Control Wrapper for Split Command Approval
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Solution Overview
Problem
System administrators with elevated permissions can inadvertently or maliciously execute commands that lead to security breaches or data integrity issues due to lack of additional verification, especially in sensitive systems where internal users may not be monitored as rigorously as external users.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method where commands affecting restricted resources require split entry and approval from multiple authorized users, with a unified resolution generated based on proposed resolutions from each user, and further approval from multiple reviewers to ensure secure execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If administrator users are provided with elevated permissions to perform operations on restricted resources, then operational capability and efficiency are improved, but security risk and data integrity risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The command execution process is segmented into multiple independent stages: command entry by first user, proposal generation, review by second user, approval decision, and execution. This segmentation ensures that no single user has complete control over the entire process, thereby reducing security risks while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A control wrapper is introduced as an intermediary component that encapsulates the administrative command. The control wrapper manages the multi-user interaction process, including receiving commands from the first user, transmitting them to the second user for review, and coordinating the approval workflow. This intermediary ensures secure handling of restricted resource operations.
2Reliability
If additional verification steps are implemented for administrative commands, then security is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating a proposed resolution from the first user's command before presenting it to the second user for review. This preliminary processing reduces the complexity of the review process, as the second user only needs to evaluate a pre-formulated proposal rather than independently formulate a command, thereby balancing security with operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control wrapper dynamically adapts the verification process based on the command type and user roles. The system adjusts the interaction flow between users, allowing for flexible approval workflows that can accommodate different operational scenarios while maintaining consistent security standards.
3Measurement precision
If split entry by multiple users is required, then command accuracy and security are improved, but time consumption and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first user's command is automatically processed to generate a proposed resolution before being presented to the second user. This preliminary action ensures that the command is properly formatted and validated, reducing the need for iterative corrections and back-and-forth communication, thereby minimizing time consumption while maintaining high command accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control wrapper creates a copy of the first user's command and transforms it into a proposed resolution that can be reviewed by the second user. This copying mechanism allows both users to work with the same command data simultaneously, reducing communication overhead and ensuring consistency in the approval process.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If logging and monitoring are implemented, then detection capability is improved, but system performance and user privacy may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The logging and monitoring functions are extracted as separate, dedicated components within the control wrapper, rather than being integrated into the core command execution logic. This extraction allows for optimized logging that only captures essential information related to security and audit requirements, minimizing the performance overhead while maintaining strong detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for reviewing inputted commands and preventing the execution of accidentally or maliciously entered adverse commands are disclosed. These commands may be operating system commands, resource commands, device commands, application commands, and so on. Some aspects of the disclosure provide ways to split entry and/or approval of commands prior to their execution. In some aspects, execution of the command may be undone or reversed if the command is not successfully validated. Commands may be encapsulated in a control wrapper to identify commands subject to split approval or co-entry process, and criteria regarding the commands or the user(s) entering the commands may be used to determine whether co-entry or split approval and/or post-execution validation is required. Indications of approval or denial of a command may be transmitted to other computing devices to reduce or eliminate malicious or accidental activity.