Dynamic Security Token Adaptation for Least Privilege Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing the principle of least privilege in computing environments is challenging due to difficulties in determining minimal access permissions necessary for users to perform tasks, leading to potential security risks from excessive or inadequate permissions.
Innovation Solution
A computing environment that dynamically adapts user security permissions based on recorded activities, using a security token with a permissive mode of operation to grant access to computing resources and generating an adapted security token with permissions sufficient for accessed resources during a baselining period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static security permissions are granted to clients, then clients can perform required actions, but clients may have excessive permissions that increase security risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic security permissions that automatically adjust based on client activity patterns. A baselining period records actual resource access, and an adapted permissions policy is generated that grants only the minimum necessary permissions. This transforms static permission grants into dynamic, adaptive permissions that reduce security risks while maintaining operational reliability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If minimal permissions are granted to clients, then security risk is reduced, but clients may lack necessary permissions to perform required actions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where client activities during a baselining period are monitored and recorded. This empirical data about actual resource access patterns feeds into an automated policy generation process that determines the minimum necessary permissions. The feedback loop ensures permissions are neither excessive nor insufficient, but precisely matched to actual operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a baselining period during which clients operate with temporary permissions to establish their actual access patterns before final permission policies are generated. This preliminary action phase allows the system to observe and record real usage without committing to permanent permission grants, ensuring that subsequent permission policies are based on empirical evidence rather than assumptions.
3Measurement precision
If security policies are manually configured for each client, then precise permission control is achieved, but the complexity and time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the security management system automatically generates adapted permissions policies based on recorded client activities. The process autonomously identifies access patterns, determines minimum necessary permissions, and configures security policies without manual intervention. This eliminates the complexity of manual policy configuration while maintaining precise permission control through data-driven automation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If clients are granted access to secondary resources, then client capabilities are enhanced, but security risk increases if credentials are stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by granting permissions specifically tailored to each client's actual needs rather than providing blanket access to all secondary resources. The baselining process identifies exactly which resources each client accesses, and permission policies are customized at the individual resource level. This ensures clients have enhanced capabilities only where necessary, minimizing the attack surface if credentials are compromised.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing resource service provider grants a first set of security permissions to a principal (e.g., a user) which may be used to access a plurality of computing resources. The permissions may be associated with a first security token. The principal may access resources using the first set of security permissions, and a system (e.g., a service provider) may identify a subset of security permissions that are sufficient to provide access to the computing resources accessed by the principal using the first set of permissions. The subset may be associated with the principal. In some cases, the principal operating under the subset of permissions may be denied access to a computing resource and may be granted access to the computing resource by operating under the first set of permissions.