Host Profile
  • 30 May 2024
  • 13 Minutes to read
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Host Profile

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About this Article
This article provides all the required information related to Host Profiles (for VM) and Host Template (for containers) - Creation, Modification, Deletion and Import/Export of Profiles on CMS.


Create Host Profile (VMs only)

To create a profile, follow the below steps:

  

Version 2.10 to 3.0:

  1. Navigate to Manage > Host > Host Protection in the left navigation pane. Click ADD PROFILE
  2. Provide the below information
    Field NameDescription
    NameName of the profile
    Profile TagTag used during VM Probe auto registration
    Library MonitoringSelect the box to enable Library Monitoring
    Memory Exploit ProtectionEnable it for Memory Exploit Protection functionality
    Auto AllowlistAuto allowlist files with reputation ”SAFE”
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Discovery ScanAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN”
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Discovery Scans and IncidentsAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN” and source “INCIDENTS”
    Allow New Publisher/Package

    Auto allowlist any new publisher/package detected due to new software installation OR new instance association with the profile

    • When enabled, the publisher/package is automatically added to the allowlist with the source as “SCAN”. When Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, they are listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident” without any incidents reported in CMS
    • When disabled and the Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, incidents are reported with the Publishers/Packages listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident”
    • The user can modify the allowlist as required at any point. The modified list is published to the Probe
    Operating SystemSelect the Operation System – Windows/Linux - from the drop-down list 
    Default Monitoring ModeSelect the monitoring mode as Protect or Detect
    App Control Policy Name(Optional) Select the appropriate App Control policy from the drop-down list
    Protection Profile Name

    (Optional) Select the appropriate Protection profile from the drop-down list. Based on the selected Host OS, Protection Profiles relevant to that OS are populated

    Exclusions for AllowlistThis is the list of directories that need to be excluded from host monitoring. Executables launched from these directories are not reported as incidents. Add the directories individually and press return key. Normal regex syntax can be utilized. This is a local list applicable only to the profile being created. By default, some directories are added to the list. Do not alter them as that can affect normal VSP functioning.
    Exclusions for Memory Exploit ProtectionThis is the list of directories that need to be excluded from Memory Exploit Protection. By default, some directories are added to the list. Do not alter them as that can affect normal VSP functioning.
    Host ProfileVM
  3. Click SAVE
  4. The created profile is listed on the Host Monitoring page

Version 2.9 and Below:

  1. Navigate to Manage > Host > Host Protection in the left navigation pane. Click ADD PROFILE
  2. Provide the below information
    Field NameDescription
    NameName of the profile
    Profile TagTag used during VM Probe auto registration
    Library MonitoringSelect the box to enable Library Monitoring
    Memory Exploit ProtectionEnable it for Memory Exploit Protection functionality
    Auto AllowlistAuto allowlist files with reputation ”SAFE”
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Reference Host ScanAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN”
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Reference Host Scans and IncidentsAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN” and source “INCIDENTS”
    Allow New Publisher/Package

    Auto allowlist any new publisher/package detected due to new software installation OR new instance association with the profile

    • When enabled, the publisher/package is automatically added to the allowlist with the source as “SCAN”. When Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, they are listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident” without any incidents reported in CMS
    • When disabled and the Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, incidents are reported with the Publishers/Packages listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident”
    • The user can modify the allowlist as required at any point. The modified list is published to the Probe
    Host NameSelect the name of the host from the drop-down list 
    Default Monitoring ModeSelect the monitoring mode as Protect or DetectThis is applicable for all hosts except the reference host used to create the allowlist. Ensure that the monitoring mode is explicitly set for the reference host once the host scan is complete and the allowlist is published. For subsequent hosts associated with the profile, the default Mode is applied automatically
    App Control Policy Name(Optional) Select the appropriate App Control policy from the drop-down list
    Protection Profile Name

    (Optional) Select the appropriate Protection profile from the drop-down list. Based on the selected Host OS, Protection Profiles relevant to that OS are populated

    Exclusions for AllowlistThis is the list of directories that need to be excluded from host monitoring. Executables launched from these directories are not reported as incidents. Add the directories individually and press return key. Normal regex syntax can be utilized. This is a local list applicable only to the profile being created.
    Version 2.9 : By default, some directories are added to the list. Do not alter them as that can affect normal VSP functioning.
    Exclusions for Memory Exploit ProtectionThis is the list of directories that need to be excluded from Memory Exploit Protection.
    Version 2.9 : By default, some directories are added to the list. Do not alter them as that can affect normal VSP functioning.
  3. Click SAVE
  4. The created profile is listed on the Host Monitoring page
  5. In both Windows and Linux, the mounted folders are auto-excluded during the initial system scan
  6. The below icon is displayed when the scan is in progress. Expand the profile to view more information
  7. Once the scan is complete, click the icon below
  8. The warning message below is displayed
  9. Click Edit AllowList and allow the execution of required files, libraries and scripts 
  10. Click Publish Changes to update the associated host


