Automated Vulnerability Detection for Broadband Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer electronic devices lack an automated method to detect unsafe software component versions and provide self-protection until a software fix is available, with no automated way to determine vulnerability applicability or notify service providers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that periodically reads published vulnerability databases and compares them against a database of software components on customer-premise equipment, enabling automated detection of unsafe versions and self-protection measures, while notifying service providers about applicable vulnerabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual vulnerability checking is performed on deployed devices, then vulnerability detection accuracy is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables deployed devices to automatically perform self-checks against vulnerability databases using pre-loaded software component information. Each device independently compares its software components with known vulnerabilities without requiring manual intervention, achieving both high detection accuracy and operational simplicity through automated self-service mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Software component databases are pre-loaded into devices during manufacturing or initial deployment, containing detailed information about all software components and their versions. This preliminary preparation enables rapid automated vulnerability matching when devices perform self-checks, eliminating the need for manual inventory compilation and accelerating the vulnerability detection process.
2Loss of time
If automated vulnerability detection is implemented, then response time to vulnerabilities is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Deployed devices automatically perform vulnerability detection by comparing their pre-loaded software component databases against published vulnerability databases. This self-service automation eliminates manual checking delays, enabling immediate detection of vulnerabilities while the standardized comparison process keeps system complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where vulnerability detection results trigger notifications to service providers and initiate self-protection measures. This continuous feedback mechanism ensures rapid response to vulnerabilities while automating the entire process from detection to response, reducing the need for complex manual coordination procedures.
3Reliability
If service providers are notified of vulnerabilities, then service quality is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates and sends notifications to service providers when vulnerabilities are detected on deployed devices. This feedback mechanism ensures service providers are promptly informed of security issues requiring attention, improving service quality through timely awareness while automating the notification process to minimize communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated notification system acts as an intermediary between deployed devices and service providers, systematically transmitting vulnerability information. This intermediary mechanism ensures reliable communication of security issues while standardizing the information exchange format, reducing the burden on both devices and service providers compared to ad-hoc communication methods.
4Reliability
If self-protection measures are activated, then device security is improved, but functional availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
When vulnerabilities are detected, the system automatically activates self-protection measures that block exploitation pathways before attacks can occur. These preliminary defensive actions secure the device against known threats while the system maintains awareness of the blocked functions, enabling restoration of functionality once software updates are applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-protection mechanism operates with feedback control, continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities and activating protection only when needed. This feedback-based approach ensures device security is maintained during vulnerable periods while minimizing the duration and impact of functional restrictions, as protection measures are automatically adjusted based on the current security state.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are disclosed for automated utilization of vulnerability databases for consumer electronic (CE) devices. The method includes deploying one or more customer-premise equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) broadband devices, each of the one or more broadband devices having one or more software components; loading a database of software component on each of the one or more broadband devices, the database of software components having a functional use case associated with each software component; periodically performing an automated reading of one or more published vulnerability databases; and comparing a list of vulnerabilities from the one or more published vulnerability databases against the database of software components for each of the one or more broadband devices.