Aspect-Oriented Input Validation for Web Application Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Web applications are vulnerable to input validation issues due to inadequate or incorrect sanitation of user-supplied inputs, leading to injection attacks that can result in information leakage and privilege escalation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a computer-implemented method using processors to validate input parameters by collecting and applying validation aspects, determining the corresponding validation function based on the input data type, and enforcing validation through aspect-oriented programming to prevent malicious inputs from being processed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional input validation methods are used, then the application can process inputs, but the application is vulnerable to injection attacks and security breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting validation aspects and creating a validation plan before the application processes any inputs. The system pre-defines validation functions for different data types and stores them in a validation aspect store, so that when an input arrives, the appropriate validation has already been prepared and can be immediately applied without altering the application's business logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation mechanism that sits between the application and the inputs. The validation aspect collector and validation function applicator act as mediators that intercept inputs, validate them against predefined aspects, and only allow processed inputs to reach the application. This intermediary layer prevents injection attacks without requiring changes to the application's core logic.
2Reliability
If validation aspects are collected and applied to all input parameters, then input security is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by breaking down the validation system into distinct modular components: validation aspect collectors that gather validation requirements, a validation aspect store that repositories the collected aspects, and validation function applicators that execute the validation. Each component has a specific responsibility, making the overall system manageable despite its comprehensive validation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by creating a validation framework that can handle multiple data types (strings, integers, floats, booleans, dates, etc.) through a single unified mechanism. The validation aspect collector can collect aspects for any input parameter, and the validation function applicator can apply appropriate validation functions based on the data type, making the system versatile without requiring separate validation logic for each parameter type.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If validation functions are applied to validate input parameters, then malicious inputs are blocked, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces validation time by performing preliminary actions during application initialization or deployment. Validation aspects are collected and stored in advance, and validation functions are pre-prepared and cached in the validation aspect store. When an input arrives, the system quickly retrieves the pre-prepared validation function from the store and applies it, rather than creating or searching for validation logic at runtime.
Data Source
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AI summary
Implementations of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for validating input parameters provided to an application, including executing the application using the one or more processors, collecting one or more validation aspects associated with the application to provide a set of validation aspects, receiving a first input parameter that is associated with a first validation point, extracting a first data type of the first input parameter, and determining that a validation aspect corresponding to the first data type is available in the set of validation aspects and, in response, applying a corresponding validation function to the first input parameter.