Client-Side Script for Blocking Malicious Redirects from Nested Iframes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to effectively detect and prevent malicious redirects from nested sub-documents, such as iframes, which can illegitimately navigate web browsers away from main documents without user intention, posing a security threat in Internet traffic manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a client-side script that listens for and analyzes user events within nested sub-documents to determine if they attempt to navigate away from the main document, with the capability to prevent such redirects by intercepting and blocking malicious events, and optionally reporting to a server for further instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sub-document (iframe) is allowed to load external content dynamically, then the content delivery flexibility and advertising capability are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to malicious redirects that can navigate the main document away without user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-registering event listeners on the main document that monitor for redirect attempts before they can execute. The system sets up detection mechanisms in advance that watch for navigation events, allowing it to identify and block malicious redirects proactively rather than reactively. This is achieved through code that registers event handlers on the main document's window object to detect attempts to change the document URL.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the sub-document and the main document's navigation system. This intermediary consists of event listeners and detection code that sits in the middle, monitoring all navigation attempts from the sub-document. When a redirect attempt is detected, the intermediary can intercept it and prevent it from affecting the main document, thus mediating the interaction between the flexible sub-document loading and the secure main document navigation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sophisticated HTML and JavaScript programming is used to enable dynamic content loading in sub-documents, then the functionality and user experience are improved, but the complexity of detecting and preventing malicious actions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the detection and prevention functionality into distinct, modular components. The detection system is divided into specific event listeners that monitor different types of navigation attempts (click events, form submissions, direct URL changes). Each detection module is independent and can be maintained separately, reducing the complexity of the overall system while still providing comprehensive protection against malicious redirects.
3Reliability
If the system monitors and analyzes user events to detect malicious redirects, then the security detection capability is improved, but the processing overhead and potential impact on user experience are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by monitoring only specific, high-risk event types rather than all possible user events. The system focuses on detecting navigation-related events such as clicks on links, form submissions, and direct URL changes, while ignoring other events that would not lead to redirects. This selective monitoring approach maintains high security detection capability while minimizing processing overhead and avoiding impact on legitimate user interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: receiving, from a web browser, a request for content to be inserted into a sub-document that is nested inside a main document; and transmitting to said web browser, in response to the request: said content, and a client-side script that, when inserted by said web browser into said sub-document: (i) listens to software methods that attempt to invoke a user event without an action by a user of said web browser, (ii) analyzes said user event to determine if said user event is configured to cause said web browser to navigate away from said main document.