Install, Configure, and Authenticate with the Panther Analysis Tool

Get up and running with PAT

Overview

Before using the Panther Analysis Tool (PAT) to manage your Panther assets (on your command line or in a CI/CD pipeline, for example), you'll need to install it, provide configuration values, and generate an API token to authenticate. Once you've completed these steps, start running PAT Commands.

When new versions of PAT are released, you can update PAT.

Installing PAT

Prerequisites

To install PAT, your environment must have the following already installed:

• Python 3.11. Install Python using one of the following methods:

  • The download links on the official release page

  • Using Homebrew, by running brew install python@3.11

  • Using pyenv to manage Python versions

• Pipenv. To install Pipenv, run pip install --user pipenv.

Installing with pip

To install PAT, run this command:

pip3 install panther_analysis_tool

Building from source

If you'd prefer instead to run from source for development reasons, first set up your environment:

$ make install
$ pipenv run -- pip3 install -e .

Using PAT outside of the virtual environment

If you would rather use PAT outside of the virtual environment, install it directly:

$ make deps
$ pip3 install -e .

PAT CLI aliases

PAT will be installed under the following aliases—either can be used with PAT commands:

• panther_analysis_tool

• pat

Examples

$ pipenv run panther_analysis_tool test
...
$ pipenv run pat upload
...

Updating PAT

If you are using pipenv to manage dependencies, follow the below steps to update PAT:

1. Update PAT to the latest version in your Pipfile.

2. Run pipenv install --dev.

Alternatively, you can update PAT by running the following command:

$ pip3 install panther_analysis_tool --upgrade

Configuring PAT

PAT can read configuration values from the command line, environment variables, or a configuration file.

Configuration value precedence

The precedence for flag value sources is as follows (highest to lowest):

1. Values passed with the command

2. Environment variables
3. Configuration file

Environment variables

All options can be passed in through environment variables by prepending the variable name with PANTHER_.

For example, the api_token and api_host arguments can be set through environment variables named PANTHER_API_TOKEN and PANTHER_API_HOST.

PAT configuration file

PAT will read options from a configuration file called .panther_settings.yml located in your working directory. An example configuration file is included in this repo: example_panther_config.yml. It contains example syntax for supported options.

Authenticating with an API token

Most PAT commands require authentication against your Panther instance using an API token. Authenticated PAT actions are captured as Panther Audit Logs.

1. Follow these instructions to generate an API token.

   • Take note of the required permissions per PAT command.
2. To validate your token, run pipenv run pat check-connection --api-token <your-api-token> --api-host <your-api-host>.

   • See an additional way to validate your token here.
3. When running PAT commands that require an API token, be sure your API token (and GraphQL host) are visible to PAT via one of the configuration options.

   • The simplest way to pass API token and host values is with the command, i.e., using --api-token and --api-host.

Rotating the API token

The token does not expire. As a security best practice, we recommend regularly rotating your API token. For instructions, see Rotating API tokens.

Managing your API token as a secret

If you are using PAT in CI/CD jobs, be sure to follow your CI/CD provider's instructions on how to manage your API token as a secret—as described on Managing Panther Content via GitHub Actions and Managing Panther Content via CircleCI.