Software Analysis Module Detecting Unauthorized Code via Environment Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software applications often contain unauthorized or harmful code, such as logic bombs or backdoors, which can be difficult to detect, especially when they are latent and only executed in development environments, posing a risk in production environments.
Innovation Solution
A computerized system with a software analysis module that monitors and compares the execution of software applications in development and production environments, identifying discrepancies and transmitting alerts to user devices, allowing for the detection of unauthorized code by highlighting differences in code or processes executed in one environment but not the other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software applications are deployed to production environment without extensive testing, then productivity is improved, but unauthorized code may remain undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and comparison of code execution between development and production environments before deployment. By establishing execution baselines in the development environment and comparing them against production environment executions, the system proactively identifies unauthorized code changes before they can cause harm, enabling faster deployment with maintained security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring software execution in both development and production environments, comparing the executions, and alerting when discrepancies are detected. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of unauthorized code without requiring extensive manual testing, thus improving both productivity and reliability.
2Reliability
If comprehensive code testing is performed in development environment, then detection of unauthorized code is improved, but loss of time occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the development environment's execution baseline and compares it against the production environment's execution. Instead of performing exhaustive testing in both environments, the system uses the development environment as a reference model, reducing the time required for detection while maintaining high reliability through automated comparison of execution behaviors.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system serves multiple functions: it monitors execution in development environment, establishes baselines, monitors execution in production environment, and performs comparisons. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise be separate testing and monitoring activities into a single unified system, reducing total time investment while improving detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If monitoring is performed in both development and production environments, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary comparison mechanism that takes execution data from both development and production environments and processes it through a unified analysis framework. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of dual-environment monitoring, allowing accurate detection without requiring complex separate monitoring systems for each environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the monitoring functions for development and production environments into a single integrated system. By combining the monitoring, baseline establishment, and comparison operations into one unified process, the system achieves high detection accuracy while minimizing the complexity that would arise from separate independent monitoring systems.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If unauthorized code is not detected, then harmful factors are generated, but improving detection increases loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated monitoring and comparison to rapidly identify unauthorized code changes, skipping the time-consuming manual analysis phase. By implementing real-time execution monitoring and automated discrepancy detection, the system rushes through the detection process, identifying harmful code changes quickly and transmitting alerts immediately, thus reducing both detection time and potential harm.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computerized system for detecting unauthorized code in a software application. The system typically includes a processor, a memory, and a software analysis module stored in the memory. The system for is typically configured for: executing a software application in a development environment and in a production environment; monitoring execution of the software application in the development environment and in the production environment; comparing the execution of the software application in the development environment and the execution of the software application in the production environment; identifying a discrepancy between the execution of the software application in the development environment and the execution of the software application in the production environment; and, based on identifying the discrepancy, transmitting an alert to a user computing device. Unauthorized code associated with the discrepancy may then be removed from the software application.