Inline HTTP Cookie Encryption for Session Hijacking Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing web security solutions fail to enforce access controls after authentication, as HTTP cookies can be stolen or bypassed, allowing unauthorized access to web applications.
Innovation Solution
Implement inline HTTP cookie encryption by intercepting and encrypting HTTP cookies within a cloud-based system, ensuring only decrypted cookies are sent to web services, thus maintaining session validity and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If HTTP cookies are issued for user authentication and session maintenance, then user convenience and application state continuity are improved, but security is worsened because cookies can be stolen or bypassed allowing unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary encryption layer between the web application and the user's browser. The web application issues encrypted cookies through a security gateway that acts as a mediator, translating between the application's authentication state and a secure encrypted cookie format. This intermediary prevents direct access to the authentication state while maintaining session continuity, resolving the contradiction between user convenience and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the cookie parameter from plain text to encrypted format. By changing the state of the cookie from readable to encrypted, the system maintains the functional properties of session maintenance while eliminating the security vulnerability of stolen or bypassed cookies. The encrypted cookie retains all necessary authentication information but in an unreadable format that prevents unauthorized access.
2Reliability
If security products enforce access control during authentication, then security is improved, but security enforcement is worsened after authentication when users can bypass security products using stolen or exported cookies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary encryption to the cookies before they are issued to the user. By encrypting the cookies in advance through the security gateway, the system ensures that even if cookies are stolen or exported after authentication, they remain unusable without the decryption key. This preliminary security measure extends the effectiveness of access control beyond the authentication phase throughout the entire session duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The security gateway serves as a persistent intermediary that maintains security enforcement throughout the session. Rather than security ending after authentication, the gateway continues to mediate between the user's browser and the web application, decrypting cookies for valid requests and blocking unauthorized access. This extends security enforcement duration from just the authentication moment to the entire session lifecycle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HTTP cookies are made accessible to user applications for session management, then application functionality is improved, but security is worsened as users gain knowledge and access to the original HTTP cookie
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an encryption intermediary that sits between the cookie issuance process and the user's application. The security gateway encrypts cookies before they reach the browser, ensuring that applications can only access encrypted cookie data. This intermediary maintains application functionality for session management while preventing direct access to the original unencrypted cookie information that would compromise security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter state of cookies from readable text to encrypted format, fundamentally altering how applications interact with cookie data. Applications continue to function by sending and receiving cookies, but the cookies themselves remain encrypted throughout the process. This parameter change eliminates the harmful factor of user applications gaining knowledge of the original cookie while preserving all necessary session management functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for inline HTTP cookie encryption include responsive to a user authenticating to a web service, intercepting a response form the web service; encrypting an HTTP cookie in the response; and forwarding the response to the user, the response comprising the encrypted HTTP cookie. Responsive to intercepting a subsequent request from the user to the web service, wherein the subsequent request includes the encrypted HTTP cookie; decrypting the encrypted HTTP cookie; and forwarding the subsequent request to the web service with the decrypted HTTP cookie.