Least-Privilege Access Control for Remote Network Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote access systems often grant unnecessary administrative privileges, making resources vulnerable to misuse and security breaches, and require pre-configuration of remote resources for access and code execution, leading to inefficiencies and limitations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses least-privilege methodologies for accessing and controlling remote resources by executing agents with minimal privileges, allowing secure access and control without pre-configuration, and enabling actions on target network resources using a first agent that initiates and instructs a second agent with least-privilege credentials or permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If administrative privileges are granted on remote systems to enable access and control functions, then the ability to perform administrative functions is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to credential misuse and proliferation risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic privilege management where credentials are temporarily elevated to administrative level only when needed for specific tasks, then automatically revoked. The session manager dynamically adjusts credential scope and duration based on the operational context, transforming static high-privilege access into dynamic least-privilege access that adapts to current needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of credential access by controlling the scope (specific resources only), duration (temporary session-based), and level (minimum necessary privileges) of administrative access. This transforms blanket administrative credentials into precisely-controlled access parameters that minimize security exposure while maintaining operational capability.
2Ease of operation
If pre-installed or pre-configured software is required on remote resources to enable session manager access, then access control capability is improved, but device complexity and deployment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The target resource is designed to be self-sufficient by having the session manager capability inherently built into the operating system or resource itself. The resource autonomously manages its own access control without requiring external pre-configuration or additional software installation, eliminating deployment complexity while maintaining robust access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The session manager functionality is integrated as a universal capability within the target resource itself, allowing the same resource to both be accessed and to manage its own access control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pre-configured access control software, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive access control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for implementing least-privilege access to, control of, and/or code execution on target network resources. Operations may include identifying a prompt associated with a least-privilege requesting identity to initiate a remote session on a target network resource; executing, in response to the prompt, a first agent; retrieving, from a secure storage location, a second agent; initiating, by the first agent, execution of the second agent on the target network resource, wherein the second agent executes using a least-privilege credential or using least-privilege permissions associated with the least-privilege requesting identity; and instructing the second agent to perform an action remotely on the target network resource through the remote session using the least-privilege credential or using the least-privilege permissions.