Storm Reference - Advanced - Methods

Some of Storm’s Built-In Variables support methods used to perform various actions on the object represented by the variable.

A subset of the built-in variables / objects that support methods, along with a few commonly used methods and examples, are listed below. For full detail, refer to the Storm Types technical reference.

The built-in $lib variable is used to access Storm libraries. See the Storm Libraries technical reference for additional detail on available libraries.

Note

In the examples below, the $lib.print() library function is used to display the value returned when a specific built-in variable or method is called. This is done for illustrative purposes only; $lib.print() is not required in order to use variables or methods.

In some examples the Storm spin command is used to suppress display of the node itself. We do this for cases where displaying the node detracts from illustrating the value of the variable.

In some instances we have included “use-case” examples, where the variable or method is used in a sample query to illustrate a possible practical use. These represent exemplar Storm queries for how a variable or method might be used in practice. While we have attempted to use relatively simple examples for clarity, some examples may leverage additional Storm features such as subqueries, subquery filters, or control flow elements such as for loops or switch statements.

$node

$node is a built-in Storm variable that references the current node in the Storm query pipeline. $node can be used as a variable on its own or with the example methods listed below. See the node section of the Storm Types technical documentation for a full list.

Note

As the $node variable and related methods reference the current node in the Storm pipeline, any Storm logic referencing $node will fail to execute if the pipeline does not contain a node (i.e., based on previously executing Storm logic).

Examples

Print the value of $node for an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node) | spin
Node{(('inet:dns:a', ('woot.com', 917309932)), {'iden': '01235b5877954084e798f09ba3fd3f1cda2e7b41d79b752b80acbed1b609cbaa', 'tags': {}, 'props': {'.created': 1761339241572, 'fqdn': 'woot.com', 'ipv4': 917309932, '.seen': (1482957991000, 1482957991001)}, 'tagprops': {}, 'nodedata': {}})}

Print the value of $node for an inet:fqdn node with tags present:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node) | spin
Node{(('inet:fqdn', 'aunewsonline.com'), {'iden': '53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4', 'tags': {'rep': (None, None), 'rep.mandiant': (None, None), 'rep.mandiant.apt1': (None, None), 'cno': (None, None), 'cno.infra': (None, None), 'cno.infra.dns': (None, None), 'cno.infra.dns.sink': (None, None), 'cno.infra.dns.sink.hole': (None, None), 'cno.infra.dns.sink.hole.kleissner': (1385424000000, 1480118400000)}, 'props': {'.created': 1761339241638, 'host': 'aunewsonline', 'domain': 'com', 'issuffix': 0, 'iszone': 1, 'zone': 'aunewsonline.com'}, 'tagprops': {}, 'nodedata': {}})}

Note

The value of $node is the entire node object and associated properties and tags, as opposed to a specific aspect of the node, such as its iden or primary property value.

As demonstrated below, some node constructors can “intelligently” leverage the relevant aspects of the full node object (the value of the $node variable) when creating new nodes.

Use the $node variable to create multiple whois name server records (inet:whois:recns) for the name server ns1.somedomain.com from a set of inbound whois record nodes for the domain woot.com:

storm> inet:whois:rec:fqdn=woot.com [ inet:whois:recns=(ns1.somedomain.com,$node) ]
inet:whois:recns=('ns1.somedomain.com', ('woot.com', '2019/06/13 00:00:00.000'))
        :ns = ns1.somedomain.com
        :rec = ('woot.com', '2019/06/13 00:00:00.000')
        :rec:asof = 2019/06/13 00:00:00.000
        :rec:fqdn = woot.com
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.666
inet:whois:rec=('woot.com', '2019/06/13 00:00:00.000')
        :asof = 2019/06/13 00:00:00.000
        :fqdn = woot.com
        :text = ns1.somedomain.com
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.658
inet:whois:recns=('ns1.somedomain.com', ('woot.com', '2019/09/12 00:00:00.000'))
        :ns = ns1.somedomain.com
        :rec = ('woot.com', '2019/09/12 00:00:00.000')
        :rec:asof = 2019/09/12 00:00:00.000
        :rec:fqdn = woot.com
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.668
inet:whois:rec=('woot.com', '2019/09/12 00:00:00.000')
        :asof = 2019/09/12 00:00:00.000
        :fqdn = woot.com
        :text = ns1.somedomain.com
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.660

In the example above, the $node.value() method could have been used instead of $node to create the inet:whois:recns nodes. In this case, the node constructor knows to use the primary property value from the inet:whois:rec nodes to create the inet:whois:recns nodes.

