Least-Privilege Access Control for Network Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing privileged session managers often grant unnecessary administrative privileges for remote access, making resources vulnerable to misuse and security breaches, and require pre-configuration of remote resources, leading to inefficiencies and restricted access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that enables least-privilege access and control of target network resources by executing a second set of executable code using least-privilege credentials and permissions determined by a security policy, allowing secure and efficient remote access without pre-configuration or excessive privileges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If administrative privileges are granted for remote access, then access control capability is improved, but security vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by granting different privilege levels to different users and processes. Instead of uniform administrative privileges, the system implements role-based access control where each user receives only the minimum necessary privileges for their specific tasks. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining strong access control capability while minimizing security vulnerabilities through differentiated privilege assignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic privilege management where access rights are not static but change based on user actions, time, and context. Privileges are granted temporarily for specific operations and automatically revoked afterward. This dynamic approach maintains effective access control while reducing security exposure by limiting the duration and scope of privileged access.
2Reliability
If pre-configuration of remote resources is required, then access reliability is improved, but device complexity and access efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing security policies, access rules, and authentication mechanisms on the remote resource before actual access occurs. These preliminary configurations include defining user roles, setting permission templates, and configuring security protocols. This ensures reliable access while avoiding the need for complex ad-hoc configurations during each access session.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality through standardized access profiles and templates that can be applied across multiple remote resources. Instead of configuring each resource individually, the system uses universal security policies and access templates that work across different systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining access reliability through consistent security enforcement.
3Ease of operation
If pre-installed software is required on remote resource, then remote control capability is improved, but productivity and adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the local system and remote resources. This intermediary handles the complexity of remote control operations, providing standardized interfaces and protocols. Remote resources don't need pre-installed control software; instead, the intermediary manages the control sessions, improving productivity while maintaining full remote control capability through this mediating layer.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for performing operations using least-privilege access to and control of target network resources. Operations may include identifying a prompt associated with a least-privilege requesting identity to initiate an action on a target network resource; executing, in response to the prompt, a first set of executable code; initiating, based on the first set of executable code, execution of a second set of executable code on the target network resource, wherein the second set of executable code executes using a least-privilege credential or using least-privilege permissions, the least-privilege credential and the least-privilege permissions being determined according to a least-privilege security policy associated with a type of activity expected to be performed on the target network resource; and instructing the second set of executable code to perform the action remotely on the target network resource through a remote session.