Registry Filter Driver for Least-Privilege Key Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer systems face challenges in managing registry access with a least-privilege security model, requiring high privilege levels for registry operations, which can lead to security risks and unintended modifications.
Innovation Solution
Implement a computer-implemented method using a registry filter driver in kernel mode to monitor user processes, establish access rules, and evaluate registry operations, enabling or blocking access as needed, while maintaining user interface familiarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high privilege level (administrator level) is required to access the registry, then registry operations can be performed, but security risks increase and unintended modifications may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments registry access control by creating a filter driver that operates independently between user mode and kernel mode. This filter driver intercepts and evaluates registry operations individually, allowing standard user processes to access only specific registry keys they need while blocking unauthorized access to other keys, thus eliminating the need for full administrator privileges.
Solution Approach 2:
The registry filter driver acts as an intermediary component that sits between user mode processes and the kernel mode registry. It evaluates registry operations requested by user processes and determines whether to allow or block access based on predefined rules, enabling fine-grained access control without requiring privilege escalation.
2Reliability
If a registry filter driver is implemented to control access, then security is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter driver implements partial action by selectively evaluating only specific registry operations that match predefined rules, rather than intercepting and processing all registry operations. This approach provides adequate security control while minimizing the overhead and complexity introduced by the filter driver.
3Adaptability or versatility
If privilege elevation is used to access the registry, then all registry operations are enabled, but unintended modifications and security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by granting different access permissions to different registry keys based on the specific needs of user processes. Each registry key can have its own access control rules, allowing standard users to access specific keys while preventing access to others, thus providing tailored access control rather than blanket privilege elevation.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer device can identify a registry operation requested by a user process. The computer device can perform an evaluation of the registry operation based on at least one registry access rule. The computer device can determine whether to enable access to a particular key in the registry of the operating system to perform the registry operation requested by the user process. The computer device can perform impersonation to gain access to the particular key using an impersonation token in response to determining to enable access.