Integrated Cache Firewall Metadata Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network systems face inefficiencies in integrating cache management with application firewall processing, leading to suboptimal performance in securing and delivering web content, particularly in terms of security rule enforcement and caching efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system that combines an application firewall with a caching system, where metadata is generated from HTTP responses to enforce security rules, and stored alongside the responses in a cache, allowing for efficient retrieval and application of security rules to subsequent requests, thereby enhancing caching and firewall processing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If application firewall processes each HTTP response separately before caching, then security rules are enforced, but processing time and system overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating and storing metadata about security rules when the HTTP response is first received from the origin server. This metadata includes information about which security rules have already been applied and their results. When subsequent requests for the same cached content arrive, the firewall can directly use this pre-generated metadata instead of re-processing the entire response through all security rules, thus enforcing security while reducing processing time for cached content.
2Quantity of substance
If cache stores only HTTP responses without metadata, then cache size is minimized, but security rules cannot be efficiently applied to cached content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cached content into two distinct components: the HTTP response body and the associated metadata. The metadata is segmented to contain only the essential security rule enforcement information needed for cached content, separate from the actual content itself. This allows the cache to store minimal necessary security information alongside the response, enabling efficient security rule application without significantly increasing overall cache storage requirements.
3Productivity
If application firewall is integrated with cache management, then processing performance improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the application firewall functionality directly into the cache management system. The firewall module and cache manager are combined into a unified system where security rule enforcement and cache operations work together seamlessly. This integration allows the firewall to access cached content and its associated metadata directly, eliminating the need for separate firewall processing steps and improving overall performance while managing complexity through unified architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for integrating cache managing and application firewall processing in a networked system. In various embodiments, an integrated cache/firewall system comprises an application firewall operating in conjunction with a cache managing system in operation on an intermediary device. In various embodiments, the application firewall processes a received HTTP response to a request by a networked entity serviced by the intermediary device. The application firewall generates metadata from the HTTP response and stores the metadata in cache with the HTTP response. When a subsequent request hits in the cache, the metadata is identified to a user session associated with the subsequent request. In various embodiments, the application firewall can modify a cache-control header of the received HTTP response, and can alter the cookie-setting header of the cached HTTP response. The system and methods can significantly reduce processing time associated with application firewall processing of web content exchanged over a network.