DCIDS—Distributed Container IDS

Abstract

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) still prevail as an important line of defense in modern computing environments. Cloud environment characteristics such as resource sharing, extensive connectivity, and agility in deploying new applications pose security risks that are increasingly exploited. New technologies like container platforms require IDS to evolve to effectively detect intrusive activities in these environments, and advancements in this regard are still necessary. In this context, this work proposes a framework for implementing an IDS focused on container platforms using machine learning techniques for anomaly detection in system calls. We contribute with the ability to build a dataset of system calls and share it with the community; the generation of anomaly detection alerts in open-source applications to support the SOC through the analysis of these system calls; the possibility of implementing different machine learning algorithms and approaches to detect anomalies in system calls (such as frequency, sequence, and arguments among other type of data) aiming greater detection efficiency; and the ability to integrate the framework with other tools, improving collaborative security. A five-layer architecture was built using free tools and tested in a corporate environment emulated in the GNS3 software version 2.2.29. In an experiment conducted with a public system call dataset, it was possible to validate the operation and integration of the framework layers, achieving detection results superior to the work that originated the dataset.