Proxy TLS Policy Engine for Replay Attack Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Server deployments face challenges in distinguishing between original and replayed client requests, leading to difficulties in protecting against replay attacks, as existing protocols do not adequately safeguard against network attackers who resend or delay requests.
Innovation Solution
A device, acting as a proxy between clients and servers, applies application layer policies to transport layer security (TLS) requests to selectively allow or reject early data processing, using a TLS server and policy engine to determine whether to accept or reject requests based on their replay safety, thereby protecting servers from replay attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If early data processing is allowed for TLS requests, then processing speed is improved, but security against replay attacks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy device as an intermediary between clients and servers. This proxy device intercepts TLS requests, applies application layer policies to determine replay safety, and selectively allows or rejects early data processing. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by adding a security checkpoint that enables fast processing for safe requests while blocking potentially malicious replayed requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies application layer policies in advance to classify requests as replay-safe or not before actual server processing occurs. By performing this classification preliminarily at the proxy level, the system can make immediate decisions about early data processing without compromising server security, thus enabling speed improvements for safe requests while maintaining protection.
2Reliability
If application layer policies are applied to TLS requests, then security control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the security control function into a separate proxy device that handles application layer policy application, distinct from the TLS termination and server processing functions. This segmentation allows the proxy to specialize in policy enforcement while the server focuses on its core functionality, managing complexity through functional separation rather than requiring the server to handle both TLS and application layer security directly.
3Reliability
If early data requests are rejected for non-replay-safe resources, then security is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security policies to different resources based on their replay safety characteristics. Replay-safe resources receive permissive early data processing policies that enable efficient processing, while non-replay-safe resources receive restrictive policies. This local differentiation of policy quality allows the system to optimize for speed where safe and maintain security where needed, avoiding blanket restrictions that would harm overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for applying an application layer policy to a transport layer security request are provided. A device, intermediary to one or more clients and one or more servers, can receive a transport layer security (TLS) request to establish a TLS connection between a client of the one or more clients and a server of the one or more servers. The TLS request can include an application layer request to a resource of the server. The device can apply an application layer policy to the application layer request of the TLS request. The device can determine, responsive to applying the application layer policy, whether to one of accept or reject at least the application layer request of the TLS request.