Dynamic Port Inspection for Firewall-Aware Security Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional port scanning methods for security confirmation are inefficient and insecure, as they inspect all ports regardless of whether communication is via a firewall, leading to lengthy inspections when a firewall is present or incomplete inspections when not.
Innovation Solution
A security confirmation apparatus that determines if an information processing apparatus communicates via a firewall, sets specific inspection targets based on this determination, and notifies the apparatus of the inspection results, reducing inspection time and ensuring security by only inspecting relevant ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all ports are inspected regardless of firewall usage, then security inspection coverage is complete, but inspection time becomes extremely long
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection scope is made dynamic by detecting whether a firewall is present in the network path. When a firewall is detected, the system automatically adjusts to inspect only predetermined ports; when no firewall is detected, it inspects all ports. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making inspection coverage and time variable based on actual network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the inspection parameter (number of ports to inspect) based on the detected firewall state. By transitioning between two inspection modes (full port inspection vs. predetermined port inspection), the system optimizes the balance between security coverage and inspection time according to the network environment.
2Loss of time
If reduced number of ports are inspected, then inspection time is reduced, but security inspection coverage becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection scope dynamically adapts to network conditions by detecting firewall presence. This ensures that when firewalls are present, inspection time is reduced while still maintaining adequate security coverage by focusing on predetermined ports that are typically monitored by firewalls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the inspection parameter (port selection strategy) based on detected firewall state, switching between comprehensive inspection and targeted inspection modes to optimize the trade-off between time and coverage.
3Device complexity
If port scanning is executed without detecting firewall presence, then inspection process is simple, but inspection efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary detection of firewall presence before executing the port scanning operation. This preliminary action enables the system to pre-determine the appropriate inspection scope, avoiding unnecessary inspections and thereby improving overall inspection efficiency without significantly increasing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system automatically detects the firewall state and self-adjusts its inspection strategy without requiring manual configuration. This self-service capability improves efficiency by adapting to network conditions autonomously while keeping the process relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A confirmation apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether an information processing apparatus that has transmitted a security confirmation instruction executes communication via a firewall, a setting unit configured to set predetermined ports as inspection targets in a first case where the determination unit determines that the information processing apparatus executes communication via the firewall, and set ports listed in a used port list received from the information processing apparatus as the inspection targets in a second case where the determination unit determines that the information processing apparatus executes communication without interposing the firewall, an inspection unit configured to inspect ports set as the inspection targets by the setting unit, and a notification unit configured to notify the information processing apparatus of an inspection result acquired by the inspection unit.