Certificate-Based Data Sharing Between Sandboxed Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sandboxed applications in modern operating systems face challenges in communicating and sharing information with other applications outside their sandbox, leading to isolation and duplication issues when interacting with server backends.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a certificate-based data sharing mechanism where an application in a sandbox can request and generate certificates that include extra data, such as messages, using a certificate service, and store them in a shared certificate store, ensuring secure access through symmetric encryption or public-key cryptography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sandbox isolation is implemented to prevent malicious applications from compromising the host system, then system security is improved, but the ability of sandboxed applications to communicate with other applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a certificate store as an intermediary mechanism that enables secure communication between sandboxed applications. Applications can store and retrieve certificates containing extra data (such as messages or identifiers) in a shared certificate store accessible across sandbox boundaries, allowing communication while maintaining isolation. The certificate acts as a mediator that carries information between applications without requiring direct access to each other's sandboxed environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional interprocess communication methods are used for communication between applications, then communication capability is improved, but system security and sandbox isolation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The certificate store serves as a secure intermediary that replaces traditional interprocess communication methods. Instead of using sockets, pipes, or shared memory that could compromise sandbox isolation, applications communicate by storing certificates with embedded data in the certificate store. This maintains sandbox isolation while enabling communication through the intermediary certificate mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications communicate with a common server backend, then application functionality is improved, but server views them as separate client devices leading to duplication issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds device identification information (such as device ID or application identifiers) directly into the certificate as extra data. When applications communicate with the server backend, they can include this embedded identification information in the certificate, allowing the server to recognize multiple applications from the same device as a single logical client. This prevents duplication issues while maintaining full application functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various approaches for sharing data between sandboxed applications with certificates. A request for a certificate is received from a client device. The certificate is then generated, wherein the certificate comprises data to be shared between applications executing on the client device. A response is sent to the client device, wherein the response includes the certificate.