White Box Infection Detection via Processing Time Anomaly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In software-defined networks (SDNs) utilizing white box hardware, the identical or similar design of commodity equipment makes it vulnerable to widespread network disruptions and data theft, as a compromised white box can lead to infiltration across the network, causing outages and illicit activities.
Innovation Solution
A white box integrity management system (WIMS) is implemented to monitor and challenge each white box, determining processing times for responses to identify compromised units and isolate them from the network if the time exceeds a predetermined percentage of the average, thereby preventing further damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If white box hardware is used to reduce costs and provide flexibility, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but vulnerability to widespread network disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary integrity verification by sending challenges to white box hardware before they can be exploited. Processing time measurements are taken in advance to establish baseline performance characteristics, enabling early detection of compromised devices before they can cause widespread network disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors processing time responses from white box hardware and compares them against expected ranges. When anomalies are detected, the system provides feedback by isolating the compromised device from the network, preventing further propagation of security threats while maintaining overall network integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If identical or similar white box equipment is deployed throughout the network, then ease of manufacture and deployment is improved, but susceptibility to hacker exploitation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies localized integrity verification to each individual white box device through unique challenge-response mechanisms. Each device is independently monitored for processing time anomalies, allowing the system to identify and isolate compromised devices without affecting the operation of other identical devices in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in processing time parameters as an indicator of device compromise. By establishing baseline performance characteristics for identical white box hardware and detecting deviations from these baselines, the system can identify infected devices while allowing uniform deployment of standardized hardware throughout the network.
3Measurement precision
If processing time monitoring is used to detect compromised white boxes, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The white box hardware devices perform self-verification by responding to challenges sent by the network controller. Each device calculates its own processing time and returns the result, allowing the system to detect compromises through automated measurement without requiring complex external verification infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex physical security verification mechanisms with computational processing time measurements. By using software-based challenge-response protocols and timing analysis, the system achieves accurate infection detection without requiring complex hardware security modules or manual verification procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for white box infection detection and isolation. The methods and systems can monitor a plurality of white boxes deployed within a communications network; send a challenge to a first white box of the plurality of white boxes; determine a processing time to answer the challenge by the first white box; in response to receiving the answer to the challenge, determine whether the processing time exceeds an average processing time for the challenge by a predetermined percentage; and in response to the processing time exceeding the average processing time by the predetermined percentage, isolate the first white box from the communications network.