Port Translation Intermediary for Secure Server Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Internet servers are vulnerable to unauthorized access due to their tendency to listen on well-known port numbers, making them susceptible to hacking strategies such as brute force attacks and buffer overflows, exacerbated by publicly announced software defects.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that detects client connections at a first port, provides a decoy port number to clients, and launches server services on a second, seemingly random port, with a scrambler daemon managing port assignments and monitoring connections to ensure secure communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If servers listen on well-known port numbers, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a port translation intermediary that sits between the client and the server. The server listens on a well-known port for ease of connection, but the intermediary translates these connections to the server's actual hidden port. This mediator layer allows public access while protecting the server from direct exposure to attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the port communication into two distinct layers: a public well-known port for client connections and a private hidden port for actual server services. This segmentation separates the accessibility function from the service function, allowing the server to maintain security while remaining accessible.
2Ease of operation
If servers use fixed well-known ports, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic port assignment where the server's actual listening port can change over time. The port translation mechanism adapts to these changes by updating its mapping rules. This allows the server to relocate to different ports for security purposes while clients continue to connect to the stable well-known port.
Solution Approach 2:
The port translation intermediary acts as a flexible adapter that can map the fixed well-known port to various moving target ports. This intermediary absorbs the complexity of port management, allowing the server to be adaptable while maintaining operational simplicity for clients.
3Ease of operation
If servers expose their actual port numbers, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The port translation intermediary hides the server's actual port number from clients while maintaining connectivity. The intermediary manages the complexity of port mapping and translation, presenting a simple well-known port to clients while handling the complex security requirements of hiding the actual server port.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique to effect secure communications with a server application, such as server applications that are accessible on the Internet. In one embodiment, a client connection is detected at a first port. The client is provided with a decoy port number. A server provides services to the client on a second port that is mapped to the decoy port number.