Security Context for Secure Handle Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capability-based operating systems are vulnerable to privilege escalation attacks where a compromised process can trick a third-party process or service to obtain and transfer privileges, leading to insecure handle transfers between processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a security framework that uses mandatory access control (MAC) policies to manage and enforce secure handle transfers by accessing and updating security contexts, ensuring that only authorized processes can transfer handles based on predefined security policies, thereby reducing kernel entry points and changes for tracking security contexts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a process can transfer handles to other processes without restriction, then process communication and resource sharing is improved, but security is worsened due to privilege escalation attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security context as an intermediary mechanism that mediates handle transfers between processes. The security context contains security identifiers (SIDs) and access rights that are checked during handle transfer operations. This intermediary structure enables controlled resource sharing while preventing unauthorized privilege escalation, as the security context acts as a gatekeeper that validates both the transferring process and the target process before allowing handle transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary security verification by checking security contexts before allowing handle transfers. The system pre-establishes security policies and access rights in the security context, and performs validation checks before the actual transfer occurs. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized transfers from happening in the first place, rather than relying on post-transfer validation or restricted communication channels.
2Reliability
If security contexts are tracked through multiple kernel entry points, then security control is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal security context structure that serves multiple functions: it stores security identifiers (SIDs), access rights, and policy information in a single integrated data structure. This universal security context can be used across different kernel operations (handle creation, transfer, deletion, and access control) through a consistent interface, eliminating the need for separate tracking mechanisms at different kernel entry points and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If mandatory access control policies are enforced during handle transfer, then security is improved, but ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service security verification where the security context automatically validates handle transfer requests against stored security policies without requiring external intervention. The security context contains all necessary security identifiers and access rights, and the validation logic is embedded within the handle transfer mechanism itself. This self-service approach enforces mandatory access control while maintaining ease of operation, as the security checks are transparent and automated rather than requiring manual policy configuration or external authorization steps.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to transfer a handle to an object from a first process to a second process, accessing a first security context of the handle and a second security context of the second process, identifying one or more security policies based on at least one of the first security context and the second security context, determining that the handle is allowed to be transferred to the second process by applying the one or more security policies on the first security context of the handle and the second security context of the second process, and transferring the handle to the second process in response to the request.