Application Security Context Mapping for Real-Time Threat Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing application security technologies lack effective real-time threat detection and response mechanisms, particularly for identifying and isolating threats within applications, leading to vulnerabilities and potential attacks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) technology that integrates with applications to monitor behavior, detect threats in real-time, and automatically respond with tailored security controls based on an application dependency map derived from traces and snapshots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional application security technologies are used, then general security coverage is provided, but real-time threat detection and response capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreat detection capabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds security agents directly within the application process space, nesting the security monitoring mechanism inside the application itself. This allows the security system to operate within the same process context as the application, enabling real-time detection without external communication overhead and achieving immediate threat response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a security context as an intermediary layer that mediates between the application and security controls. The security context captures and stores application state information, which security agents can query to make real-time detection decisions, enabling fast response without directly interfering with application execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive security monitoring is implemented, then threat detection accuracy is improved, but false positives increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreat detection accuracyVSAvoidfalse positives
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where security agents continuously monitor application behavior, compare it against the captured security context, and adjust their detection thresholds based on learned patterns. The system feeds back detection results and false positive information to refine future detection accuracy, reducing false positives while maintaining high detection rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different detection strategies and thresholds to different parts of the application based on their specific security risks. Instead of uniform monitoring, the system tailors security context capture and agent behavior to local application characteristics, reducing false positives in low-risk areas while maintaining high detection accuracy in critical sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If security controls are applied to all application tiers, then overall security is improved, but application performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication securityVSAvoidapplication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies security controls selectively to different application tiers based on their security criticality. The security context captures information about the application architecture and identifies which tiers require stricter security measures. Security agents and controls are then applied with varying intensity to different tiers, providing strong protection to critical components while minimizing performance impact on less sensitive areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial security monitoring where security agents and context capture are applied only to the extent necessary for effective threat detection. Instead of comprehensive monitoring of all application operations, the system focuses on capturing security-relevant context and applying controls only where they provide meaningful protection, thereby maintaining application performance while improving security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12554837B2Application security context from traces and snapshots
Publication Date: 2026.02.17 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US12554837B2 patent drawing
  • US12554837B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for securing an application includes determining processing information associated with the application, determining an application dependency map associated with the application at least in part based on the processing information, and determining a security context associated with the application based on the application dependency map.