Annotation-Driven JIT RBAC for Runtime Permission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RBAC systems provide privileges to applications at startup and throughout execution, exposing resources to unnecessary risks and increasing the attack surface, despite the need for privileges only at specific times or contexts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a permission wrapper around functions with time-based and state-based criteria, turning on and off permissions dynamically during runtime execution using annotations and a trusted controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If privileges are granted at application startup and throughout execution, then the application can access resources when needed, but resource exposure to nefarious use increases and attack surface expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic permission management by introducing a permission wrapper that can turn permissions on and off during runtime execution. Instead of static privileges granted at startup, the system dynamically adjusts permission states based on actual execution context, time-based criteria, and state-based criteria, thereby reducing the attack surface while maintaining necessary access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of permission state from static to dynamic by using annotations with time-based and state-based criteria. The permission wrapper modifies permission parameters (on/off states) based on runtime conditions, allowing the application to have elevated privileges only when specific conditions are met, thus reducing resource exposure to harmful factors.
2Reliability
If a permission wrapper with runtime checks is implemented, then resource exposure is minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a permission wrapper as an intermediary layer between the application and the resources it accesses. This wrapper handles the complexity of permission management by encapsulating the logic for turning permissions on and off, evaluating time-based and state-based criteria, and interacting with the RBAC controller, thereby isolating the complexity from the core application logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through annotations embedded in the codebase that automatically generate permission requests. The annotations contain metadata about required permissions, and the compilation process automatically inserts permission wrapper code, reducing the manual complexity of implementing fine-grained permission control while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If permissions are granted continuously throughout application execution, then access is always available, but efficiency decreases due to unnecessary privilege maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic permission granting based on time-based criteria defined in annotations. Instead of continuous permission maintenance, the system periodically evaluates whether permissions should be active based on temporal conditions (e.g., specific time windows, execution phases), turning permissions on only when needed and off when not needed, thereby improving system efficiency while maintaining access availability when required.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for implementing an annotation driven just in time and state-based RBAC policy control are disclosed. The method inserts an annotation into a code base that includes a function. The annotation identifies a resource corresponding to the function. The method compiles the code base into compiled code, which includes inserting, based on the annotation, a first request prior to the function that requests permission to access the resource; and inserting, based on the annotation, a second request subsequent to the function to turn off permission to access the resource. The method then deploys the compiled code to a target environment.