Virtual Machine Agent Injection via Process Identity Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for loading agents into virtual machines face challenges in efficiently identifying and augmenting Java processes, particularly on platforms like OpenJDK 8, and in preventing repeat agent injections while ensuring correct operation across different versions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving a path to an agent and an options string, resolving the identity of a virtual machine instance using a process identifier, changing the operating system process identity if privileged, injecting the agent into the virtual machine, and reinstating the original identity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system loads agents into virtual machines using conventional methods, then the agent can be injected into the JVM, but the system cannot efficiently identify and augment Java processes across different development kit versions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the agent loading process into distinct phases: identifying Java processes using process identifiers, resolving their identities, checking for existing agents, and performing augmentation only when necessary. This segmentation allows the system to handle different JDK versions systematically without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by first retrieving and parsing status files to determine process identities and effective user/group identifiers before attempting agent injection. It also preliminarily checks whether an agent is already loaded, preventing redundant operations and simplifying the overall process management.
2Reliability
If the system changes the operating system process identity to perform augmentation, then the agent can be successfully injected, but the original process identity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by saving the original process identity before changing it. The status file is parsed and the original identity is stored, then the process identity is changed to enable agent injection, and finally the original identity is restored. This ensures reliability of injection while preventing permanent loss of the original identity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily discards the original process identity to enable agent injection under the required identity context, then recovers the original identity after the injection is complete. This allows the system to gain the necessary privileges for injection while maintaining the original process state afterward.
3Reliability
If the system checks for existing agents before injection, then repeat injections are prevented, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check by retrieving the status file and parsing it to determine whether an agent is already loaded before attempting injection. This preliminary action prevents redundant injection attempts and ensures reliability, while the check is integrated into the existing flow rather than adding significant complexity.
4Measurement precision
If the system resolves process identity using status files, then accurate identification is achieved, but file parsing and processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by retrieving and parsing the status file early in the process, before agent injection is attempted. This allows the process identity to be resolved in advance, improving accuracy while the parsing time is amortized across multiple operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the process's own status file to resolve its identity, allowing the process to provide its own identification information without external intervention. This self-service approach improves accuracy while minimizing the time required for identity resolution.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for loading an agent into a virtual machine. In one aspect, a method may include receiving a path to an agent and an options string, wherein the agent comprises a set of classes built to perform an action, resolving, using a process identifier, an identity of a first process comprising a virtual machine instance that has not been augmented by the agent on a host. The method may include performing augmentation on the process by: changing an original identity of a current operating system process to the first identity in response to determining that the current operating system process is privileged, injecting the agent into the virtual machine instance with the path and the options string as arguments of an injection, and reinstating the original identity of the current operating system process.