Heap Dump Scrubbing for Secure Debugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional debugging tools and methods often disclose and compromise sensitive client data when analyzing production application heap dumps, which contain both sensitive and non-sensitive information, posing a risk to privacy.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for scrubbing sensitive client data from heap dumps by parsing, mapping, and rebuilding the data using heuristic rules to mask or remove confidential information, allowing non-sensitive data to be used for debugging purposes without exposing sensitive information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional debugging tools are used to analyze heap dumps, then debugging capability is improved, but sensitive client data is exposed and compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes sensitive information from heap dumps before they are made available for debugging analysis. The system identifies sensitive data patterns (such as personally identifiable information, credentials, and proprietary data) and extracts them from the heap dump files, creating a sanitized version that retains debugging value while eliminating security risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between heap dump generation and debugging analysis. This intermediary system automatically redacts sensitive information while preserving the structural and operational data needed for debugging, allowing developers to analyze system state without direct exposure to sensitive client data.
2Reliability
If sensitive information is removed from heap dumps, then data confidentiality is improved, but debugging information completeness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively treating different portions of the heap dump data differently. Sensitive fields are redacted or masked while non-sensitive fields retain their full information. The system identifies specific data elements based on their sensitivity classification and applies appropriate processing to each, preserving debugging information where possible while protecting confidential data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of sensitive data parameters by transforming them into anonymized or pseudonymized forms. Instead of completely removing sensitive data, the system modifies specific parameters (such as replacing actual values with hashed versions or masked representations) that maintain the data structure and relationships needed for debugging while eliminating the ability to reconstruct original sensitive information.
Data Source
AI summary
In production applications that process and transfer secure and sensitive customer data, the heap dump files of these applications, which may be useful for debugging production issues and bugs, may contain secure and sensitive information. Thus, to make the useful debugging information available in heap dumps from production applications without compromising secure client data to those assigned to debugging and fixing production issues, these heap dumps may be scrubbed of sensitive information without scrubbing information that is useful for debugging.