Composite Risk Scoring for Least-Privilege Permission Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern computing systems face significant security risks due to improperly managed permissions, with unused permissions increasing the attack surface and potential damage from malicious attackers, particularly in complex environments like cloud-based and IoT networks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for analyzing and addressing least-privilege security threats by performing composite risk assessments, calculating a normalized least-privilege damage score for permissions, and prioritizing security responses based on these scores to reduce unnecessary permissions and minimize risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If permissions are granted to users for system functionality, then system operation capability is improved, but security risk increases due to unused permissions presenting attack channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of permission usage status before security incidents occur. By proactively identifying unused permissions through usage monitoring and composite risk assessment, the system can recommend or automatically revoke unnecessary permissions before they are exploited by attackers, thus preventing security breaches while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the permission state parameter from granted to revoked based on usage analysis. By continuously monitoring whether permissions are actually used and adjusting the permission grant status accordingly, the system maintains the minimum necessary permissions for operation while eliminating excess permissions that create security vulnerabilities.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive permission monitoring is implemented to identify unused permissions, then security assessment capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a unified composite risk assessment mechanism that handles multiple types of permissions (file access, network access, system commands, etc.) through a single analytical framework. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate monitoring and assessment systems for each permission type, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple assessment dimensions (permission type, target resource sensitivity, entity security status, historical attack patterns) into a single composite risk score. By merging these separate analytical components into one integrated scoring system, the platform achieves comprehensive permission monitoring without the complexity of managing multiple independent assessment systems.
3Measurement precision
If normalized risk scores are calculated for all permissions, then risk comparison capability is improved, but computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of computational effort to different permissions based on their characteristics. High-risk permissions (those with sensitive target resources or associated with insecure entities) receive more comprehensive analysis including historical attack pattern matching, while lower-risk permissions receive streamlined assessment. This localized quality approach ensures accurate risk scoring where needed while conserving computational resources on less critical permissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial risk assessment by focusing computational resources on the most critical factors for each permission rather than analyzing every possible attribute equally. By identifying and analyzing only the most significant risk indicators (such as permission type and target resource sensitivity) while using predefined scoring for less variable factors, the system achieves effective risk normalization with reduced computational overhead.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If unused permissions are revoked to reduce attack surface, then security is improved, but system functionality may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where permission usage is monitored after revocation actions. If a revoked permission is subsequently needed for system operation, the monitoring system detects this and triggers automatic or recommended re-granting of the permission. This feedback mechanism ensures that permissions are revoked only when truly unnecessary, maintaining system functionality while reducing the attack surface from genuinely unused permissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Before revoking permissions, the system performs preliminary validation to ensure the permission is not required for legitimate operations. By checking usage patterns, dependency relationships, and operational requirements in advance of revocation, the system identifies only those permissions that can be safely removed without impacting system functionality, thus preventing operational disruptions while achieving security hardening.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for analyzing and addressing least-privilege security threats on a composite basis. Techniques include identifying a permission associated with a secured resource, identifying attributes associated with the permission, weighting the attributes, and, based on the attributes and their weights, creating a normalized score corresponding to the risk presented by the permission. Further techniques include identifying attributes associated with the secured resource, identifying special risk factors, and creating weighted scores based on the resource attributes and special risk factors. Other techniques include aggregating the weighted scores and using the weighted scores to identify insecure areas within the system.