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ProtectionProtectionGoals of Protection Principles of ProtectionDomain of Protection Access Matrix Implementation of Access Matrix Access ControlRevocation of Access Rights Capability-Based Systems Language-Based Protection2ObjectivesDiscuss the goals and principles of protection in a modern computer system

Explain how protection domains combined with an access matrix are used to specify the resources a process may access

Examine capability and language-based protection systems

3Goals of ProtectionIn one protection model, computer consists of a collection of objects, hardware or software

Each object has a unique name and can be accessed through a well-defined set of operations

Protection problem - ensure that each object is accessed correctly and only by those processes that are allowed to do so

4Principles of ProtectionGuiding principle principle of least privilegePrograms, users and systems should be given just enough privileges to perform their tasksLimits damage if entity has a bug, gets abusedCan be static (during life of system, during life of process) Or dynamic (changed by process as needed) domain switching, privilege escalationNeed to know a similar concept regarding access to data

Must consider grain aspectRough-grained privilege management easier, simpler, but least privilege now done in large chunksFor example, traditional Unix processes either have abilities of the associated user, or of rootFine-grained management more complex, more overhead, but more protectiveFile ACL lists, RBAC

Domain can be user, process, procedure

5Domain StructureAccess-right = where rights-set is a subset of all valid operations that can be performed on the object

Domain = set of access-rights

6Access MatrixView protection as a matrix (access matrix)

Rows represent domains

Columns represent objects

Access(i, j) is the set of operations that a process executing in Domaini can invoke on Objectj7Access Matrix

8Use of Access MatrixIf a process in Domain Di tries to do op on object Oj, then op must be in the access matrix

User who creates object can define access column for that object

Can be expanded to dynamic protectionOperations to add, delete access rightsSpecial access rights:owner of Oicopy op from Oi to Oj (denoted by *)control Di can modify Dj access rightstransfer switch from domain Di to Dj

Copy and Owner applicable to an objectControl applicable to domain object9Use of Access Matrix (Cont.)Access matrix design separates mechanism from policyMechanism Operating system provides access-matrix + rulesIf ensures that the matrix is only manipulated by authorized agents and that rules are strictly enforcedPolicyUser dictates policyWho can access what object and in what mode

But doesnt solve the general confinement problem

10Access Matrix of Figure A with Domains as Objects

11Access Matrix with Copy Rights

12Access Matrix With Owner Rights

13Modified Access Matrix of Figure B

14Implementation of Access MatrixGenerally, a sparse matrixOption 1 Global tableStore ordered triples < domain, object, rights-set > in tableA requested operation M on object Oj within domain Di -> search table for < Di, Oj, Rk > with M RkBut table could be large -> wont fit in main memoryDifficult to group objects (consider an object that all domains can read)

Option 2 Access lists for objectsEach column implemented as an access list for one objectResulting per-object list consists of ordered pairs < domain, rights-set > defining all domains with non-empty set of access rights for the objectEasily extended to contain default set -> If M default set, also allow access

15Each column = Access-control list for one object Defines who can perform what operation

Domain 1 = Read, WriteDomain 2 = ReadDomain 3 = Read

Each Row = Capability List (like a key)For each domain, what operations allowed on what objectsObject F1 ReadObject F4 Read, Write, ExecuteObject F5 Read, Write, Delete, Copy

Implementation of Access Matrix (Cont.)Option 3 Capability list for domainsInstead of object-based, list is domain basedCapability list for domain is list of objects together with operations allows on themObject represented by its name or address, called a capabilityExecute operation M on object Oj, process requests operation and specifies capability as parameterPossession of capability means access is allowedCapability list associated with domain but never directly accessible by domainRather, protected object, maintained by OS and accessed indirectlyLike a secure pointerIdea can be extended up to applications

Option 4 Lock-keyCompromise between access lists and capability listsEach object has list of unique bit patterns, called locksEach domain as list of unique bit patterns called keysProcess in a domain can only access object if domain has key that matches one of the locks

Comparison of ImplementationsMany trade-offs to considerGlobal table is simple, but can be largeAccess lists correspond to needs of usersDetermining set of access rights for domain non-localized so difficultEvery access to an object must be checkedMany objects and access rights -> slowCapability lists useful for localizing information for a given processBut revocation capabilities can be inefficientLock-key effective and flexible, keys can be passed freely from domain to domain, easy revocation

Most systems use combination of access lists and capabilitiesFirst access to an object -> access list searchedIf allowed, capability created and attached to processAdditional accesses need not be checkedAfter last access, capability destroyedConsider file system with ACLs per fileAccess ControlProtection can be applied to non-file resources

Solaris 10 provides role-based access control (RBAC) to implement least privilegePrivilege is right to execute system call or use an option within a system callCan be assigned to processesUsers assigned roles granting access to privileges and programsEnable role via password to gain its privilegesSimilar to access matrix

19Role-based Access Control in Solaris 10

20Revocation of Access RightsVarious options to remove the access right of a domain to an objectImmediate vs. delayedSelective vs. generalPartial vs. totalTemporary vs. permanentAccess List Delete access rights from access listSimple search access list and remove entryImmediate, general or selective, total or partial, permanent or temporaryCapability List Scheme required to locate capability in the system before capability can be revokedReacquisition periodic delete, with require and denial if revokedBack-pointers set of pointers from each object to all capabilities of that object (Multics)Indirection capability points to global table entry which points to object delete entry from global table, not selective (CAL)Keys unique bits associated with capability, generated when capability createdMaster key associated with object, key matches master key for accessRevocation create new master keyPolicy decision of who can create and modify keys object owner or others?

21Capability-Based Systems HydraFixed set of access rights known to and interpreted by the systemi.e. read, write, or execute each memory segmentUser can declare other auxiliary rights and register those with protection systemAccessing process must hold capability and know name of operationRights amplification allowed by trustworthy procedures for a specific type Interpretation of user-defined rights performed solely by user's program; system provides access protection for use of these rightsOperations on objects defined procedurally procedures are objects accessed indirectly by capabilitiesSolves the problem of mutually suspicious subsystemsIncludes library of prewritten security routinesCambridge CAP System Simpler but powerfulData capability - provides standard read, write, execute of individual storage segments associated with object implemented in microcodeSoftware capability -interpretation left to the subsystem, through its protected proceduresOnly has access to its own subsystemProgrammers must learn principles and techniques of protection22Language-Based ProtectionSpecification of protection in a programming language allows the high-level description of policies for the allocation and use of resources

Language implementation can provide software for protection enforcement when automatic hardware-supported checking is unavailable

Interpret protection specifications to generate calls on whatever protection system is provided by the hardware and the operating system23Stack Inspection

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