Share Sheet Extension Isolation for Secure In-App Content Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems face security vulnerabilities and inefficiencies when applications and their plugins share the same process address space, making them susceptible to malicious code attacks and crashes, and lack effective methods to manage inter-process communications securely.

Innovation Solution

Applications and their plugins are executed in separate sandboxed environments with distinct security profiles, using an inter-process communication framework to manage resources and interactions, allowing secure content sharing and independent management of resources without affecting each other's operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If applications and plugins share the same process address space, then inter-process communication is simplified and resource sharing is easier, but security vulnerabilities increase and the system becomes susceptible to malicious code attacks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-process communicationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the process address space into separate sandboxes for the host application and plugin, allowing them to operate independently while maintaining controlled communication channels. This segmentation isolates malicious code to prevent system-wide compromise while preserving necessary inter-process communication through defined interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sandboxing mechanism as an intermediary layer between the host application and plugin. This mediator enforces security policies, controls resource access, and manages communication between the two processes, enabling secure interaction without direct address space sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If applications and plugins share the same process address space, then resource management is simplified, but plugin crashes can bring down the host application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource managementVSAvoidapplication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the process into separate address spaces for the host application and plugin, allowing independent execution and failure isolation. When a plugin crashes, the sandbox boundary prevents the crash from propagating to the host application, maintaining system stability while requiring the OS to manage inter-process resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements sandboxing as a protective measure before potential crashes occur. This pre-established boundary acts as a cushion that absorbs crash impacts, preventing them from affecting the host application. The sandbox enforces memory protection and resource access controls that mitigate crash propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If third-party plugins are allowed to access host application resources, then functionality is extended, but the host application becomes vulnerable to exploitation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality extensionVSAvoidvulnerability to attacks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sandboxing intermediary that mediates between third-party plugins and host application resources. This mediator allows plugins to access necessary resources for functionality extension while enforcing security policies that prevent exploitation and malicious actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different security qualities to different parts of the system. The host application runs with full privileges, while plugins operate in restricted sandboxes with limited resource access. This local quality differentiation enables functionality extension while containing potential harm within plugin boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250362979A1Sharing extension points to allow an application to share content via a sharing extension

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 APPLE INC

AI summary

A sharing extension point receives a request from a host application for sharing content, the sharing extension point being one of the extension points of an extension framework of an operating system, each corresponding to a common interface to extend a predefined functionality of one application to another application. In response, a sharing extension capable of providing content sharing services is launched. Data representing a share sheet created by the sharing extension is injected into a content viewer within the host application as a share sheet clone, where the share sheet clone has a reduced resolution image of the content displayed therein. In response to receiving a commit command for sharing, the actual content is retrieved from the host application and the retrieved content is transmitted to the sharing extension to enable the sharing extension to post the share sheet on a sharing platform.