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Cyber Security Academy · Lesson

STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing

Structure threat data in STIX 2.1 objects and distribute via TAXII 2.1 servers.

STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing is a free Cyber Security Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Cyber Security Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

The Sharing Problem

Organizations face similar threats but traditionally share intelligence poorly: different formats, manual email sharing, and no automation. STIX and TAXII provide standardized machine-readable formats and transport protocols for automated sharing.

STIX 2.1 Overview

STIX (Structured Threat Information eXpression) is a JSON-based language for expressing threat intelligence. It defines standard object types that represent real-world threat concepts.

# STIX 2.1 Domain Objects:
# indicator      - Pattern to detect threats
# threat-actor   - Named adversary group
# attack-pattern - ATT&CK technique
# malware        - Malware characteristics
# campaign       - Coordinated activity
# report         - Collection of STIX objects
# observed-data  - Raw observables
# relationship   - Links objects together

STIX Indicator Object

An indicator defines a pattern using STIX Pattern Language that describes a detectable threat artifact — an IP, domain, file hash, or behavioral pattern.

{
  "type": "indicator",
  "spec_version": "2.1",
  "id": "indicator--abc123...",
  "name": "Malicious IP",
  "pattern": "[ipv4-addr:value = '1.2.3.4']",
  "pattern_type": "stix",
  "valid_from": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z",
  "indicator_types": ["malicious-activity"]
}

STIX Relationships

Relationships link STIX objects together — a threat-actor uses a malware, a malware targets a sector, an indicator indicates a campaign. This creates a connected knowledge graph.

{
  "type": "relationship",
  "spec_version": "2.1",
  "id": "relationship--xyz...",
  "relationship_type": "uses",
  "source_ref": "threat-actor--apt29-id",
  "target_ref": "malware--cozy-bear-malware-id"
}

TAXII 2.1 Protocol

TAXII (Trusted Automated eXchange of Intelligence Information) is the HTTP-based transport protocol for sharing STIX objects. It defines API roots, collections, and endpoints for publishing and consuming intelligence.

# TAXII API endpoints:
# GET /taxii/   → Server discovery
# GET /api/     → API root info
# GET /api/collections/     → List collections
# GET /api/collections/{id}/objects/  → Get STIX objects
# POST /api/collections/{id}/objects/ → Push STIX objects

MISP: Open-Source Threat Sharing

MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform) is the leading open-source threat intelligence sharing platform. It supports STIX, has a built-in TAXII server, and federates with other MISP instances for community sharing.

# Install MISP (Docker)
docker-compose up -d

# MISP features:
# - Event management (threat reports)
# - IOC sharing (IP, domain, hash, URL)
# - STIX 2.1 export/import
# - TAXII server
# - Galaxy: threat actor + technique mapping
# - API for automation

OpenCTI Platform

OpenCTI is a modern threat intelligence platform built natively on STIX 2.1. It provides a graph-based interface linking threat actors, techniques (ATT&CK), malware, and IOCs into a unified knowledge base.

Consuming External TAXII Feeds

Many sharing communities (ISACs, government CERTs) provide TAXII feeds. Configure your SIEM or TIP to poll these feeds and automatically ingest new indicators.

# Python taxii2-client example:
from taxii2client.v21 import Server

server = Server("https://taxii.example.com/",
                user="analyst", password="pass")
for api_root in server.api_roots:
    for collection in api_root.collections:
        objects = collection.get_objects()
        print(objects)

Trust Groups and TLP

Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) controls intelligence sharing: TLP:RED (not shareable), TLP:AMBER (share within org), TLP:GREEN (share within community), TLP:CLEAR (public). Always respect TLP markings.

# TLP levels:
# TLP:RED    - Named recipients only
# TLP:AMBER  - Organization only
# TLP:AMBER+STRICT - Org only, no further sharing
# TLP:GREEN  - Community only, not public
# TLP:CLEAR  - Unrestricted

Automating IOC Ingestion

Automate the pipeline: TAXII feed → parse STIX → extract IOCs → push to SIEM lookup tables, firewall blocklists, and DNS RPZ (Response Policy Zones) for automated blocking.

Quick Check

What does TLP:AMBER mean in threat intelligence sharing?

Summary: STIX, TAXII, and Sharing

STIX provides a machine-readable format for threat intelligence; TAXII provides the HTTP transport for automated exchange. MISP and OpenCTI implement both for community sharing. Automate IOC ingestion from TAXII feeds into SIEM and network controls. Always respect TLP markings — trust is the foundation of intelligence sharing communities.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing” is free to read here on the web, and the Cyber Security Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Cyber Security Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing”?

Structure threat data in STIX 2.1 objects and distribute via TAXII 2.1 servers. You practise Cyber Security Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Cyber Security Academy?

No prior experience is required. Cyber Security Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Cyber Security Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Cyber Security Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Threat Intelligence Types and Sources
  2. MITRE ATT&CK Framework
  3. STIX, TAXII, and Threat Sharing
  4. Operationalizing Intel: Threat Hunting
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