DomainTools Enrichment
  • 10 Jan 2024
  • 12 Minutes to read
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DomainTools Enrichment

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Article Summary

Important
The DomainTools® enrichment functionality in ThreatConnect requires an Iris® Investigate subscription.

Enabling the DomainTools Enrichment

Before you can retrieve data from DomainTools® for Host Indicators, a System Administrator must first enable and configure the DomainTools enrichment in ThreatConnect.

  1. Log into ThreatConnect with a System Administrator account.
  2. On the top navigation bar, hover over Settingsand select System Settings. The System Settings screen will be displayed with the Settings tab selected.
  3. Select the Indicators tab. The Indicators screen will be displayed.
  4. Click Enrichment Tools in the menu on the left side of the Indicators screen. The Enrichment Tools screen will be displayed.
  5. Click Editin the Options column for DomainTools. The Edit Vendor window will be displayed (Figure 1). Figure 1_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    • Enable Vendor: Select this checkbox to enable DomainTools.
    • Enable Automatic Retrieval: Select this checkbox to enable automatic data retrieval for DomainTools. If automatic data retrieval is enabled, DomainTools data will automatically populate when a user clicks on an Indicator’s Enrichment tab for the first time. This checkbox is selected by default.
    • DomainTools User Name: Enter the username associated with the account that will be used to retrieve data from DomainTools.
    • API Key: Enter the API key that will be used to retrieve data from DomainTools.
    • VALIDATE: After entering the DomainTools username and API key, click this button to validate them. If the username and API key are accepted, the VALIDATE button’s label will change to VALID, indicating that a valid username and API key have been entered. If the username or API key is not accepted, a message stating “User Name or API Key is invalid.” will be displayed at the top of the Edit Vendor window.
    • Lookup/Retrieve: Select the Indicator type(s) for which to retrieve data from DomainTools. The only available Indicator type is Host.
    • Click the SAVE button.

When DomainTools is enabled, a value of true will be displayed in the Enabled column for its entry on the Enrichment Tools screen.

Data Overview

The Overview section of the DomainTools card (Figure 2) provides a summary of data retrieved from DomainTools for a Host Indicator and the date and time the data were last retrieved.

Figure 2_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

 

  • Overall Risk Score: The overall score provided in the DomainTools Domain Profile for the Host. This score predicts how likely a domain is to be malicious.
  • Malware Risk Score: The malware score provided in the DomainTools Domain Profile for the Host. This score is a measure of how closely a domain resembles domains used for malware.
  • Phishing Risk Score: The phishing score provided in the DomainTools Domain Profile for the Host. This score is a measure of how closely a domain resembles domains used for phishing.
  • Spam Risk Score: The spam score provided in the DomainTools Domain Profile for the Host. This score is a measure of how closely a domain resembles domains used for spam.
  • Domain Status: This field indicates whether the Host is active or inactive.
  • Registrant Org: The organization that has registered the Host.
  • Registrar: The registrar for the Host’s registration.
  • IP Addresses: The IP addresses associated with the Host.
  • IP Addresses’ Countries: The countries in which the IP addresses associated with the Host are registered.
  • ASNs: The autonomous system numbers (ASNs) associated with the Host.

DomainTools Detailed View

Click the Open Detailed View link on the DomainTools card to display the DomainTools Detailed View drawer (Figure 3). This drawer displays cards with additional data retrieved from DomainTools.

Figure 3_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

 

The cards displayed on the DomainTools Detailed View drawer are collapsed by default. Click on a card to expand it and view its data. To collapse or expand all cards, click the Collapse All or Expand All button, respectively, at the top right of the drawer. Figure 4 shows the DomainTools Detailed View drawer in Figure 3 with all available cards expanded.

Figure 4_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

 

See Table 1 for a list of cards that may be displayed on the DomainTools Detailed View drawer for a Host Indicator.

Note
If a card is not displayed on the DomainTools Detailed View drawer for a Host Indicator, then no data of that kind were returned from DomainTools.

 

Card NameDescription
Email Address DetailsThis card displays all email addresses associated with the Host and the number of domains associated with each email address.
IP Address DetailsThis card displays all IP addresses associated with the Host and the number of domains associated with each IP address.
Name Server DetailsThis card displays all name servers associated with the Host and the number of domains associated with each name server.
SSL InformationThis card displays secure sockets layer (SSL) information associated with the Host. Details displayed include the certificate fingerprint (i.e., the unique identifier for the SSL certificate), the common name (i.e., the primary domain name associated with the certificate), and dates establishing the time window during which the certificate is valid.

Importing Indicators From DomainTools Into ThreatConnect

You may import all or a subset of the Indicators displayed on the Email Address Details, IP Address Details and Name Server Details cards into ThreatConnect and associate them to a new or existing Group. You may also import Indicators displayed on the Email Address Details and IP Address Details cards into ThreatConnect and associate them directly to the enriched Indicator (i.e., the Host Indicator whose Details screen you are viewing) via a custom association.

