Container Layer Risk Annotation via Code Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional containerization techniques lack effective risk mitigation methods due to the inability to access source code for layers within containerized units of software instructions, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing code coverage-based risk mitigation by identifying services within container layers, retrieving service state information, and annotating layers with risk information based on code coverage analysis, allowing for the replacement of high-risk layers with alternative ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If containerization techniques are used to achieve process isolation, then system stability and security are improved, but the ability to access source code for risk assessment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the container layer's service state information, including source code references and metadata, without accessing the actual source code files. This virtual copy enables risk assessment through code coverage analysis while maintaining the isolation benefits of containerization. The system copies service state information from the container layer to enable analysis without compromising the encapsulated source code.
2Productivity
If layers are replaced to optimize container performance, then service functionality is improved, but risk assessment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction and storage of service state information, including code coverage data, before layer replacement occurs. By capturing the service state and associated risk information in advance, the system enables risk assessment of alternative layers without interfering with the optimization process. The preliminary action of extracting service state information allows safe comparison of different layer options.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If code coverage analysis is performed to assess risk, then security vulnerability detection is improved, but computational resource expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary service state information and code coverage data from the container layer, rather than analyzing the entire container image. By taking out only the essential metadata and service state information, the system performs targeted code coverage analysis that reduces computational resource expenditure while maintaining effective security vulnerability detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
For each layer of a plurality of layers of a containerized unit of software instructions, a service loaded by the layer is determined. Service state information associated with the service loaded by the layer is retrieved, wherein the service state information comprises at least one of source software instructions that implement the service or code repository metadata for a code repository that stores the source software instructions. Code coverage information indicative of a degree of code coverage for the source software instructions that implement the service is obtained. Based at least in part on the code coverage information and the service state information, the layer is annotated with risk information indicative of a degree of risk associated with the layer.