Network Traffic Rate Limiting via Trusted Application Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open architecture network systems are vulnerable to security threats, particularly from within, as they allow third-party access and modification, leading to issues like denial of service attacks and unauthorized access, which are difficult to detect and respond to, especially in high-speed networks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for rate limiting network traffic flow using a master module in a server environment that manages traffic restrictions through a traffic restriction module, with a trusted application validating client applications to allow or restrict network traffic, integrating security through hardware and software configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If open architecture is implemented to allow third-party applications, then system versatility and developer involvement increase, but system security and vulnerability to attacks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides network traffic into trusted and untrusted segments, applying different handling rules to each. The rate limiting mechanism specifically targets untrusted traffic while allowing trusted traffic to proceed normally, thus maintaining system versatility while protecting against security threats from third-party applications.
Solution Approach 2:
A rate limiting mechanism acts as an intermediary between the open architecture system and external third-party applications. This intermediary monitors and controls traffic flow from untrusted sources, preventing malicious attacks while still allowing legitimate third-party applications to function, thus resolving the security-versus-versatility contradiction.
2Reliability
If rate limiting is applied to untrusted applications, then system security improves, but network traffic flow and application performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The rate limiting mechanism applies different quality levels of traffic control to different applications based on their trust status. Untrusted applications receive rate-limited treatment with reduced bandwidth, while trusted applications receive full-speed access. This local differentiation maintains system security without unnecessarily impacting the productivity of legitimate applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial rate limiting only to the extent necessary for security - enforcing bandwidth caps on untrusted applications rather than completely blocking them. This partial action provides security protection while still allowing useful traffic from third-party applications to pass through, balancing security requirements with network productivity.
3Measurement precision
If monitoring of network traffic is increased to detect attacks, then detection precision improves, but system complexity and processing overhead worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of applications as trusted or untrusted before full traffic monitoring begins. This preliminary action establishes baseline security rules that automatically filter out suspicious traffic patterns, reducing the need for complex real-time analysis of all traffic and thereby lowering system complexity while maintaining detection precision for actual threats.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is provided for rate limiting network traffic flow of an untrusted application. A master module (110) in a server environment manages network traffic flow restrictions. A slave module (115) executes client applications (133) in the server environment. A services module (125) in the server environment executes a trusted application (132) to validate the client application to the master module. A traffic restriction module (112) on the master module sets network traffic restrictions when validation has not been received for the client application on the slave module (115), and receives client application validations from the trusted application to unrestrict network traffic flow for the client application on the slave module (115).