Open Source Cyber Threat Intelligence Platforms

An Open Source CTI Platform gathers and analyzes threat data from public sources to provide actionable security insights, crucial for proactive defense and threat mitigation in cybersecurity operations.

In this blog, we will discuss the pros and cons of open cyber threat intelligence platforms, provide seven examples along with their characteristics, and explore the technical benefits they offer.

Pros and Cons of Open Source Threat Intelligence Platforms

Open-source threat intelligence platforms offer significant benefits such as cost-efficiency with free access, customization through modifiable source code, and a diverse range of integrations due to community-driven enhancements.

However, they also come with challenges, including limited official support which relies heavily on community forums, variable quality and reliability, potential security vulnerabilities from an exposed codebase, and substantial resource requirements for effective customization, integration, and maintenance. These platforms are ideal for organizations that can leverage community resources and expertise but may pose risks for those needing consistent, high-quality support and security.

Here is a comprehensive overview of pros and cons for leveraging an open source CTI platform. 

Open Source CTI Platforms

Here are the seven main open source cyber threat intelligence platforms that we are going to introduce.

1. Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP)
2. AlienVault Open Threat Exchange (OTX)
3. Open Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform (OpenCTI) 
4. Harpoon
5. Yeti
6. GOSINT
7. OpenTAXII

Let’s start with MISP.

MISP

Malware Information Sharing Platform (a.k.a MISP) is an open-source cyber threat intelligence platform, primarily designed to improve the sharing of structured threat information [1]. It's a collaborative environment that enables organizations, security researchers, and CERTs to effectively share, store, and correlate information about cyber threats and their indicators. MISP facilitates the exchange of intelligence, enhancing the detection of threats and bolstering overall security measures. By providing a mechanism for the collection and dissemination of threat data, MISP supports the early detection of security threats and assists in responses and mitigation strategies.

Source of the Figure: MIST Threat Sharing

Technically, MISP stands out by structuring data in a way that supports formats like STIX, OpenIOC, and custom templates, which helps in the normalization and automation of data across different security tools and platforms. This standardization ensures that threat data is interoperable and easily integrated into existing security workflows. 

MISP also includes features such as automatic correlation of attributes and indicators, making it easier for users to detect links between data points and understand complex threat environments. Furthermore, MISP supports the expansion of threat intelligence by allowing communities to develop and share taxonomies and classification schemes, which enhance the contextual analysis of the data. These capabilities make MISP a powerful tool in the arsenal of cybersecurity defenses, providing extensive benefits for threat analysis and prevention.

AlienVault Open Threat Exchange (OTX)

AlienVault OTX is a collaborative platform that enables security professionals and  researchers from around the world to share and receive threat intelligence in real-time [2]. It is designed to improve the overall security landscape by fostering communication about emerging threats, which helps organizations to respond more effectively.

At the heart of OTX is the Pulse system, where participants can create detailed reports about specific threats. Each Pulse provides a comprehensive overview that includes a summary of the threat, indicators of compromise (IOCs), and references to further information. This allows users to gain a quick and thorough understanding of new threats as they are identified.

Members of OTX can contribute by posting new findings or by using the data shared by others to enhance their own security measures. The platform is highly dynamic, continuously updated with the latest information on viruses, malware, vulnerabilities, and other security threats. This collective approach not only speeds up the process of identifying and mitigating threats but also broadens the scope of security data available to all members of the community.

Open Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform (OpenCTI) 

OpenCTI is an open-source platform designed to manage and analyze threat intelligence effectively [3]. It enables organizations to store, organize, share, and correlate knowledge about cyber threats in a structured and interconnected manner. 

The core strength of OpenCTI lies in its ability to integrate various sources of intelligence into a unified framework. Users can input data manually or automatically through integration with existing security tools and databases. This helps in creating a centralized repository of intelligence that is both accessible and actionable. Once data is in the system, OpenCTI facilitates the analysis and correlation of this information. It provides tools for visualizing relationships between data points, like linking attack patterns to specific threat actors or tracing the spread of a particular malware strain. This visualization aids in understanding complex threat landscapes and assists in strategic decision-making.

In addition to these capabilities, OpenCTI supports the standardization of threat intelligence. It adheres to common frameworks and standards such as STIX, TAXII, and others, which ensures compatibility and ease of sharing data across different platforms and organizations.

Harpoon

Harpoon is a command-line tool designed for OSINT and threat intelligence gathering, primarily used by security analysts and researchers [4]. As a part of the threat intelligence process, Harpoon assists in collecting data from various public sources such as social media platforms, public databases, and DNS records. It automates the process of fetching important data which can be crucial for the analysis of cyber threats, thus saving time and enhancing the capability of security professionals to quickly gather intelligence. This tool allows users to pull information from a wide array of sources with simple commands, making it a versatile addition to the cybersecurity toolkit.

