Malicious mobile code runtime monitoring system and methods
Protection systems and methods provide for protecting one or more personal computers (“PCs”) and/or other intermittently or persistently network accessible devices or processes from undesirable or otherwise malicious operations of Java TN applets, ActiveX™ controls, JavaScript™ scripts, Visual Basic scripts, add-ins, downloaded/uploaded programs or other “Downloadables” or “mobile code” in whole or part. A protection engine embodiment provides for monitoring information received, determining whether received information does or is likely to include executable code, and if so, causes mobile protection code (MPC) to be transferred to and rendered operable within a destination device of the received information. An MPC embodiment further provides, within a Downloadable-destination, for initiating the Downloadable, enabling malicious Downloadable operation attempts to be received by the MPC, and causing (predetermined) corresponding operations to be executed in response to the attempts.
1. A computer-based method, comprising the steps of:
receiving an incoming Downloadable;
deriving security profile data for the Downloadable, including a list of suspicious computer operations that may be attempted by the Downloadable; and
storing the Downloadable security profile data in a database.
2. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising storing a date & time when the Downloadable security profile data was derived, in the database.
3. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the Downloadable includes an applet.
4. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the Downloadable includes an active control.
5. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the Downloadable includes program script.
6. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein suspicious computer operations include calls made to an operating system, a file system, a network system, and to memory.
7. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the Downloadable security profile data includes a URL from where the Downloadable originated.
8. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein the Downloadable security profile data includes a digital certificate.
9. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein said deriving Downloadable security profile data comprises disassembling the incoming Downloadable.
10. A system for managing Downloadables, comprising:
a receiver for receiving an incoming Downloadable;
a Downloadable scanner coupled with said receiver, for deriving security profile data for the Downloadable, including a list of suspicious computer operations that may be attempted by the Downloadable; and
a database manager coupled with said Downloadable scanner, for storing the Downloadable security profile data in a database.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said database manager also stores a date & time when the Downloadable security profile data was derived by said Downloadable scanner, in the database.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the Downloadable includes an applet.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein the Downloadable includes an active control.
14. The system of claim 10 wherein the Downloadable includes program script.
15. The system of claim 10 wherein suspicious computer operations include calls made to an operating system, a file system, a network system, and to memory.
16. The system of claim 10 wherein the Downloadable security profile data includes a URL from where the Downloadable originated.
17. The system of claim 10 wherein the Downloadable security profile data includes a digital certificate.
18. The system of claim 10 wherein said Downloadable scanner comprises a disassembler for disassembling the incoming Downloadable.