Traceable Software Signing via Secure Management Service
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software security measures struggle to provide robust, traceable, and attestable security solutions throughout the software life cycle, especially in ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of software across various stages of development and deployment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for traceably managing the software supply chain by accepting requests for signing designated information using a secure management service, signing the information with a private key uniquely associated with each member of the software supply chain, and providing the signed information, along with signing artifacts and attestation services, to ensure security and trustworthiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional software security measures are used, then basic security protection is provided, but traceability and attestability of security throughout the software life cycle are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a secure management service and key pair infrastructure before software development begins. Each member receives a unique private key in advance, and the system pre-configures signing capabilities for all software artifacts throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring traceability is built-in from the start rather than added retroactively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the secure management service that collects, verifies, and stores signing artifacts and security information from each software development stage. The service provides feedback to members about the security status of their artifacts and maintains a traceable record that can be audited, creating a closed-loop security verification system
2Reliability
If comprehensive signing and verification mechanisms are implemented across all software development stages, then security and trustworthiness are enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single secure management service that handles multiple functions across the entire software development lifecycle. This centralized service manages key distribution, artifact signing, verification, and traceability recording for all software stages (development, testing, deployment, operation), reducing the need for separate security systems at each stage and thereby managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive security
Solution Approach 2:
The secure management service acts as an intermediary between software members and the verification process. Rather than requiring direct complex cryptographic operations between all participants, the secure management service mediates by receiving artifacts, performing signing operations with unique private keys, and providing verified output, thereby simplifying the interaction complexity while ensuring security
3Loss of information
If unique private keys are assigned to each member for signing operations, then accountability and traceability are improved, but key management security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the private key storage and management functionality into a secure, isolated environment within the secure management service. The private keys are kept separate from the software development processes and only used for signing operations when explicitly requested, minimizing exposure to security risks while maintaining full traceability of signing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated key management where each member's private key is automatically generated, stored securely, and used for signing their specific software artifacts. The secure management service automatically handles key protection, signing operations, and artifact recording without requiring manual key handling by members, thereby reducing human error and security risks while maintaining accountability
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for traceably managing software throughout its life cycle is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises accepting, in secure management service via a first client interface module of a set of client interface modules, a request from a member of a plurality of members of the software supply chain to sign designated information, the designated information associated with the secure software in at least one of the plurality of stages, signing the designated information in response to the request according to a private key of a key pair uniquely associated with the member, and providing the signed designated information to the member of the software supply chain.