$node.form()

The $node.form() method returns the form of the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method takes no arguments.

Examples

Print the form of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.form()) | spin
inet:dns:a

$node.globtags()

The $node.globtags() method returns a list of string matches from the set of tags applied to the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method takes a single argument consisting of a wildcard expression for the substring to match.

The argument requires at least one wildcard ( * ) representing the substring(s) to match.
The method performs an exclusive match and returns only the matched substring(s), not the entire tag containing the substring match.
The wildcard ( * ) character can be used to match full or partial tag elements.
Single wildcards are constrained by tag element boundaries (i.e., the dot ( . ) character). Single wildcards can match an entire tag element or a partial string within an element.
The double wildcard ( ** ) can be used to match across any number of tag elements; that is, the double wildcard is not constrained by the dot boundary.
If the string expression starts with a wildcard, it must be enclosed in quotes in accordance with the use of Entering Literals.

See $node.tags() to access full tags (vs. tag substrings).

Examples

Print the set of top-level (root) tags from any tags applied to the current node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.globtags("*")) | spin
['rep', 'cno']

Print the list of numbers associated with any threat group tags (e.g., such as cno.threat.t42.own or cno.threat.t127.use) applied to the current node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.globtags(cno.threat.t*)) | spin
['83']

In the example above, $node.globtags() returns the matching substring only (“83”), which is the portion matching the wildcard; it does not return the “t” character.

Print the list of organizations and associated names (e.g., threat group or malware family names) from any third-party (“rep”) tags applied to the current node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.globtags(rep.*.*)) | spin
[('mandiant', 'apt1'), ('symantec', 'commentcrew'), ('mcafee', 'commentcrew'), ('crowdstrike', 'commentpanda')]

Print all sub-tags for any tags starting with “foo” applied to the current node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.globtags(foo.**)) | spin
['bar', 'bar.baz', 'derp']

$node.iden()

The $node.iden() method returns the Iden of the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method takes no arguments.

Examples

Print the iden of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.iden()) | spin
01235b5877954084e798f09ba3fd3f1cda2e7b41d79b752b80acbed1b609cbaa

$node.isform()

The $node.isform() method returns a Boolean value (true / false) for whether the current node in the Storm pipeline is of a specified form.

The method takes a single argument of a form name.

Examples

Print the Boolean value for whether a node is an inet:dns:a form:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.isform(inet:dns:a)) | spin
true

Print the Boolean value for whether a node is an inet:fqdn form:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.isform(inet:fqdn))  | spin
false

$node.ndef()

The $node.ndef() method returns the Ndef (“node definition”) of the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method takes no arguments.

Examples

Print the ndef of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.ndef()) | spin
('inet:dns:a', ('woot.com', 917309932))

$node.repr()

The $node.repr() method returns the human-friendly Repr (“representation”) of the specified property of the current node in the Storm pipeline (as opposed to the raw value stored by Synapse).

The method can optionally take one argument.

If no arguments are provided, the method returns the repr of the node’s primary property value.
If an argument is provided, it should be the string of the secondary property name (i.e., without the leading colon ( : ) from relative property syntax).
If a universal property string is provided, it must be preceded by the dot / period ( . ) and enclosed in quotes in accordance with the use of Entering Literals.

See $node.value() to return the raw value of a property.

Examples

Print the repr of the primary property value of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.repr())  | spin
('woot.com', '54.173.9.236')

Print the repr of the :ipv4 secondary property value of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.repr(ipv4)) | spin
54.173.9.236

Print the repr of the .seen universal property value of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.repr(".seen")) | spin
('2016/12/28 20:46:31.000', '2016/12/28 20:46:31.001')

$node.tags()

The $node.tags() method returns a list of the tags applied to the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method can optionally take one argument.

If no arguments are provided, the method returns the full list of all tags applied to the node.
An optional argument consisting of a wildcard string expression can be used to match a subset of tags.
- If a string is used with no wildcards, the string must be an exact match for the tag element.
- The wildcard ( * ) character can be used to match full or partial tag elements.
- The method performs an inclusive match and returns the full tag for all tags that match the provided expression.
- Single wildcards are constrained by tag element boundaries (i.e., the dot ( . ) character). Single wildcards can match an entire tag element or a partial string within an element.
- The double wildcard ( ** ) can be used to match across any number of tag elements; that is, the double wildcard is not constrained by the dot boundary.
- If the string expression starts with a wildcard, it must be enclosed in quotes in accordance with the use of Entering Literals.

See $node.globtags() to access tag substrings (vs. full tags).

