IP Library Granted Patent US 8,732,794
Granted Patent B2
US 8,732,794 · App. 12/189,444 · Granted May 20, 2014

Browser plug-in firewall

Inventors: Michael Boodaei (Givatayim, IL); Amit Klein (Herzliya, IL); Oleg Izmerly (Ramat Gan, IL)
Assignee: Trusteer Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,732,794
App. No.
12/189,444
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A browser plug-in firewall manages data exchanged between a browser and a plug-in according to a pre-defined list of rights.

Claims (20)

1. A browser plug-in firewall installed on a computerized device that runs a browser, said browser plug-in in combination with said computerized device in combination comprising:

a. at least one plug-in proxy object for emulating said browser to a plug-in;

b. at least one browser-proxy object for emulating said plug-in to said browser; and

c. a code embedded in said browser, which patches functions used by said browser to load or to create said objects, for protecting said browser from a malicious plug-in that communicates with said browser through an interface and managing data exchanged between said browser and said plug-in, according to pre-defined security rules, by:

interposing said browser and said plug-in, such that neither said web-browser sees the plug-in directly, nor does the plug-in see the web-browser directly;

controlling the data exchanged between said browser and said plug-in, to choose which data said browser sends to said plug-in and vice versa by intercepting calls from said browser to said plug-in and vice versa and forcing said calls to pass through said proxy objects;

wherein said proxy objects allow browsing while keeping expanded functionalities of said browser provided by said plug-in.

2. A browser plug-in firewall according to claim 1 , wherein protection for a browser is defined per website, per page, per plug-in and per field of a form.

3. A browser plug-in firewall according to claim 1 , comprising an embedded proxy emulating said browser to protect said browser from direct interaction originating from malicious plug-ins.

4. A browser plug-in firewall according to claim 1 , comprising an embedded proxy emulating a plug-in to protect the browser from malicious plug-ins.

5. A browser plug-in firewall according to claim 3 , comprising in combination an embedded proxy emulating a browser and an embedded proxy emulating a plug-in.

6. A method for protecting a browser, installed on a computerized device that runs said browser, from malicious plug-ins, comprising:

a. providing at least one plug-in-proxy object for emulating said browser to a plug-in and at least a browser-proxy object for emulating said plug-in to said browser;

b. embedding in said browser, a code which patches function(s) used by said browser to load or to create a plug-in object that communicates through an interface, for managing data exchanged between said browser and said plug-in, according to pre-defined security rules;

c. interposing said browser and said plug-in, such that neither said web-browser sees the plug-in directly, nor the plug-in sees the web-browser directly;

d. controlling the data exchanged between said browser and said plug-in, to choose which data said browser sends to said plug-in and vice versa by intercepting calls from said browser to said plug-in and vice versa and forcing calls to pass through said proxy objects;

wherein an ensemble of said browser-proxy object and of said plug-in-proxy operates as a firewall for said browser, and wherein said proxy objects allow browsing while keeping expanded functionalities of said browser provided by said plug-in.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein when the browser first attempts to load the plug-in the BPF intercepts the call and creates a plug-in proxy object and hands the plug-in proxy object to the browser.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the BPF loads the requested plug-in itself, and saves its address.

9. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the BPF presents the browser to the plug-in as a browser proxy object.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2017
From: TRUSTEER, LTD.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041060/0411 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2008
From: BOODAEI, MICHAEL; KLEIN, AMIT; IZMERLY, OLEG
To: TRUSTEER LTD.
Reel/Frame 021451/0900 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60955403 · Aug 13, 2007
Related Publication 20090064309A1 · Mar 5, 2009