Privilege Imputation for Unsigned Script Execution During ZTP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing devices arriving unprovisioned at data centers cannot execute unsigned scripts during Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) due to restrictions, limiting their functionality and efficiency before full provisioning.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies a child process spawned from a parent process, checks an access-control label to determine if the parent process has privileges to override script execution restrictions, and imputes those privileges to the child process, allowing the execution of unsigned scripts during ZTP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional computing device restricts execution to signed scripts only, then security is maintained, but the device cannot execute unsigned scripts during ZTP
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by checking whether the parent process has the privilege to override the restriction before allowing the child process to execute the unsigned script. This preliminary check enables the device to safely execute unsigned scripts during ZTP while maintaining security through privilege-based control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a computing device allows execution of unsigned scripts without restrictions, then functionality during ZTP is improved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different execution policies to different processes based on their privilege status. Child processes spawned from privileged parent processes are granted local permission to execute unsigned scripts, while other processes remain subject to the signed-script-only restriction. This localized quality control enables functionality during ZTP without compromising overall security.
3Reliability
If a computing device requires all scripts to be signed before execution, then security is ensured, but productivity during ZTP is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by checking whether the parent process has the privilege to override the restriction before allowing the child process to execute the unsigned script. This preliminary check enables the device to safely execute unsigned scripts during ZTP while maintaining security through privilege-based control.
4Reliability
If a computing device implements strict script signing requirements, then security is maintained, but operational flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different execution policies to different processes based on their privilege status. Child processes spawned from privileged parent processes are granted local permission to execute unsigned scripts, while other processes remain subject to the signed-script-only restriction. This localized quality control enables functionality during ZTP without compromising overall security.
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed method may include (1) identifying a child process that spawned from a parent process running on a computing device, (2) receiving, from the child process, a request to execute an unsigned script on the computing device, (3) determining, in response to the request, whether to override a restriction against executing unsigned scripts by (A) checking an access-control label referenced by the parent process and (B) determining that the access-control label indicates that the parent process has a privilege to override the restriction, (4) imputing, to the child process, the privilege of the parent process to override the, and then (5) executing, on the computing device, the unsigned script despite the restriction due at least in part to the privilege of the parent process having been imputed to the child process. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.