  1. On the DomainTools Detailed View drawer, expand one of the following cards to display a table containing Indicators retrieved from DomainTools that are related to the enriched Host Indicator (Figure 4):
    • Email Address Details: The Indicators on this card will be imported as Email Address Indicators.
    • IP Address Details: The Indicators on this card will be imported as Address Indicators.
    • Name Server Details: The Indicators on this card will be imported as Host Indicators.
  2. On the expanded card, select the checkbox for each Indicator you want to import into ThreatConnect. To select all Indicators displayed on the current page in the table, select the checkbox in the table’s header.
    Important
    If a selected Indicator already exists in the ThreatConnect owner into which you are importing data, that copy of the Indicator will be updated based on the information entered and options configured during the import.
  3. Click the Import dropdown at the top left of the expanded card and select one of the following import options (Figure 5). Further instruction on each import option is available in the following subsections.Figure 5_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    • To New Group: Select this option to import the selected Indicators and associate them to a new Group created during the import.
    • To Existing Group: Select this option to import the selected Indicators and associate them to an existing Group.
    • As an Indicator: Select this option to import the selected Indicators and associate them directly to the enriched Indicator via a custom association.
Note
If associating the Indicators selected for import to a new or existing Group, the Group will also be associated to the enriched Host Indicator, thus creating a second-level (i.e., indirect) association between the Indicators imported from DomainTools and the enriched Host Indicator.

Importing Indicators Into a New Group

  1. Follow Steps 1–3 in the “Importing Indicators From DomainTools Into ThreatConnect” section and select To New Group from the Import dropdown. The Details section of the Create screen will be displayed (Figure 6). Figure 6_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    • Type: By default, Event is selected. If desired, select another Group type from the dropdown.
    • Fill out all remaining fields on the Details section. For descriptions of each field available on this screen, see the “Creating a Group” section of Create.
      Note
      By default, a DomainTools Enrichment Tag will be applied in the Tags field. You can remove this Tag, if desired.
      Important
      If you select the Apply Tags to Associations checkbox, it is recommended that you remove the DomainTools Enrichment Tag so that this Tag does not get applied to the enriched Indicator (that is, the Indicator whose Enrichment tab from which you are importing DomainTools data), as the enriched Indicator will be added as an association to the new Group. Alternatively, if you want the DomainTools Enrichment Tag to be applied to all associations except the enriched Indicator, you can select the Apply Tags to Associations checkbox, retain the DomainTools Enrichment Tag, and then, after completing the import, navigate to the Overview tab of the Details screen for the enriched Indicator and remove the Tag manually.
    • Click the Next button.
      Note
      The Save button is available only on the Associations and Attachments sections.
  2. The Associations section will be displayed (Figure 7). Figure 7_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    Note
    A checkmark in the Known column indicates that the corresponding Indicator exists in at least one owner to which you have access.
    • Associations: The selected Indicator(s), as well as the enriched Host Indicator, will be displayed in the Associations card. In this card, you can complete the following actions:
      • Private: To mark an Indicator as private, select the corresponding checkbox in the Private column. This column will be displayed only if your System Administrator has enabled private Indicators.
      • Actions: To remove an Indicator from the list of Indicators being imported, click DeleteTrash icon_Black.
    • Association Details: In the Associations Details card, you can fill out the following information, which will be applied to all Indicators being associated to the Group:
      Important
      All information added in this section will be applied to the enriched Indicator (that is, the Indicator whose Enrichment tab from which you are importing DomainTools data), because the enriched Indicator is always added as an association to the new Group, along with the Indicators selected on the card on the DomainTools Detailed View (Figure 5). If the enriched Indicator has a default Description, a Threat Rating, or a Confidence Rating and you enter a value for one of these fields, then that value will replace the existing value for the enriched Indicator. Tags entered in this section will be applied in addition to the enriched Indicator’s existing Tags.
      • Description: Enter a default Description for the Indicator(s).
      • Tags: Enter one or more Tags to apply to the Indicator(s).
      • Threat Rating: Use the skull icons to set the Threat Rating for the Indicator(s).
      • Confidence Rating: Use the slider to set the Confidence Rating for the Indicator(s).
    • Click the Next button.
  3. The Attachments section will be displayed (Figure 8). Attachments is an optional section where you can attach related files to the Group.

    Figure 8_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    • Upload files for which Document Groups will be created and associated to the Group being created, if desired. After each file is uploaded, the filename will be displayed below the upload area, along with a checkbox labeled Add to Malware Vault. Leave this checkbox cleared unless you are uploading a malware file.
    • Click the Save button.

