Proxy-Based Network Access Protection via Header Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network access protection methods are inadequate in detecting and preventing malware from communicating within a network, as they often rely on firewalls that struggle to differentiate between legitimate and malicious traffic, leading to compromised endpoints and potential network vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A proxy-based system that examines request headers for expected information, verifies application types, and sends instructions to validate application behavior, denying access if inconsistencies are detected, thereby preventing malware from accessing the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firewalls are used to protect network access, then external attackers are blocked, but malware resident within the network cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between applications and the network. The proxy examines HTTP headers and application behavior to detect malware, acting as a mediator that firewalls cannot replace. This intermediary analyzes traffic patterns and application characteristics to identify malicious activity while allowing legitimate traffic to pass through.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy performs preliminary verification of applications before allowing network access. It examines application headers, validates application types, and checks for expected information in advance of network communication. This preliminary action prevents malware from establishing network connections while allowing legitimate applications to communicate freely.
2Measurement precision
If detection methods are made more complex to detect sophisticated malware, then detection accuracy improves, but execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy applies partial verification by examining specific header fields and application characteristics that are most indicative of malware. Rather than performing exhaustive analysis on all traffic, it focuses on key indicators such as header format, application type consistency, and expected information presence. This selective approach maintains high detection accuracy while minimizing execution time overhead.
3Measurement precision
If the proxy examines detailed application information in headers, then malware detection accuracy improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy segments the verification process into distinct stages: header examination, application type identification, expected information validation, and behavior verification. Each stage focuses on specific aspects of application analysis, allowing the system to process information systematically without overwhelming complexity. This segmentation enables parallel processing and optimization of individual verification steps.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a proxy, a request for access to a network from an application on an endpoint. The method also includes determining, by the proxy, information about the application on the endpoint by examining one or more headers of the request received at the proxy from the application. The method further includes determining, by the proxy, whether the one or more headers comprise expected information based on the determined information about the application. In response to determining that the one or more headers do not comprise the expected information, the method includes denying, by the proxy, the request for access to the network. In addition, in response to determining that the one or more headers comprise the expected information, the method includes forwarding, by the proxy, the request to the network on behalf of the application.