Perform advanced email header analysis and response using AI tools

Email remains a primary vector for various cyberthreats, including phishing, spoofing, and spam. Analysts in security operations centers (SOCs) face the daunting task of manually scrutinizing email headers to identify and mitigate these threats. This labor-intensive process demands significant expertise and consumes valuable time and resources. With the increasing volume and sophistication of email-based attacks, SOC analysts experience delays in threat detection, leading to inefficient use of security resources.

IBM Security’s new AI-powered asset aims to revolutionize email forensic analysis by automating and simplifying the process, enhancing the overall effectiveness of SOCs in safeguarding organizational assets.

Problem statement

SOCs are tasked with manually analyzing email headers to detect and mitigate threats such as phishing, spoofing, and spam. This process is time-consuming, prone to human error, and requires significant expertise in interpreting complex header information.

As email-based attacks grow in sophistication, SOC analysts struggle to keep up, causing delayed threat detection and increased risk of successful attacks. The lack of automated, user-friendly tools for email header analysis exacerbates these challenges, hindering the overall effectiveness of SOCs in protecting organizational assets.

Benefits of automated email header analysis

The new IBM Security asset provides numerous benefits:

• Automated analysis and reporting: Automates the entire process of email header and content analysis, from data extraction to threat identification and reporting, saving time and effort. Automated tools also handle actions after decisions are made.

• Real-time threat intelligence: Incorporates real-time threat intelligence feeds and machine learning models to dynamically detect and respond to the latest email-based threats.

• Holistic approach: Combines header analysis with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation for comprehensive email security. The asset uses AI for extraction, analysis, summarization, and suggested actions.

• Scalability: Designed to scale with any organization, ensuring consistent and reliable email security as the business grows. It supports multiple email server, client, and cloud solutions, as well as ticketing and security tools.

Component technologies

IBM Security's automated header analysis asset comprises the following technologies:

watsonx Orchestrate

IBM watsonx Orchestrate is an AI-powered automation tool designed to streamline workflows by allowing users to interact with enterprise applications using natural language commands. It combines conversational AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and integration with key business systems, enabling users to automate routine tasks without needing deep technical skills.

Key features include:

• Prebuilt apps and skills: Thousands of prebuilt skills help accomplish various tasks.
• AI Assistant Builder: Create and deploy custom AI assistants for user tasks.
• Skills Studio: Build custom workflows without coding expertise.

watsonx.ai

IBM watsonx.ai is a next-generation AI platform for building, training, and deploying both traditional machine learning and generative AI models. It combines the best architectures and data governance to meet enterprise needs.

Watsonx.ai supports a variety of open-source and IBM foundation models, such as mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct-v01, which uses few-shot learning to generate findings based on suitable prompts. It supports multiple languages and content types.

Threat intelligence platform

IBM X-Force Exchange is a cloud-based threat intelligence platform that enables users to consume, share, and act on threat intelligence. The platform provides up-to-date information on global security threats and offers APIs for automation and system integration.

OpenAPI

The OpenAPI Initiative sets the standard for describing and documenting REST APIs. An OpenAPI document defines API resources and operations, including request parameters and response data.

IBM Cloud Code Engine

IBM Cloud Code Engine is a fully managed, serverless platform that automates container and job management. It secures the underlying infrastructure, enabling users to deploy code without needing to manage the containers manually.

Email header analysis workflow

1. User validation:

   • The user initiates the process by invoking the custom skill for authorization.
   • An email one-time password is sent to the user’s registered email address for validation via IBM Verify.
   • Once the user is verified as an SOC analyst, they can proceed to the analysis steps. Otherwise, the system notifies the user of insufficient permissions.

2. Email header extraction:

   • The user triggers a custom skill to analyze the email header by providing the .eml filename. The file is stored in Cloud Object Storage for the process.
   • The custom code in IBM Cloud Code Engine extracts header properties such as DKIM, SPF, DMARC, sender IP, and sender email address.

3. Header analysis using watsonx Orchestrate:

   • The extracted header details are sent to predefined skills for further analysis, such as:
     • Sender IP Blacklist Check: Queries the IP's risk score using the IBM X-Force Exchange API.
     • Sender Domain Reputation Check: Queries the domain’s reputation.
     • Domain Creation Date Check: Determines the domain’s age.
     • Domain Category Check: Evaluates the domain’s category (for example, business, personal).
     • SPF/DKIM/DMARC Checks: Validates these properties.

4. Model-based analysis (watsonx.ai integration):

   • After the checks are complete, the results are compiled and sent to the pre-trained watsonx.ai model.
   • The model classifies the email as Legitimate, Spam, or Malicious based on findings like DKIM/SPF/DMARC status, blacklisting, and domain age.

5. Actions based on model outcome:

   • Legitimate: Notify the user and update the corresponding case in the UI.
   • Spam: Move the email to the Spam folder and analyze similar behaviors.
   • Malicious: Automatically create a case in IBM SOAR and quarantine the malicious email.

Customizations for additional checks

Additional checks can be added to the workflow to meet specific customer requirements.

Workflow diagram

Demo video

The following video demonstrates email header analysis using watsonx.ai and watsonx Orchestrate:

Summary

This asset addresses the critical need for efficient and accurate email threat detection in security operations centers. By automating the analysis of email headers and leveraging advanced technologies like AI, real-time threat intelligence, and comprehensive validation standards, this asset offers a robust approach to combating email-based attacks. The user-friendly interface, seamless integration capabilities, and scalability ensure that the solution meets the needs of diverse organizations, from SMEs to large corporations and educational institutions.

With a focus on enhanced security, compliance, and education, this asset from IBM Security promises to significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of email forensic analysis, thereby strengthening overall cybersecurity defences.

Next steps

For further details on the technology stack, refer to the following resources:

• watsonx Orchestrate
• watsonx.ai
• IBM Cloud Code Engine
• IBM X-Force