Application Container Isolation for Secure Multi-App Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems where multiple applications share a common base system environment and dependency are vulnerable to attacks, leading to the compromise of the entire system when one application is targeted.
Innovation Solution
An application platform is designed with independent application container instances, each containing a unique base system environment and user data, ensuring that attacks on one instance do not affect others, and allowing dynamic generation and deletion of instances based on user requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple applications share a common base system environment and dependency, then resource utilization is improved, but system security and reliability deteriorate because an attack on one application can compromise the entire system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the base system environment into separate container instances, each hosting one or more applications with isolated system environments. This segmentation allows resource sharing at the platform level while maintaining isolation at the application level, preventing attacks from propagating across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a container instance as an intermediary layer between applications and the underlying base system environment. This intermediary provides isolation and protection, allowing applications to run in secure, sandboxed environments while still accessing shared resources through controlled interfaces.
2Device complexity
If multiple applications share a common base system environment, then device complexity is reduced, but the harm from attacks increases as the attack surface expands to the entire shared environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the base environment into multiple isolated container instances, reducing the attack surface for each individual application while maintaining manageable system architecture through standardized containerization.
Solution Approach 2:
Each container instance provides a localized, isolated system environment with its own dependencies and configuration, allowing different security policies and isolation levels to be applied to different applications based on their specific requirements.
3Reliability
If applications run in isolated container instances with separate base system environments, then system security and reliability are improved, but resource consumption increases due to duplication of environment components
Solution Approach 1:
The container instance architecture provides universal, reusable system environment templates that can be instantiated multiple times. Each container shares the underlying infrastructure and can use common libraries and dependencies through controlled interfaces, reducing actual resource duplication while maintaining isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fully duplicating entire system environments, the patent creates lightweight container instances that copy only the essential isolation mechanisms and configuration, while sharing the underlying base system environment and common dependencies through controlled access.
4Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic generation and deletion of container instances is implemented, then system adaptability and self-restoration capability are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container instance management system provides automated generation, configuration, and deletion of container instances based on application requirements. The system self-manages the lifecycle of container instances, including automatic restoration by recreating instances from templates when attacks are detected or instances fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures container instance templates with necessary system environments and dependencies before runtime. This preliminary preparation allows rapid dynamic generation of isolated environments when needed, reducing management complexity during operation while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An application platform comprises: a user interface used for realizing interaction with users; an application container connector used for accessing an application container instance according to an interactive operation performed by the users through the user interface; at least one application container instance comprising an application, an application connector interface connected to the application container connector, a user data interface connected to a user data set, and a base system environment and dependency for running the application, wherein after being started, the application container instance receives an access from the application container connector through the application connector interface and accesses user data corresponding to the application through the user data interface; and the user data set used for storing user data to be accessed by the application container instance. All applications are mutually independent, and in presence of a malicious application, other applications can run normally without being affected.