom Allowlist, preventing those domains from being flagged as high-risk.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

CVEs

The following details CVEs rules management, including how Cloud App Analyzer identifies and responds to CVE-related threats in CI/CD environments.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer identifies and assesses vulnerabilities in containers, focusing on known exploitable CVEs.*
Analysis Type	Static
Source	Open source databases and US government (CISA) database of known exploited vulnerabilities
CI Blocking Mechanism	Cloud App Analyzer blocks the GitHub pull request if a container has known exploitable vulnerabilities.
CD Protection Strategy	Blocks the deployment of containers into the AWS ECR if they contain exploitable vulnerabilities.
Default Blocklist	Compiled daily, this list includes CVEs that are currently being exploited in the wild. Updated daily.
Severities	Known exploited vulnerabilities are prioritized; CVEs that are critical but not exploited may not result in blocking.
Custom Blocklist	You can personalize the Default Blocklist by adding CVEs to ensure containers with these additional vulnerabilities are blocked.
Custom Allowlist	You can create exceptions by adding CVEs, preventing them from triggering a block if you believe the vulnerability does not pose a risk in their specific context.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

Malware names

The following details malware rules management, including how Cloud App Analyzer identifies and responds to malware-related threats in CI/CD environments.

Details	Description
Scanning Action	Cloud App Analyzer scans Docker container files for malware using the ClamAV engine.*
Analysis Type	Static
Source	ClamAV engine
CI Blocking Mechanism	Cloud App Analyzer blocks the GitHub pull request if high-risk malware is detected in the container.
CD Protection Strategy	Blocks the deployment of containers into the AWS ECR if they contain high-risk malware.
Default Blocklist	Uses ClamAV's database to detect malware, adware, corrupted files, and EICAR test files within containers. Updated daily. Malware: Critical risk Adware: High risk Corruptedfiles: Medium risk EICAR Testfiles: Informational.
Severities	Critical High Medium Low Informational
Custom Blocklist	You can personalize the Default Blocklist by adding malware names you are concerned about.
Custom Allowlist	You can create exceptions by adding malware names if you believe they do not pose a risk in their specific context or for files like EICAR test files.

* Cloud App Analyzer will block pull requests (in the CI pipeline in GitHub) and to lock repositories (in the CD pipeline) based on user-defined minimum risk-levels.

Custom Blocklists

The Threat Management page for each artifact type contains three tabs:

• Default (Block)list: Contains a built-in set of threat management rule-sets.

• Custom Blocklist: You can extend Default (Block)list by adding your own custom definitions.

• Custom Allowlist: Override the Default (Block)list by adding your own custom definitions

Adding IPs to the Custom Blocklist

To extend your network’s security by adding definitions to the Custom Blocklist, follow these steps:

1. Click on Threat Management in the left menu. The list of artifacts open.

2. For IP Addresses

   1. Choose IP addresses from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add IP. The Add IP to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Destination IP you wish to block. This can be a single IP address or a range in CIDR notation.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level, choosing from Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Blocklist.

   For Domains

   1. Choose Domains from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add domain. The Add domain to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Domain name you wish to block.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level, choosing from Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this domain to your Custom Blocklist.

   For Open Ports

   1. Choose Open Ports from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add open port. The Add open port to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Port number you wish to block.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the port is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level, choosing from Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Blocklist.

   For Countries

   1. Choose Open Ports from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add Countries. The Add Countries to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Select the Country you wish to block.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the country is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level to Critical.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this country to your Custom Blocklist.

   For CVEs

   1. Choose CVEs from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add CVE. The Add CVE to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the CVE ID you wish to block.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level, choosing from Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this CVE to your Custom Blocklist.

   For Malware names

   1. Choose Malware names from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Blocklist tab.

   3. Click Add malware name. The Add malware name to blocklist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the malware name you wish to block. This can be a whole or partial name.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being blocked.

   6. Set the Risk Level, choosing from Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational.

   7. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Blocklist.

Adding IPs to the Custom Allowlist

If there are specific IP addresses that need uninterrupted access despite being on the Default Blocklist, you can add them to the Custom Allowlist.

To override default definitions to the Custom Blocklist, follow these steps:

1. Click on Threat Management in the left menu. The list of artifacts open.

2. For IP Addresses

   1. Choose IP addresses from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add IP. The Add IP to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Destination IP you wish to allow. This can be a single IP address or a range in CIDR notation.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Allowlist.

   For Domains

   1. Choose Domains from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add domain. The Add domain to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Domain name you wish to allow.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this domain to your Custom Allowlist.

   For Open Ports

   1. Choose Open Ports from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add open port. The Add open port to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the Port number you wish to block.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the port is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Allowlist.

   For Countries

   1. Choose Open Ports from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add Countries. The Add Countries to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Select the Country you wish to allow.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the country is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this country to your Custom Allowlist.

   For CVEs

   1. Choose CVEs from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add CVE. The Add CVE to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the CVE ID you wish to allow.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this CVE to your Custom Allowlist.

   For Malware names

   1. Choose Malware names from the menu to open its page.

   2. Select the Custom Allowlist tab.

   3. Click Add malware name. The Add malware name to Allowlist dialog opens.

      

   4. Enter the malware name you wish to allow. This can be a whole or partial name.

   5. Provide a Description for this rule, explaining why the IP is being allowed.

   6. Click Add to finalize the addition of this IP to your Custom Allowlist.