Unvalidated Privilege Cap for Executable File Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for validating the integrity of software objects prior to execution do not effectively protect against modifications made after comparison but before execution, leaving systems vulnerable to compromise.

Innovation Solution

A method that securely accesses an executable file object by validating it at the time of execution, using a privilege cap to allow or deny access, and employing digital signatures and manifests to ensure file integrity, thereby preventing unauthorized execution of altered files.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If files are compared against a manifest of known valid files, then file integrity can be verified at comparison time, but the system becomes vulnerable to modifications made after comparison but before execution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile integrity verificationVSAvoidpost-comparison modification attacks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs validation of the executable file object immediately before execution by checking digital signatures and comparing against manifests, ensuring that any modifications made after initial comparison but before execution are detected. This preliminary validation action closes the security gap in the prior art approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the validation result directly controls whether the executable file object is allowed to execute. If validation fails (indicating post-comparison modification), execution is blocked. This feedback loop ensures that integrity verification remains effective throughout the execution lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If strict validation is enforced for all executable files, then system security is improved, but legitimate unvalidated files may be incorrectly blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoidexecution of unvalidated files

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different validation requirements to different executable file objects based on their specific characteristics and trust levels. Validated files with digital signatures receive full security protection, while unvalidated files are handled with appropriate restrictions. This local differentiation allows legitimate unvalidated files to execute while maintaining security for critical system files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the validation parameter state dynamically - files can transition from unvalidated to validated status through digital signature verification. This parameter change allows the system to adapt security requirements based on the actual validation state of each file, rather than applying static restrictions to all files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8856938B2Unvalidated privilege cap

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A method for securely accessing an executable file object includes a step in which a request from the target process to access the executable file object is received by an operating system component, and the object is examined for validity before access is allowed. For objects that cannot be validated, the process is run with privileges bounded by the privilege cap, if the privilege cap permits execution of the object.