Use Case Logging for Real-Time Cloud Vulnerability Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional logging methods fail to provide a standardized, real-time, and use case-specific view of vulnerabilities in distributed network environments, leading to inadequate identification and mitigation of security threats in complex network systems.
Innovation Solution
A management system dynamically configures a logging framework to generate trace records that include vulnerability identifiers and severity scores, enabling real-time monitoring and graphical representation of vulnerabilities on a use case basis, allowing administrators to take targeted risk mitigation actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional logging methods are used in distributed network environments, then the logging framework is simple to implement, but the ability to identify and monitor vulnerabilities in real-time is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds vulnerability identification and tracing capabilities within the existing logging framework. Trace records are nested with vulnerability information (VID, severity scores) alongside traditional logging data, allowing vulnerability monitoring without creating a separate complex system. The logging framework acts as a container that holds both conventional log data and vulnerability trace data in a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The logging framework is enhanced to serve multiple functions simultaneously: traditional logging, vulnerability identification, use case tracing, and security monitoring. By making the logging framework multi-functional, the patent avoids creating separate specialized systems for each function, thereby improving vulnerability identification capability while controlling overall system complexity.
2Loss of information
If detailed vulnerability information is logged for every service, then the completeness of vulnerability data is improved, but the volume of log data and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively logging vulnerability information based on specific criteria rather than uniformly logging all vulnerability data. Trace records include vulnerability identifiers and severity scores only for services and use cases where vulnerabilities are detected or relevant, rather than logging all possible vulnerability information across the entire system. This reduces overall log volume while maintaining completeness of critical vulnerability data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by focusing logging resources on capturing essential vulnerability information (VID, severity scores, affected use cases) rather than logging all possible details. The approach captures sufficient vulnerability data to enable effective identification and mitigation while avoiding the excessive logging of redundant or less critical information, thus balancing completeness with data volume management.
3Speed
If real-time vulnerability monitoring is implemented across all services, then the speed of vulnerability detection is improved, but the computational resources and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the logging framework to capture vulnerability information in trace records before vulnerabilities are exploited or cause damage. The system is set up in advance to log VID, severity scores, and use case associations, enabling rapid real-time detection without requiring complex analysis or processing at the moment of vulnerability occurrence. This preparatory configuration enables fast detection while avoiding the need for complex real-time computation.
4Measurement precision
If vulnerability trace records are generated for each use case, then the precision of use case-specific vulnerability identification is improved, but the complexity of trace record management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by creating separate, structured trace records for each use case that is affected by vulnerabilities. Each trace record is a self-contained unit with specific fields (UCID, VID, severity score, service identifier) that can be independently managed and analyzed. This segmentation enables precise use case-specific vulnerability identification while simplifying management through modular, standardized record structures that can be processed individually rather than as a complex interconnected system.
Data Source
AI summary
A management system (200) configures logging in telecommunication networks executing one or more services (230) in a distributed workflow. To accomplish its function, the management system obtains vulnerability information for one or more services currently deployed in a communications network. The vulnerability information comprises, for each of the one or more services a vulnerability identifier (VID) identifying a vulnerability of the service and a vulnerability score indicating a severity of the vulnerability. So obtained, the management system configures a logging framework (220) to generate trace records (406, 424) for a service currently deployed in the communications network to include the VID and the vulnerability score of the service. The management system configures the logging framework to generate the trace records on a use case basis. Therefore, each of the trace records are generated to identify a particular use case and use case instance associated with the execution of the service.