Attack Surface Analyzer is a tool developed by the Microsoft Security Engineering Center (MSEC). This tool is utilized by Microsoft's internal product groups to document and analyze modifications to the operating system's attack surface that occur when new software is installed.

What Does it Do?

Attack Surface Analyzer meticulously captures the state of your system both prior to and following the installation of a product. It provides a comprehensive comparison of changes across various critical aspects of the Windows attack surface.

This tool highlights alterations in files, registry settings, network configurations, and user permissions, offering you valuable insights into how the installation may impact your system's security posture.

This allows the following:

Developers to view changes in the attack surface resulting from the introduction of their code onto the Windows platform

IT Professionals to assess the aggregate attack surface change by the installation of an organization's line of business applications

IT Security Auditors to evaluate the risk of a particular piece of software installed on the Windows platform during threat risk reviews

IT Security Incident Responders to gain a better understanding of the state of a system's security during investigations (if a baseline scan was taken of the system during the deployment phase)

Geek Verdict

Attack Surface Analyzer is a powerful tool designed to uncover potential security vulnerabilities by meticulously examining the modifications made to a system during software installation. It illuminates changes across a broad spectrum of components, including services, user accounts, files, network ports, and registry settings. This functionality renders it an invaluable resource for software developers and IT security professionals eager to assess the potential attack surfaces that new software may introduce. With its comprehensive analysis, Attack Surface Analyzer empowers users to fortify their systems against emerging threats.