Command Line Security via Suspended Secondary Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to securely protect secrets when used in command line entries, as they can be exposed in event logs or accessed by malicious actors, leading to unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a main process that invokes a secondary process in a suspended mode, providing placeholder command line entries and retrieving secrets to store operable entries in memory, ensuring the secondary process can use the secrets while masking them from event logs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If secrets are included in command line arguments to launch a process, then the process can access and use the secrets, but the secrets become visible to other administrator users and may be written to event logs, exposing them to unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the command line argument into two parts: a placeholder that is visible in event logs and a separate secret storage mechanism. The placeholder contains a reference or indicator that the actual secret is stored securely elsewhere, separating the logging function from the security function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism between the command line argument and the actual secret. This intermediary is a placeholder that serves as a mediator - it appears in event logs but does not contain the actual secret, which is stored separately in a secure location accessible only to the target process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If placeholder command line entries are provided to prevent secret exposure, then security is improved, but the placeholder entries must be nullified and operable entries must be stored in memory locations, increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-creating placeholder command line entries with the correct size and format before the actual secret is needed. The placeholder is prepared in advance with a structure that allows easy replacement and nullification, reducing the complexity of the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter state of the command line entry from a direct secret storage to a placeholder storage, then transitions it to an operable entry in memory. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain security while using standard memory locations and processes, avoiding the need for complex custom storage mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for securing the use of command line entries. Techniques may include invoking, by a main process, a secondary process in a computing environment in a suspended mode and providing one or more placeholder command line entry to the secondary process. Techniques may further include retrieving at least one secret by the main process and storing an operable command line entry in a memory location associated with the secondary process, wherein the one or more placeholder command line entry is nullified, wherein the secondary process is configured to process the operable command line entry and use the at least one secret.