Network Communication Device Session Key Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, the management and virtualization layers face resource constraints and security risks due to the need to generate and store session keys for data encryption, which can be exploited by unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A method where a private session key is generated in user space and stored on a network communication device, allowing the device to handle encryption and decryption operations, thereby freeing up resources on the host system and reducing the risk of key discovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If session keys are generated and stored on the host system for data encryption, then data security is maintained, but resource consumption increases and security risks are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the session key generation and storage function from the host system and relocates it to the network communication device. The host system only needs to pass encrypted data to the network device, which then handles encryption/decryption using session keys stored locally on the network device itself, eliminating the need for the host to generate and store these keys.
Solution Approach 2:
The network communication device acts as an intermediary between the host system and the data transmission process. It receives encrypted data from the host, uses its locally-stored session keys to decrypt the data, processes it, and then re-encrypts it for transmission. This intermediary role allows the host to maintain security without bearing the resource burden of key management.
2Ease of operation
If session keys are stored on the host hypervisor and virtual machine operating system, then encryption operations can be performed, but the risk of unauthorized key access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes session keys from the host hypervisor and virtual machine operating system environments, which are potential attack vectors. Instead, session keys are generated and stored exclusively on the network communication device, a hardened embedded system with restricted access. The host system only transmits encrypted data without ever possessing the decryption keys.
Solution Approach 2:
The network communication device performs self-service by generating its own session keys and storing them securely within its own memory. It independently handles all encryption and decryption operations using these keys, without requiring the host system to manage or protect the keys. This self-contained approach minimizes the attack surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure communication tunnel between user space software and a client device can be established. A private session key can be accessed from a cryptographic service. The private session key can be communicated from the user space software to a network communication device. Outbound session packets can be communicated from the user space software to the network communication device. The network communication device can be configured to generate encrypted outbound session packets by encrypting the outbound session packets using the private session key; communicate to the client device, via the secured communication tunnel, the encrypted outbound session packets; receive from the client device, via the secured communication tunnel, inbound session packets; generate decrypted inbound session packets by decrypting the inbound session packets using the private session key; and communicate the decrypted inbound session packets.