Host Profile Workflow (Containers)

Follow the below workflow to generate Host  Profile:

  1. Create a pod template host profile with the required settings. The created template is used for all new VSP-protected pods/containers that come up
  2. Run the application container through VSP CI and CD tools to enable VSP protection for a given application container
  3. Launch the VSP-protected pod/container
  4. When the VSP controller is launched, it first registers with VSP CMS automatically by sending information about the VSP-protected application containers
  5. A host profile is generated automatically using the pod template as a reference
    1. Applications that share the same pod name (in K8s) OR replicas of the same container are automatically assigned to the same host profile
  6. When the VSP Host Monitoring Module (HMM) is started, it automatically downloads the application container's allowlist generated during the VSP CI phase
  7. VSP HMM uses the application container's allowlist and the host profile settings to determine any unknown executables


Create Host Template (Containers Only)

To create a Host template, follow the below steps:

  1. Navigate to Manage > Host > Host Protection in the left navigation pane. Click TEMPLATE
  2. Provide the below information
    Field NameDescription
    NameName of the profile
    Library MonitoringSelect the box to enable Library Monitoring
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Reference Host ScanAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN”
    Auto Allowlist Unknown files from Reference Host Scans and IncidentsAuto allowlist files with reputation “UNKNOWN” and source “INCIDENTS”
    Allow New Publisher/Package

    Auto allowlist any new publisher/package detected due to new software installation OR new instance association with the profile

    • When enabled, the publisher/package is automatically added to the allowlist with the source as “SCAN”. When Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, they are listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident” without any incidents reported in CMS
    • When disabled and the Maintenance Mode is stopped, the newly added Publishers/Packages are listed in the respective lists. If Maintenance Mode is cancelled, only when the Publishers/Packages are accessed, incidents are reported with the Publishers/Packages listed in the respective lists with the source as “Incident”
    • The user can modify the allowlist as required at any point. The modified list is published to the Probe
    Default Monitoring ModeSelect the monitoring mode as Protect or DetectThis is applicable for all hosts except the reference host used to create the allowlist. Ensure that the monitoring mode is explicitly set for the reference host once the host scan is complete and the allowlist is published. For subsequent hosts associated with the profile, the default Mode is applied automatically
    App Control Policy Name(Optional) Select the appropriate App Control policy from the drop-down list
    Protection Profile Name

    (Optional) Select the appropriate Protection profile from the drop-down list. Based on the selected Host OS, Protection Profiles relevant to that OS are populated

    Exclusions for AllowlistThis is the list of directories that need to be excluded from host monitoring. Executables launched from these directories are not reported as incidents. Add the directories individually and press return key. Normal regex syntax can be utilized. This is a local list applicable only to the profile being created.
    Version 2.9 and Above: By default, some directories are added to the list. Do not alter them as that can affect normal VSP functioning.
  3. Click SAVE
  4. The mounted folders are auto-excluded during the initial system scan



Host Profile List on CMS

  1. Navigate to Manage > Host > Host Protection in the left navigation pane to view the Profile listHost Profile List
  2. To filter the listed profiles, expand the Search option and provide the required information
  3. Search results display the executables matching the provided criteria across profiles. This feature aids the addition or removal of a specific executable from the allowlist that is included in many profiles


Export/Import Host Profiles

  1. Profiles can be imported or exported with .zip extension
  2. This feature can be used during the scenario below:
    1. When VSP protection is extended to a different environment (Example: Pre-production to Production environment)
    2. To clone an existing entry
  3. Ensure that import/export operations are carried out in the same VSP version. Import/export feature is compatible across various patches in the same major release (Example:  VSP 2.8.x)
  4. Export/Import of Host Profiles does not include Protection Profiles or the associated incidents
  5. Version 2.11 and Above: Export/Import of Host Profiles includes Package/Publisher information also


Modify Profile/ Profile Template


  1. To modify a host profile (for VM), On the Host Monitoring page, click Edit. Modify as required and click SAVE
  2. To modify the host template (for containers), On the Host Monitoring page, click TEMPLATE. Modify as required and click SAVE



Delete Profile

  1. For containers/pods, Host Profiles are managed automatically by VSP. In case a Profile associated with a container/pod needs to be deleted, ensure that the Host Profile Template is deleted first
  2. On the Host Monitoring page, click Delete associated with the required Profile. Click YES on the confirmation screen
  3. Once the profile is deleted, a notification is generated




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