Mixed Hotpatch and Coldpatch Compliance for Runtime Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software patching methods, whether through coldpatches or hotpatches, often require system downtime and service disruptions due to the need for restarting software components, especially when lower-level operating system components like the OS kernel are involved.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that evaluates and enforces system compliance by leveraging a mix of coldpatches and hotpatches, using policies to determine compliance conditions, and enacting actions such as generating health reports, health attestations, or initiating patching actions, ensuring appropriate patch combinations are applied without disrupting system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coldpatches are applied by modifying or replacing binary images on-disk, then security compliance is improved, but system downtime and service disruption occur due to required software component restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary patch validation and preparation before applying patches to running software components. Compliance assessments are conducted in advance to determine patch readiness, and patches are staged for application without requiring immediate system restarts, thereby maintaining security compliance while minimizing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary compliance assessment mechanism that mediates between coldpatch application and hotpatch execution. This intermediary layer evaluates system state, determines appropriate patch application methods, and coordinates between different patching approaches to achieve security compliance without mandatory system downtime.
2Productivity
If hotpatches are applied by directly modifying in-memory images, then system availability is improved by avoiding restarts, but patch validation and compliance assurance become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and report on hotpatch application status, validation results, and compliance state. This feedback loop enables real-time verification of patch effectiveness and maintains compliance assurance despite the dynamic nature of in-memory modifications, thereby supporting high system availability without sacrificing validation capability.
3Productivity
If a mix of coldpatches and hotpatches is used, then both security compliance and system availability can be maintained, but system complexity increases due to managing varying patching states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal compliance assessment framework that can evaluate and manage both coldpatch and hotpatch states through a unified interface. This multi-functional system handles diverse patching scenarios (coldpatch-only, hotpatch-only, and mixed approaches) using common validation rules and compliance criteria, thereby reducing the effective complexity of managing mixed patching states while maintaining both security and availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Enacting a compliance action using an assessment that considers a mix of coldpatches and hotpatches includes identifying a policy defining the compliance condition based on patching status of a software component. A patching state of the software component is determined, including identifying evidence of coldpatched binary file(s) and hotpatch binary file(s) applicable to the software component, and using the evidence to determine whether or not the hotpatch binary file(s) have been applied to a memory image into which an instance of the software component is loaded. Based on the policy and on the patching state of the software component, a compliance action is enacted for the compliance condition. The compliance action includes generating a health report or a health attestation, initiating a patching action, initiating an execution control action, and the like.