Intrusion Detection Software Exception Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intrusion detection and prevention (IDP) devices are prone to crashing when exceptions occur in protocol decoders, leading to network outages and security vulnerabilities, as existing auto-recovery processes are inefficient and unable to prevent crashes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an exception handling module that dynamically monitors IDP software for exceptions caused by decoders, allowing the system to continue processing by identifying and handling exceptions, disabling faulty decoders, and jumping to a stable processing stage, thereby preventing crashes and maintaining network availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional IDP software is used without exception handling, then the system can process packets using multiple protocol decoders, but the system will crash when an exception occurs in any decoder, causing network outages
Solution Approach 1:
The IDP software is segmented into independent components: a processing engine and multiple protocol decoders. Each decoder operates independently with its own exception handling, so that failures in one decoder do not propagate to crash the entire system. The exception handling module is also segmented to specifically catch and manage decoder exceptions separately from other system operations.
Solution Approach 2:
An exception handling module is introduced as an intermediary between the protocol decoders and the processing engine. This intermediary captures exceptions thrown by decoders, prevents them from propagating to crash the system, and allows the processing engine to continue operating. The intermediary acts as a buffer that isolates the processing engine from decoder failures.
2Reliability
If auto-recovery processes are implemented to restart crashed IDP software, then the system can recover from crashes, but the recovery time is relatively long and the system remains offline during restart
Solution Approach 1:
Exception handling is implemented preliminarily within the IDP software architecture itself, rather than relying on external auto-recovery processes. The exception handling module is pre-configured to catch and manage decoder exceptions as they occur, preventing crashes before they happen. This preliminary protective measure eliminates the need for time-consuming system restarts.
Solution Approach 2:
The IDP software performs self-healing through the integrated exception handling module that automatically manages decoder failures without external intervention. When a decoder throws an exception, the handling module automatically catches it, disables the faulty decoder, and allows the system to continue processing packets without requiring manual restart or external recovery processes.
3Measurement precision
If multiple protocol decoders are used to improve attack detection accuracy, then the system can identify more attack patterns, but the probability of decoder failures and system crashes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple independent protocol decoders segmented to handle different attack patterns and protocols. Each decoder is isolated so that failures in one do not affect others. The exception handling module segments exception management by decoder, allowing individual decoder failures to be managed independently while maintaining overall system stability and continued detection capabilities.
4Reliability
If the IDP software crashes when a decoder fails, then the system can identify the failure, but the network experience a outage and security risks during the outage period
Solution Approach 1:
The exception handling module implements preliminary anti-action by preventing decoder failures from propagating to cause system crashes. By anticipating that decoders may fail and preparing exception handling in advance, the system neutralizes the harmful effect of decoder failures before they can compromise network security or cause outages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of decoder failures into a beneficial outcome by using exceptions as signals to disable only the faulty decoder while keeping the rest of the system operational. The failure information is transformed into useful data for selective decoder disabling, allowing the system to maintain security and availability while adapting to the failure.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes techniques for continuing execution of intrusion detection software when a process exception caused by a protocol decoder is thrown during processing. In one example, a method includes receiving a packet, and processing the packet using intrusion detection software that includes a processing engine and a plurality of protocol decoders. The method also includes detecting an exception that occurs during processing of the packet, identifying a memory location associated with the exception, and determining whether the exception was caused by one of the protocol decoders based on the memory location associated with the exception. The method further includes handling the exception and continuing execution of the intrusion detection software after determining that the exception was caused by one of the protocol decoders. In some implementations, handling the exception may include determining which one of the protocol decoders caused the exception, and disabling the decoder.