Proactive Web Application Security via Decoy Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional web application security systems rely on a reactive approach, failing to detect and counter malicious activities proactively, such as attacker profiling, skill evaluation, and real-time response, due to limited visibility into potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A proactive administrative proxy server injects decoys into executing web applications to identify and counter attempted exploitation, enabling real-time security measures and data collection for future threat anticipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional security systems (firewalls, IDS) are deployed to protect web applications, then basic attack detection is provided, but real-time proactive security measures and attacker profiling capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds decoys into the web application before attacks occur. These decoys are designed to be discovered and exploited by attackers in real-time, enabling proactive detection and response before actual vulnerabilities are exploited. The decoys serve as preliminary security measures that anticipate and prepare for potential attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a proactive administrative proxy server as an intermediary between the web application and the attacker. This proxy server receives requests, detects decoy interactions, and provides real-time responses including attacker profiling and counter-measures, thereby mediating the security response without blocking legitimate traffic.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If reactive security systems are used to detect malicious activity, then attack detection is provided, but visibility into attacker behavior, skill level, and attack attempts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the proactive administrative proxy server continuously monitors attacker interactions with decoys, collects data on attack methods, skill levels, and patterns, and uses this information to refine real-time responses and improve future security measures. This feedback loop enables comprehensive attacker profiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of real vulnerabilities in the form of decoys. These decoys replicate the appearance and behavior of actual vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to interact with them and reveal their attack methodologies. The decoys serve as informational copies that provide insights into attacker capabilities without exposing real system weaknesses.
3Productivity
If decoys are injected into web applications to enable proactive security measures, then real-time attacker detection is improved, but application complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the security function from the core web application by using a separate proactive administrative proxy server. The proxy server handles all decoy management, attacker detection, and response logic, while the web application simply serves its primary function. This segmentation maintains real-time security capabilities while minimizing impact on application structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that proactively secures a web application includes injecting one or more decoys into an executing web application. An attempt to exploit one of the one more injected decoys in the executing application is identified. At least one action to secure the executing application from the attempted exploitation is performed.