Proxy Server Endpoint Security Testing via Request Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service servers often have insecure resource endpoints due to inconsistent authentication validation, leading to sensitive resources being improperly displayed or transmitted to unauthenticated client devices, and posing security risks for both the service servers and proxy servers.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method where a proxy server relays requests to service servers, groups requests by endpoint, and performs security tests by modifying authentication elements in selected requests to generate test requests, allowing for the assessment of endpoint security without overwhelming the service servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the proxy server tests all resource endpoints by sending test requests with invalid authentication elements, then security vulnerabilities can be identified, but service servers may be overloaded and request frequency limits may be exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selecting only a subset of resource endpoints for security testing rather than testing all endpoints. The proxy server identifies and tests specific endpoints that are most likely to have security issues or are critical to the system's security, thereby reducing the overall number of test requests sent to service servers while still achieving effective security validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by grouping requests into address groups before performing security tests. The proxy server organizes resource endpoints into groups based on their characteristics and authentication requirements, then performs security testing on representative endpoints from each group. This preliminary organization allows the system to infer security status for multiple endpoints based on testing a fewer number of representative endpoints.
2Reliability
If the proxy server sends frequent test requests to validate security, then authentication vulnerabilities can be detected, but the service server may block requests due to exceeding request frequency limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing scheduled and spaced-out security testing rather than continuous or frequent testing. The proxy server performs security tests at predetermined intervals and maintains appropriate timing between test requests, ensuring that testing activities do not exceed the service server's request frequency thresholds while still providing regular security validation.
3Reliability
If the proxy server tests resource endpoints with significantly different test requests from actual requests, then security issues can be identified, but comparing test resources with actual resources becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making targeted, localized modifications to authentication elements in test requests rather than significantly altering the overall request structure. The proxy server preserves the fundamental characteristics and format of actual requests while only modifying specific authentication-related parameters to test for security vulnerabilities. This approach allows for accurate comparison between test resources and actual resources while still effectively identifying authentication security issues.
Data Source
AI summary
Some resource endpoints on some service servers may not be secure, as the service servers may not properly validate one or more authentication elements in requests from client devices for resources at the resource endpoints. A proxy server situated between the client devices and service servers may test endpoints by purposefully sending test requests including invalid authentication elements. However, it may not be possible for the proxy server to know every resource endpoint or to test every endpoint. In some embodiments, the proxy server may relay a plurality of requests originating from the client devices to the service servers, each request of the plurality of requests addressing a corresponding endpoint at the service servers; group the plurality of requests into a plurality of address groups based on the corresponding endpoint included in each request; and for an address group of the plurality of address groups, perform a security test.