eBPF Hot Patch Engine for Container Kernel Vulnerabilities
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot patch solutions for kernel vulnerabilities in container systems require rebooting and freezing, affecting system availability and stability, and often apply patches to the entire system rather than specific containers, leading to software conflicts.
Innovation Solution
An eBPF-based hot patch engine device that generates container-aware code to identify and patch specific containers, using eBPF technology to attach and configure hot patches to the kernel space without rebooting, allowing for independent patching of individual containers and notification of vulnerability triggers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hot patch is applied to the entire system, then kernel vulnerabilities can be patched, but system stability deteriorates due to software conflicts from deprecation of kernel functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the patching scope from system-wide to container-specific. By using eBPF to attach patches only to specific container processes rather than applying patches globally to the entire kernel, the system can protect against vulnerabilities in individual containers without forcing updates across all containers. This segmentation prevents software conflicts between different kernel versions while maintaining security for vulnerable containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different containers to have different patch states. Each container can be individually patched based on its specific vulnerability requirements, while other containers continue running on older kernel versions. This enables selective application of security fixes only where needed, avoiding the stability issues that arise from forcing universal kernel updates.
2Reliability
If conventional hot patch freezes memory to apply patches, then vulnerability patching can be performed, but system availability deteriorates due to service freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces eBPF as an intermediary mechanism that enables patching without requiring system freezes. Instead of directly modifying kernel memory in place (which requires freezing), eBPF allows safe attachment of patch code to running kernel functions. This intermediary approach enables hot patching of vulnerable containers while keeping the system and other containers fully operational, maintaining both security and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling patches to be applied and removed dynamically at runtime without system interruption. Containers can be patched on-the-fly as vulnerabilities are discovered, and patches can be adjusted or removed as needed. This dynamic approach eliminates the static requirement of system freezes, allowing continuous service operation while maintaining security updates.
3Reliability
If kernel version is updated to patch vulnerabilities, then security can be improved, but availability deteriorates due to required reboot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the patching operation from the kernel update process. Instead of requiring a full kernel version update (which necessitates reboot), the patent extracts and applies only the specific security fix as a separate eBPF program attached to the running kernel. This extraction allows security patches to be applied without the overhead of complete kernel updates and reboots, maintaining continuous system availability while improving security.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an eBPF-based hot patch engine device for protecting kernel vulnerabilities. The eBPF-based hot patch engine device comprises a container-aware code generating unit for generating a container-aware code for identifying a target container, to which a hot patch is attached; and a hot patch configuring unit for configuring an eBPF-based hot patch code for attaching a hot patch to the target container based on the container-aware code. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent attacks based on CVEs, which are known vulnerabilities for container systems, by hot patching kernel-related CVEs at runtime without rebooting and freezing.