Automated Vulnerability Fix Deployment for Third-Party Libraries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information handling systems face inefficiencies in addressing third-party software and firmware vulnerabilities due to the need for manual patching and lengthy development cycles, leading to delayed security updates across multiple applications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing automated methods to identify and deploy security fixes for third-party software and firmware components, eliminating the requirement for a full development cycle by dynamically aggregating vulnerabilities into a centralized repository and seamlessly updating affected applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual patching processes are used for third-party software components, then security vulnerability fixes can be deployed, but the time to fix (TTF) security vulnerabilities increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity vulnerability fix deploymentVSAvoidtime to fix (TTF) security vulnerabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively scanning for vulnerabilities in third-party components before they are exploited, maintaining an updated inventory of all third-party software and their versions. This allows the system to have fixes ready in advance rather than reacting after exploitation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting vulnerabilities in third-party components, retrieving appropriate fixes from vendor repositories, and deploying patches without requiring full manual development cycles. The automated update agent continuously monitors and self-updates affected applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If full development cycles are performed for each vulnerability fix, then security patches can be properly tested and deployed, but the vulnerability response time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity patch qualityVSAvoidvulnerability response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the vulnerability fix process into independent components: vulnerability detection, fix retrieval, and selective deployment. Each application's third-party components are updated independently based on their specific vulnerabilities, allowing parallel processing and reducing overall response time while maintaining quality through targeted testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial development cycles by applying fixes selectively to only those applications and third-party components that are actually affected by vulnerabilities. Instead of re-testing entire application suites, the system focuses updates only on the specific components needing remediation, reducing unnecessary overhead while maintaining security quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If third-party components are updated across multiple applications, then security vulnerabilities are addressed, but the complexity of tracking and managing updates increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevulnerability remediation coverageVSAvoidtracking and managing updates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal inventory management approach that tracks all third-party software components across multiple applications in a centralized repository. The same inventory database and update agent serve all applications, providing multi-functional capability that simplifies tracking and management while ensuring comprehensive vulnerability remediation coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes feedback loops where the update agent continuously monitors for new vulnerabilities and scans for updates after deployments. This feedback mechanism automatically tracks the status of third-party components across all applications, providing real-time information about vulnerability exposure and fix deployment status without increasing manual tracking complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If automated vulnerability scanning and fix deployment is implemented, then vulnerability response time is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevulnerability response timeVSAvoidautomated system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary update agent that acts as a mediator between the vulnerability scanning system and the applications. This agent automatically retrieves vulnerability information, coordinates fix downloads from vendor repositories, and manages deployments, thereby reducing overall system complexity by centralizing automation logic in a single component rather than distributing it across multiple systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12131140B2Methods and systems to automatically deploy vulnerability fixes for software and firmware components

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided that may be implemented to methods and systems may be implemented to automatically identify types and status of vulnerabilities in identified software or firmware components (e.g., libraries), and then automatically deploy security vulnerability fixes (e.g., patches or updates) in these identified components across different affected software or firmware applications. In one example, the disclosed methods and systems may operate to dynamically and automatically aggregate identified third party software and/or firmware vulnerabilities into a centralized repository, and may be further implemented to automatically handle the roll out and deployment of vulnerability fixes to patch or update third party libraries to solve any security vulnerability reported on these third party libraries.