IP Library Granted Patent US 8,413,241
Granted Patent B2
US 8,413,241 · App. 12/625,031 · Granted Apr 2, 2013

Integrated intrusion deflection, detection and introspection

Inventors: John E. Weeks (Newark, CA); Christoph L. Schuba (Mountain View, CA)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,413,241
App. No.
12/625,031
Granted
Apr 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for integrated deflection, detection and intrusion. Within a single computer system configured for operating system virtualization (e.g., Solaris™, OpenSolaris™), multiple security functions execute in logically independent zones or containers, under the control and administration of a global zone. Such functions may illustratively include a demilitarized zone (DMZ) and a honeypot. Management is facilitated because all functions work within a single operating system, which promotes the ability to configure, monitor and control each function. Any given zone can be configured with limited resources, a virtual network interface circuit and/or other features.

Claims (62)

1. A computer system for providing integrated computer security functions, the computer system comprising:

a set of processors;

a set of network interface devices coupling the computer system to one or more networks; and

a single operating system instance comprising:

a first demilitarized zone operating within a first non-global zone of the single operating system instance having a first network address;

a first honeypot operating within a second non-global zone of the single operating system instance having a second network address; and

a second demilitarized zone within a third non-global zone of the single operating system instance having a third network address;

wherein each of the first non-global zone and the third non-global zone comprise virtual network interface devices bound to different network interface devices within the set of network interface devices; and

wherein each of the first demilitarized zone and the second demilitarized zone operate within separate logical subnets of a network coupled to the computer system.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein each non-global zone of the single operating system instance comprises one or more virtual network interface devices.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

a subset of resources of the computer system, including the set of processors, is allocated to the second non-global zone; and

the subset of resources is configured to limit an effectiveness of a potential intruder that has initiated a communication connection with the computer system.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

the single operating system instance further comprises a global zone for managing the single operating system instance; and

one or more of the first non-global zone and the second non-global zone are granted only a subset of privileges granted to the global zone.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first non-global zone comprises a set of rules configured to restrict access to a network coupled to the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein a third non-global zone is automatically created within the single operating system based on application of the set of rules.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the single operating system instance further comprises:

one or more services operating within one or more additional non-global zones of the single operating system.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein:

the one or more additional non-global zones each comprise one or more virtual network interface devices for facilitating communication between the one or more additional non-global zones.

9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the single operating system instance further comprises:

a second honeypot within a third zone of the single operating system instance having a third network address.

10. A method of providing integrated computer security functions within a single computer system, the method comprising:

within a single operating system instance executing within the single computer system:

instantiating a first non-global zone configured to operate a first demilitarized zone;

binding a first virtual network interface device with a first network address to the first non-global zone;

instantiating a second non-global zone configured to operate a honeypot;

binding a second virtual network interface device with a second network address to the second non-global zone;

instantiating a third non-global zone configured to operate a second demilitarized zone; and

binding a third virtual network interface device with a third network address to the third non-global zone;

wherein the first virtual network interface device and the third virtual network interface device are bound to different network interfaces within the single computer system;

executing a set of communication rules within the first non-global zone; and

executing logic within the second non-global zone to perform introspection of communication connections deflected to the second non-global zone from the first non-global zone.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

dynamically altering said communication rules during operation of the single computer system.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

instantiating a fourth non-global zone configured to analyze a communication connection comprising a packet that triggers one of the communication rules.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

replicating one of the first non-global zone and the second non-global zone to facilitate instantiation of a fourth non-global zone within the single operating system instance.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

limiting an amount of resources of the computer system allocated to the second non-global zone;

receiving at the single computer system a suspicious communication connection; and

redirecting the suspicious communication connection to the second non-global zone.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the resources comprise processor resources and memory resources.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving a communication connection within the demilitarized zone;

dynamically instantiating a fourth non-global zone configured to operate another honeypot;

binding a fourth virtual network interface device with a fourth network address to the fourth non-global zone; and

redirecting the communication connection to the fourth non-global zone.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of providing integrated computer security functions, the method comprising:

within a single operating system instance executing within the single computer system:

instantiating a first non-global zone configured to operate a first demilitarized zone;

binding a first virtual network interface device with a first network address to the first non-global zone;

instantiating a second non-global zone configured to operate a honeypot;

binding a second virtual network interface device with a second network address to the second non-global zone;

instantiating a third non-global zone configured to operate a second demilitarized zone; and

binding a third virtual network interface device with a third network address to the third non-global zone;

wherein the first virtual network interface device and the third virtual network interface device are bound to different network interfaces within the single computer system;

executing a set of communication rules within the first non-global zone; and

executing logic within the second non-global zone to perform introspection of communication connections deflected to the second non-global zone from the first non-global zone.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2015
From: ORACLE USA, INC.; SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.; ORACLE AMERICA, INC.
To: ORACLE AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 037311/0195 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2010
From: WEEKS, JOHN E.; SCHUBA, CHRISTOPH L.
To: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024017/0102 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61243255 · Sep 17, 2009
Related Publication 20110067107A1 · Mar 17, 2011