Host Configuration Data Structure for Managed Code Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managed computing environments face challenges in preventing inappropriate calls from assemblies that could destabilize the hosting environment, leading to reliability and robustness issues, and existing solutions lack a unified method to address different hosting requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a host configuration data structure that selectively disallows resource access based on hosting rules, allowing hosts to control access to methods in shared managed libraries, using Code Access Security (CAS) to enforce permissions and identity-based trust, thereby preventing calls that could destabilize the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Code Access Security (CAS) is used to prevent assemblies from performing certain operations, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a host configuration data structure as an intermediary layer between the CAS security system and the managed code environment. This data structure stores hosting rules that define which resource accesses are appropriate for different hosting environments, allowing the system to enforce security policies without directly modifying the CAS infrastructure. The host configuration acts as a mediator that translates security requirements into actionable hosting rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining hosting rules in the host configuration data structure before managed code execution begins. These rules specify which resource accesses are appropriate for particular hosting environments in advance, allowing the system to quickly evaluate and enforce security decisions without complex runtime analysis. The hosting rules are established beforehand to guide security enforcement during code execution.
2Reliability
If hosting rules are implemented to prevent inappropriate resource access, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the hosting environment to automatically enforce resource access restrictions through pre-defined hosting rules. The system autonomously evaluates whether managed code attempts to access inappropriate resources and blocks such access without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration during runtime. The host configuration data structure contains all necessary rules to guide automated enforcement decisions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a unified method is provided for different hosting requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the host configuration data structure to serve multiple hosting environments and requirements through a single unified mechanism. The same data structure and hosting rule evaluation process can accommodate different types of hosts (e.g., in-process hosts, out-of-process hosts, sandboxed environments) without requiring separate implementations. The hosting rules are defined in a general manner that can be applied across diverse hosting scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A host operating in a managed environment intercepts a call from a managed caller to a particular callee and determines whether the call is permissible according to the host's prior configuration of a plurality of callees. The particular callee, which provides access to a resource that the host can be protecting, can have been previously configured by the host to always allow the call to be made, to never allow the call to be made, or to allow the call to be made based upon the degree to which the host trusts the managed caller.