The selected Indicator(s) will be imported into ThreatConnect and associated to the newly created Group, and the Group’s Details screen will be displayed. These Indicators will be displayed on the Indicators card of the Group’s Associations tab. You may also view these associations on the Associations card of the Group’s legacy Details screen, under the Associated Indicators section when the card is in table view.

Importing Indicators Into an Existing Group

  1. Follow Steps 1–3 in the “Importing Indicators From DomainTools Into ThreatConnect” section and select To Existing Group from the Import dropdown. The Select Group section of the Import to Existing Group screen will be displayed (Figure 9).

    Figure 9_DomainTools Enrichment_7.2.0

     

    • Select the Group to which the selected Indicator(s), as well as the enriched Host Indicator, will be associated. To search for a Group, enter its name in the search bar above the table containing all Groups.
    • To view a Group’s Details screen , click the Open in New TabOpen in New Tab iconicon to the right of the Owner column.
    • Click the Next button.
  2. The Associations section will be displayed (Figure 10).

    Figure 10_DomainTools Enrichment_7.3.0

     

    Note
    A checkmark in the Known column indicates that the corresponding Indicator exists in at least one owner to which you have access.
    • Associations: The selected Indicator(s), as well as the enriched Host Indicator, will be displayed in the Associations card. In this card, you can complete the following actions:
      • Private: To mark an Indicator as private, select the corresponding checkbox in the Private column. This column will be displayed only if your System Administrator has enabled private Indicators.
      • Actions: To remove an Indicator from the list of Indicators being imported, click DeleteTrash icon_Black.
    • Association Details: In the Associations Details card, you can fill out the following information, which will be applied to all Indicators being associated to the Group:
      Important
      All information added in this section will be applied to the enriched Indicator (that is, the Indicator whose Enrichment tab from which you are importing DomainTools data), because the enriched Indicator is always added as an association to the new Group, along with the Indicators selected on the card on the DomainTools Detailed View (Figure 5). If the enriched Indicator has a default Description, a Threat Rating, or a Confidence Rating and you enter a value for one of these fields, then that value will replace the existing value for the enriched Indicator. Tags entered in this section will be applied in addition to the enriched Indicator’s existing Tags.
      • Description: Enter a default Description for the Indicator(s).
      • Tags: Enter one or more Tags to apply applied to the Indicator(s).
      • Threat Rating: Use the skull icons to set the Threat Rating for the Indicator(s).
      • Confidence Rating: Use the slider to set the Confidence Rating for the Indicator(s).
    • Click the Save button.

The selected Indicator(s) will be imported into ThreatConnect and associated to the existing Group, and the Group’s Details screen will be displayed. These Indicators will be displayed on the Indicators card of the Group’s Associations tab. You may also view these associations on the Associations card of the Group’s legacy Details screen, under the Associated Indicators section when the card is in table view.

Importing Indicators as Indicators

Follow Steps 1–3 in the “Importing Indicators From DomainTools Into ThreatConnect” section and select As an Indicator from the Import dropdown. The Import Indicators window will be displayed (Figure 11).

Important
The As an Indicator option is not available for Indicators displayed on the Name Server Details card.

 

  • New Indicators to be Imported & Associated: This section displays the Indicators that will be imported into ThreatConnect and associated directly to the enriched Indicator. To remove an Indicator from this list, click DeleteDelete button_Details screen.
  • Click the Import Indicators button.

The selected Indicator(s) will be imported into ThreatConnect and associated to the enriched Indicator, and the Associations tab of the enriched Indicator’s Details screen will be displayed. The associated Indicators will be displayed on the Indicators card of this tab. You may also view these associations on the Associations card of the enriched Indicator’s legacy Details screen, under the Associated Indicators section when the card is in table view.

Retrieving Data Manually

When you click on a Host Indicator’s Enrichment tab for the first time, data will be retrieved from DomainTools automatically if your System Administrator has enabled automatic data retrieval for DomainTools. Otherwise, a message stating that “Automatic Data Retrieval has been disabled by the System Administrator” will be displayed on the card, and you will need to click the Retrieve Data button to populate the card with data. Once data have been retrieved, they will be cached for a period of time configured by your System Administrator. Each time you revisit that Indicator’s Enrichment tab, the cached DomainTools data will be displayed until this period of time has passed.

To retrieve the latest DomainTools data for the Indicator manually, click the Retrieve Data button on the DomainTools card (Figure 2).

Note
The username and API key your System Administrator entered when configuring DomainTools on the System Settings screen will be used each time data are retrieved for the Indicator.

Enriching Indicators Using the ThreatConnect API

You can also use the ThreatConnect v3 API to enrich Host Indicators with data from DomainTools. For instructions on using the ThreatConnect v3 API to enrich Indicators, see Indicator Enrichment Overview.


ThreatConnect® is a registered trademark of ThreatConnect, Inc.
DomainTools® and Iris® are registered trademarks of DomainTools, LLC.

20146-07 v.02.A


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