Transport Layer Interceptor for Vulnerability Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software systems face challenges in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities due to complexity, leading to potential exploitation by hackers, and administrators often delay patch installations due to concerns about unintended side effects, compromising security.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for intercepting communications between a transport client and a transport provider using an interceptor system that registers to intercept calls, replaces callbacks, and analyzes calls to enforce security policies, ensuring uniform handling of communications and preventing potential vulnerabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If software systems are released with vulnerabilities removed through patches, then security is improved, but system availability deteriorates due to required shutdowns and restarts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The interceptor system is installed and configured before the vulnerability exploitation occurs. It proactively monitors and blocks exploit attempts at the transport layer, preventing the need for reactive patch installation that would cause system shutdowns. The security policy is established in advance to automatically handle exploitation attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interceptor system acts as an intermediary component between the transport client and transport provider. It intercepts communications at the transport layer, analyzes them against security policies, and blocks exploit attempts without requiring modification of the core software system, thus maintaining system availability while improving security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If patches are distributed quickly to address widely exposed vulnerabilities, then response time is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to reduced testing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidpatch testing quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Security policies and interception rules are pre-configured and tested in the interceptor system before deployment. This preliminary configuration allows the system to respond immediately to exploitation attempts without requiring rapid patch distribution that would compromise testing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interceptor system creates a copy of the transport layer communication flow and analyzes it separately. This allows security policies to be tested and refined in the interceptor without affecting the core software system, enabling rapid response to vulnerabilities while maintaining testing rigor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If administrators delay patch installation to avoid unintended side effects, then system stability is improved, but security deteriorates due to ongoing vulnerability exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interceptor system serves as a stable intermediary that provides security protection without requiring changes to the core software system. It monitors transport layer communications and blocks exploit attempts, maintaining system stability while addressing security concerns that would otherwise require risky patch installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The interceptor system provides self-service security protection by automatically monitoring, analyzing, and blocking exploitation attempts based on pre-configured security policies. This eliminates the need for administrators to make difficult decisions about patch timing, as the system continuously protects itself without disrupting operational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If intrusion detection systems use signatures to prevent vulnerability exploitation, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple interception points

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinterception system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interceptor system implements a universal interception mechanism at the transport layer that handles multiple vulnerability types and exploitation methods through a single integrated component. Instead of requiring separate detection systems at multiple protocol layers, this universal interceptor provides comprehensive security through centralized transport layer monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7536542B2Method and system for intercepting, analyzing, and modifying interactions between a transport client and a transport provider

Publication Date: 2009.05.19 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method and system for intercepting communications between a transport client and a transport provider is provided. An interceptor system registers to intercept calls made by the transport client to functions of the transport provider. The interceptor system also replaces callbacks of the transport client so that calls from the transport provider intended for the transport client can be intercepted. When the interceptor system intercepts the call, it provides an indication of the call to a processing component. The processing component may analyze the call and determine whether the call should be allowed or denied. The interceptor system then proceeds to process the call in accordance with the indication of the processing component.