Widget Integrity Protection in Web-Based OS via Invariant Metadata

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Solution Overview

Problem

Web-based operating systems face significant security vulnerabilities due to lack of proper access control, distinct user privileges, and clear separation between presentation layers and business logic, leading to injection-type vulnerabilities that can result in system-wide compromises.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for detecting and preventing malicious code injection in web-based OS environments by analyzing widgets for invariant parameters, generating metadata files, and comparing these with real-time data to identify and alert on changes, thereby ensuring the integrity of the widget's execution context.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If web-based OS executes widgets with HTML/JavaScript from App-Store, then widget functionality and user experience are improved, but injection-type vulnerabilities (XSS, HTML injections) increase system security risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidget functionalityVSAvoidsystem security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a runtime engine as an intermediary layer between the widget code and the web-based OS execution environment. This runtime engine acts as a mediator that enforces security policies, validates widget behavior, and prevents injection attacks while allowing legitimate widget functionality to execute. The runtime engine mediates the interaction between untrusted widget code and the trusted OS, resolving the security-versus-functionality contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary security analysis and policy generation before widget execution. The system performs static analysis on widget code, generates security policies in advance, and prepares protection mechanisms prior to runtime. This preliminary action ensures that security measures are already in place before potential injection attacks can occur, preventing vulnerabilities from compromising system security while maintaining widget adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If web-based OS lacks proper access control and user privilege separation, then system architecture simplicity is maintained, but injection vulnerabilities lead to system-wide compromises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem architectureVSAvoidsecurity integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the web-based OS execution environment into distinct isolated contexts, each with its own security policies and execution boundaries. Widgets run in sandboxed environments separated from the core OS and other widgets, preventing injection attacks from propagating system-wide. This segmentation provides fine-grained access control and privilege separation without fundamentally complicating the overall system architecture, as the segmentation is implemented through modular runtime engine components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If web-based OS runs widgets without clear separation between presentation layer and business logic, then widget development simplicity is maintained, but injection-type attacks can exploit the blurred boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidget developmentVSAvoidinjection attack surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different security validation rules and policy enforcement mechanisms to different parts of widget code based on their functional characteristics. The runtime engine identifies and applies appropriate security policies to specific code segments, data binding operations, and rendering contexts. This local quality approach provides targeted protection against injection attacks at critical boundaries between presentation and logic layers without requiring complete architectural restructuring of widget development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3021252B1Method and apparatus for preventing injection-type attack in web-based operating system
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3021252B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3021252B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3021252B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a communication technique for fusing a 5G communication system for supporting a high data transmission rate after a 4G system with the IoT technology, and a system thereof. The present disclosure can be applied to an intelligent service (e.g., a smart home, a smart building, a smart city, a smart car or connected car, healthcare, digital education, retail business, security and safety related service, etc.) based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT related technology. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for detecting a malicious code which is injected into the command stream of a widget running on a web-based OS in a device by a web server in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: analyzing the widget in the web server; determining at least one invariant condition constantly maintained and conserved while the widget is running, on the basis of a result of the analyzing; generating a metadata file including data satisfying the at least one invariant condition; associating the metadata file with the widget and providing the widget in a state in which the associated metadata file is included in the widget.