IP Library Granted Patent US 9,094,446
Granted Patent B2
US 9,094,446 · App. 14/156,665 · Granted Jul 28, 2015

Image vulnerability repair in a networked computing environment

Inventors: Al Chakra (Apex, NC); Christopher J. Dawson (Arlington, VA); Yu Deng (Yorktown Heights, NY); Rick A. Hamilton, II (Charlottesville, VA); Jenny S. Li (Danbury, CT); Liangzhao Zeng (Mohegan Lake, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04L63/1433G06F21/55G06F21/577
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,094,446
App. No.
14/156,665
Granted
Jul 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to repair vulnerabilities (e.g., security vulnerabilities) in images (e.g., application images) in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, an image is checked for vulnerabilities using a database of known images and/or vulnerabilities. If a vulnerability is found, a flexible/elastic firewall is established around the image so as to isolate the vulnerability. Once the firewall has been put in place, the vulnerability can be repaired by a variety of means such as upgrading the image, quarantining the image, discarding the image, and/or generating a new image. Once the image has been repaired, the firewall can be removed.

Claims (35)

1. A method for repairing image vulnerability in a networked computing environment, comprising:

identifying an image in the networked computing environment having a vulnerability, the image being identified based on a database of known vulnerabilities;

establishing a firewall around the image to isolate the vulnerability;

repairing the image to remove the vulnerability, the repairing comprising at least one of upgrading the image and quarantining the image; and

removing the firewall.

2. The method of claim 1 , the image being an application image.

3. The method of claim 1 , the vulnerability being a security vulnerability.

4. The method of claim 1 , the database being populated based on at least one of: updates, and defects that are published by enterprises owning products used and stored in the networked computing environment.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the database based on the repairing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a service solution provider provides a computer infrastructure that performs the method for one or more consumers.

8. A system for repairing image vulnerability in a networked computing environment, comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus; and

a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to:

identify an image in the networked computing environment having a vulnerability, the image being identified based on a database of known vulnerabilities;

establish a firewall around the image to isolate the vulnerability;

repair the image to remove the vulnerability, the repairing comprising at least one of upgrading the image and quarantining the image; and

remove the firewall.

9. The system of claim 8 , the image being an application image.

10. The system of claim 8 , the vulnerability being a security vulnerability.

11. The system of claim 8 , the database being populated based on at least one of: updates, and defects that are published by enterprises owning products used and stored in the networked computing environment.

12. The system of claim 8 , the memory medium further comprising instructions to update the database based on the repair.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

14. A computer program product for repairing image vulnerability in a networked computing environment, the computer program product comprising a computer readable hardware storage device, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:

identify an image in the networked computing environment having a vulnerability, the image being identified based on a database of known vulnerabilities;

establish a firewall around the image to isolate the vulnerability;

repair the image to remove the vulnerability, the repairing comprising at least one of upgrading the image and quarantining the image; and

remove the firewall.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , the image being an application image.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 , the vulnerability being a security vulnerability.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 , the database being populated based on updates.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 , the database being populated based on defects that are published by enterprises owning products used and stored in the networked computing environment.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising program instructions stored on the computer readable hardware storage device to update the database based on the repair.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2018
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: FINJAN BLUE, INC.
Reel/Frame 046037/0040 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2014
From: CHAKRA, AL; DAWSON, CHRISTOPHER J.; DENG, YU; HAMILTON, RICK A., II; LI, JENNY S.; ZENG, LIANGZHAO
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031983/0473 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12951373 · Nov 22, 2010
Related Publication 20140137258A1 · May 15, 2014