Smart Privilege Escalation in Cloud Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current privilege escalation solutions in cloud platforms are not fine-grained, fail to adhere to the principle of least privilege, leading to security breaches and require server redeployment for code updates, resulting in downtime and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A smart privilege escalation system that uses an escalation matrix to dynamically escalate privileges based on specific access requirements, eliminating the need for hardcoded privileges and reducing the need for server downtime by allowing updates through a user interface without code changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current privilege escalation solutions are used, then access to internal records is enabled, but security is compromised due to broad privilege elevation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements fine-grained privilege escalation by granting elevated access rights to specific users for specific resources rather than broadly elevating privileges. The system determines whether to escalate privileges based on the user's role and the specific resource being accessed, ensuring that only the minimum necessary privileges are granted for the duration of the transaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The privilege escalation is dynamic and temporary, activated only when a user attempts to access a resource they don't normally have permission to access. The elevated privileges are automatically revoked after the transaction completes, making the privilege elevation transient rather than permanent.
2Adaptability or versatility
If privilege escalation code is updated through server redeployment, then new access requirements are implemented, but downtime occurs and errors may be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The privilege escalation logic is segmented into separate configurable components including escalation rules, user roles, and resource definitions. These segments can be independently modified without requiring system-wide redeployment, allowing updates to be made in isolated configuration areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows administrators to configure and update privilege escalation rules through a user interface without requiring code changes or server redeployment. The configuration changes are applied dynamically, enabling the system to adapt to new access requirements while remaining operational.
Data Source
AI summary
Privilege escalation in a cloud platform comprises provisioning to a client access privileges to the database entities that are covered by a license. A base escalation matrix is provisioned to the client with additional access privileges not covered by the license. An API request is received and the requested CRUD operation is attempted on a first database entity. Responsive to the requested CRUD operation initially failing because the client does not have required access privileges activation of an exception signaling failure of the requested CRUD operation is detected and used as a trigger to fetch the base escalation matrix. The access privileges of the client are escalated by applying the additional access privileges from the base escalation matrix to a user context of the current API query request, and repeating the requested CRUD operation. The escalated access privileges are then removed.