Examples

Print the list of all tags associated with an inet:fqdn node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.tags()) | spin
['rep', 'rep.mandiant', 'rep.mandiant.apt1', 'cno', 'cno.infra', 'cno.infra.dns', 'cno.infra.dns.sink', 'cno.infra.dns.sink.hole', 'cno.infra.dns.sink.hole.kleissner', 'rep.symantec', 'rep.symantec.commentcrew', 'rep.mcafee', 'rep.mcafee.commentcrew', 'rep.crowdstrike', 'rep.crowdstrike.commentpanda', 'cno.threat', 'cno.threat.t83', 'cno.threat.t83.own', 'foo', 'foo.bar', 'foo.bar.baz', 'faz', 'faz.baz', 'foo.derp']

Print the tag that exactly matches the string “cno” if present on an inet:fqdn node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.tags(cno)) | spin
['cno']

Print the list of all tags two elements in length that start with “foo”:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.tags(foo.*)) | spin
['foo.bar', 'foo.derp']

Print the list of all tags of any length that start with “f”:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.tags(f**)) | spin
['foo', 'foo.bar', 'foo.bar.baz', 'faz', 'faz.baz', 'foo.derp']

Print the list of all tags of any length whose first element is “rep” and whose third element starts with “comment”:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($node.tags(rep.*.comment*)) | spin
['rep.symantec.commentcrew', 'rep.mcafee.commentcrew', 'rep.crowdstrike.commentpanda']

$node.value()

The $node.value() method returns the raw value of the primary property of the current node in the Storm pipeline.

The method takes no arguments.

See $node.repr() to return the human-friendly value of a property.

Note

The $node.value() method is only used to return the primary property value of a node. Secondary property values can be accessed via a user-defined variable (i.e., $myvar = :<prop>).

Examples

Print the value of the primary property value of an inet:dns:a node:

storm> inet:dns:a=(woot.com,54.173.9.236) $lib.print($node.value()) | spin
('woot.com', 917309932)

$path

$path is a built-in Storm variable that references the path of a node as it travels through the pipeline of a Storm query.

The $path variable is generally not used on its own, but in conjunction with its methods. See the node:path section of the Storm Types technical documentation for a full list.

$path.idens()

The $path.idens() method returns the list of idens (Iden) of each node in a node’s path through a Storm query.

The method takes no arguments.

Examples

Print the list of iden(s) for the path of a single lifted node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com $lib.print($path.idens()) | spin
['53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4']

Note

A lift operation contains no pivots (i.e., no “path”), so the method returns only the iden of the lifted node.

Print the list of idens for the path of a single node through two pivots to a single end node:

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com -> inet:dns:a +:ipv4=67.215.66.149 -> inet:ipv4 $lib.print($path.idens())
['53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4', '07c79039d00b4391699c9328dc6ccaf864d84d0b38545ded117d1d7ccc6e366c', '9596f5253f25ee74689157706ddf3b459874a6d3cb0adfce4e07018ec8162fc1']
inet:ipv4=67.215.66.149
        :type = unicast
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.730

The example above returns the idens of the original inet:fqdn node, the inet:dns:a node with the specified IP, and the inet:ipv4 node.

Print the list of idens for the path of a single node through two pivots to three different end nodes (i.e., three paths):

storm> inet:fqdn=aunewsonline.com -> inet:dns:a -> inet:ipv4 $lib.print($path.idens())
['53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4', '07c79039d00b4391699c9328dc6ccaf864d84d0b38545ded117d1d7ccc6e366c', '9596f5253f25ee74689157706ddf3b459874a6d3cb0adfce4e07018ec8162fc1']
inet:ipv4=67.215.66.149
        :type = unicast
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.730
['53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4', '0dde48198d3bcc58b40ab82155b218ecd48b533b964d5d2fa3e7453d990541f5', '5af9ae36456988c24edecafa739da75231c067ba3d104a2746e9616ea7a312d6']
inet:ipv4=184.168.221.92
        :type = unicast
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.731
['53aa7a2f7125392302c36247b97569dd84a7f3fe9e92eb99abd984349dc53fe4', '1c53655a7f3bc67be338cde70d6565d4bc84d343d37513679d4efcd0ec59d3fe', 'acecd1f87d1dfc31148bf0ed417b69fde1c77eb2e7effdea434765fe8b759351']
inet:ipv4=104.239.213.7
        :type = unicast
        .created = 2025/10/24 20:54:01.732

In the example above, the FQDN has three DNS A records, thus there are three different paths that the original node takes through the query.