Technically, Harpoon offers several benefits for cyber threat intelligence. Firstly, it aggregates information from multiple sources, helping to provide a comprehensive view of potential threats or investigative clues. Harpoon’s modularity allows for easy integration of new plugins and sources, which means that it can continually adapt to include new data sources as they become relevant. Additionally, it supports a variety of output formats, facilitating integration with other tools and platforms for further analysis. This capability enhances the overall efficiency of the threat intelligence process, making Harpoon a valuable tool for those involved in cybersecurity and OSINT work.

Yeti

Yeti is a platform designed to organize observables, IoCs, and threats to create actionable intelligence and operational threat intelligence [5]. As an open-source tool, Yeti provides a collaborative environment for security analysts to manage and investigate threats and malicious activities effectively. It allows users to input and maintain data in a structured format that is conducive to analysis and correlation, helping to uncover patterns and links between various threat indicators. By consolidating various types of threat data in one place, Yeti enhances an organization's ability to respond to and mitigate potential security incidents.

Source of the Figure: Yeti

Technically, Yeti stands out due to its integration capabilities and user-friendly interface. It supports automated imports from a wide range of threat intelligence feeds and other tools, ensuring that data remains current and relevant. This integration facilitates a dynamic approach to threat tracking and analysis, making it easier for teams to stay updated with the latest threats. 

Additionally, Yeti features robust API support, allowing for automation and customization according to specific organizational needs. Its graphing capabilities help visualize relationships between IoCs and other data points, providing a clear and actionable format for understanding complex threat landscapes. Overall, Yeti's flexibility and comprehensive features make it a valuable tool for enhancing an organization's threat intelligence and security operations.

Open Source Framework for Intelligence Collection and Processing (GOSINT)

The GOSINT platform is an open-source tool specifically designed for the collection and processing of cyber threat intelligence [6]. It enables security analysts to gather, filter, and analyze IoCs from various sources to support cybersecurity operations. GOSINT allows for the automation of routine intelligence collection tasks, helping organizations to identify and respond to threats more efficiently. By providing a structured framework for managing and refining intelligence, GOSINT ensures that analysts can focus on high-priority threats and minimize the noise from less relevant data.

Technically, GOSINT offers significant advantages through its modular architecture, which is designed to be easily extensible with new functionalities or integration with other tools. It supports multiple intelligence feed formats and can automatically import data from public or private threat feeds, allowing analysts to customize the scope and scale of their intelligence gathering efforts. The platform also includes features for the validation and enrichment of IoCs, which can improve the accuracy and usefulness of the intelligence collected. With capabilities for processing and filtering collected data based on specific criteria, GOSINT enables users to streamline their threat analysis and operational workflows, making it a practical choice for organizations seeking to enhance their threat intelligence capabilities.

Trusted Automated Exchange of Indicator Information (OpenTAXII)

Trusted Automated Exchange of Indicator Information (OpenTAXII) is a robust implementation of the TAXII protocol that facilitates the automated exchange of cyber threat information [7]. It is designed to support the sharing of indicators of compromise (IoCs) among trusted partners and within communities. OpenTAXII is particularly valuable for organizations looking to implement or enhance their capabilities in collective threat intelligence by participating in or hosting their own TAXII servers. The platform allows for secure and efficient dissemination of threat data, which is crucial for proactive threat detection and response strategies in a collaborative environment.

Source of the Figure: OpenTAXII

Technically, OpenTAXII is equipped with features that make it a flexible and powerful tool for managing threat intelligence. It supports both TAXII 1.x and 2.x standards, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of existing cybersecurity tools and systems. The platform is designed with a focus on security, offering robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized entities. Additionally, OpenTAXII is highly configurable and can be adapted to specific organizational needs, whether it's handling large volumes of data or integrating with other security operations. This adaptability, coupled with its strong community support and open-source nature, makes OpenTAXII a foundational tool for organizations looking to enhance their threat intelligence operations through trusted and automated exchanges of information.

References 

[1] MISP, “MISP Open Source Threat Intelligence Platform & Open Standards For Threat Information Sharing,” MISP Open Source Threat Intelligence Platform & Open Standards For Threat Information Sharing. Available: https://www.misp-project.org/. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[2] “AlienVault - Open Threat Exchange,” AlienVault Open Threat Exchange. Available: https://otx.alienvault.com. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[3] “GitHub - OpenCTI-Platform/opencti: Open Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform,” GitHub. Available: https://github.com/OpenCTI-Platform/opencti. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[4] “Harpoon: an OSINT / Threat Intelligence tool.” Available: https://randhome.io/blog/2018/02/23/harpoon-an-osint-/-threat-intelligence-tool/. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[5] “GitHub - yeti-platform/yeti: Your Everyday Threat Intelligence,” GitHub. Available: https://github.com/yeti-platform/yeti. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[6] “GitHub - ciscocsirt/GOSINT: The GOSINT framework is a project used for collecting, processing, and exporting high quality indicators of compromise (IOCs),” GitHub. Available: https://github.com/ciscocsirt/GOSINT. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]

[7] “opentaxii,” Kali Linux. Available: https://www.kali.org/tools/opentaxii/. [Accessed: Apr. 30, 2024]