SQL Proxy Analyzer for Unauthorized Query Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Relational Database Management Systems face sophisticated and frequent cyberattacks, particularly through structurally valid but unauthorized SQL queries, which existing security measures struggle to detect and prevent effectively.

Innovation Solution

A proxy server is introduced between application servers and database systems to monitor and analyze SQL queries, assigning unique identifiers to legitimate queries during an initial training phase, and terminating unauthorized queries by comparing them against a valid-query library, thereby preventing malicious data access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional security measures are used to protect database systems, then basic access control is provided, but sophisticated and structurally valid unauthorized SQL queries cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddetection of unauthorized queries
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary learning during a training phase where it observes and records legitimate SQL query patterns, sources, and destinations before entering operational mode. This preliminary action establishes a baseline of authorized behavior that enables later detection of unauthorized queries without interfering with normal database operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The proxy server acts as an intermediary component positioned between the database management system and application servers. It intercepts, analyzes, and filters SQL queries before they reach the database, enabling security inspection without modifying the core database system or application code.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a proxy server monitors all SQL queries to detect unauthorized access, then detection accuracy improves, but system complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery analysis accuracyVSAvoidproxy server complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server performs preliminary learning during a training phase where it observes and records legitimate SQL query patterns, sources, and destinations before entering operational mode. This preliminary action establishes a baseline of authorized behavior that enables later detection of unauthorized queries without interfering with normal database operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simplified representation of legitimate query patterns by recording sources, destinations, and query structures during the training phase. This copied information is stored in a data structure that enables fast comparison and decision-making during operational mode, reducing the complexity of real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the proxy server analyzes every SQL query in detail, then unauthorized queries are detected accurately, but processing time and performance overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreat detection accuracyVSAvoidquery processing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server performs preliminary learning during a training phase where it observes and records legitimate SQL query patterns, sources, and destinations before entering operational mode. This preliminary action establishes a baseline of authorized behavior that enables later detection of unauthorized queries without interfering with normal database operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simplified representation of legitimate query patterns by recording sources, destinations, and query structures during the training phase. This copied information is stored in a data structure that enables fast comparison and decision-making during operational mode, reducing the complexity of real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If the system blocks all unfamiliar SQL queries to prevent unauthorized access, then data security improves, but legitimate application functionality may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidapplication functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server performs preliminary learning during a training phase where it observes and records legitimate SQL query patterns, sources, and destinations before entering operational mode. This preliminary action establishes a baseline of authorized behavior that enables later detection of unauthorized queries without interfering with normal database operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to legitimate applications by observing their query patterns during the training phase and adjusting its allowed behavior accordingly. This dynamic learning process ensures that the security policy evolves to match actual application needs, preventing false blocking of legitimate functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12111916B2SQL proxy analyzer to detect and prevent unauthorized SQL queries
Publication Date: 2024.10.08 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO
  • US12111916B2 patent drawing
  • US12111916B2 patent drawing
  • US12111916B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A proxy apparatus for analyzing database queries in a secure network using a valid-query library that is constructed during an initial period following the deployment of an application. The proxy apparatus receives, in an operational mode, an operational database query from the secure network, generates an identifier for the received operational database query based at least upon a query code of the received operational database query; identifies a source and a destination of the received operation database query and compares the generated identifier, the identified source, and the identified destination to the valid-query library. When the comparing fails to match any entries in the valid-query library, the proxy apparatus terminates the operational database query; and when the comparing step matches an entry in the valid-query library, the proxy apparatus relays the received operational database query based on the destination identification.