Method and system for establishing a security perimeter in computer networks

• US 6,760,768 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Nickel, James O., Levin, Stephen E., Wrench, Edwin H., Holden, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/924,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/247, 709/250, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/001 In-Line Device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/005 Network, LAN, Remote Access, Distributed System
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/009 Trust
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/76 Proxy, i.e. using intermediary entity to perform cryptographic operations network architectures or network communication protocols using hop-by-hop encryption H04L63/0464
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0218 Distributed architectures, e.g. distributed firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 : for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 : using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3273 : for mutual authentication network architectures or network communication protocols for achieving mutual authentication in a packet data network H04L63/0869
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys

Abstract

A multi-level network security system is disclosed for a computer host device coupled to at least one computer network. The system including a secure network interface Unit (SNIU) contained within a communications stack of the computer device that operates at a user layer communications protocol. The SNIU communicates with other like SNIU devices on the network by establishing an association, thereby creating a global security perimeter for end-to-end communications and wherein the network may be individually secure or non-secure without compromising security of communications within the global security perimeter. The SNIU includes a host/network interface for receiving messages sent between the computer device and network. The interface operative to convert the received messages to and from a format utilized by the network. A message parser for determining whether the association already exists with another SNIU device. A session manager coupled to said network interface for identifying and verifying the computer device requesting access to said network. The session manager also for transmitting messages received from the computer device when the message parser determines the association already exists. An association manager coupled to the host/network interface for establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when the message parser determines the association does not exist.

Claims

1. A multi-level network security system for a computer device coupled to at least one computer network, comprising:

a first secure network interface unit (SNIU), said first SNIU communicating with other like SNIU devices on a network, wherein components of said network may be individually secure or non-secure, the first SNIU comprising;

a first network interface for receiving first messages sent between a first computer device and said network, said first network interface configured to convert said received first messages to and from a format utilized by said network;

a first message parser configured to determine whether a first association exists between the first SNIU and another SNIU device;

a first session manager coupled to said first network interface and configured to request access to and transmit said first messages to said network, when said first message parser determines said first association exists; and

a first association manager coupled to said first network interface for establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when said first message parser determines said first association does not exist; and

a second SNIU comprising;

a second network interface for receiving second messages sent between a second computer device and said network, said second network interface configured to convert said received second messages to and from a format utilized by said network;

a second message parser configured to determine whether a second association exists between the second SNIU and another SNIU device;

a second session manager coupled to said second network interface and configured to request access to and transmit said second messages to said network, when said second message parser determines said second association exists; and

a second association manager coupled to said second network interface for establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when said second message parser determines said second association does not exist.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least said first SNIU is contained within a communications stack between a Network layer and a Data Link layer.

3. The system of claim 1, which further includes means coupled to the first SNIU for performing both encryption and decryption functions.

4. The system of claim 3, which further includes means for generating and writing cryptographic residues for outgoing messages and validating cryptographic residues for incoming residues.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first session manager is configured to protect the security communications between said first computer device and said network by implementing a security policy selected from a group consisting of discretionary access control, mandatory access control, labeling, denial of service detection, data type integrity, cascading control and covert channel use detection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least said first SNIU further includes means for performing a defined trusted session layer protocol (TSP).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said SNIUs are configured to exchange security parameters during said first association.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least said first SNIU further includes a scheduler coupled between said host/network and said first message parser, said scheduler configured to control the flow of said data within said first SNIU.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first association manager is configured to generate two messages in order to establish said first association.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least said first SNIU further includes an audit manager coupled to said first association manager and configured to generate audit event messages when a message is received with an invalid authorization code.

11. A method of providing a multi-level network security system for a computer device coupled to at least one computer network, comprising:

placing a first secure network interface Unit (SNIU) within a communications stack of said computer device, said first SNIU communicating with other like SNIU devices on said network by establishing an association, wherein components of said network may be individually secure or non-secure, and whenever said first SNIU is configured to perform a plurality of security functions including;

receiving said messages sent between said computer device and said network;

converting said received messages to and from a format utilized by said network;

identifying and verifying said computer device requesting access to said network;

determining whether said association exists with another SNIU device;

transmitting said messages received from said computer device when said association exists; and

establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when said association does not exist.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least said first SNIU is placed within said communications stack between a Network layer and a Data Link layer.

13. The method of claim 11, which further includes encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages of said first SNIU.

14. The method of claim 13, which further includes generating and writing cryptographic residues for outgoing messages and validating cryptographic residues for incoming residues.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least said first SNIU protects the security communications between said computer device and said network by implementing a security policy selected from a group consisting of discretionary access control, mandatory access control, labeling, denial of service detection, data type integrity, cascading control and covert channel use detection.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said SNIU further performs a defined trusted session layer protocol (TSP).

17. The method of claim 11, which further includes generating an audit trail.

18. The method of claim 11, which further includes temporarily storing said received messages from said computer device when said association does not exist.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said association is established by generating two messages.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said SNIUs exchange security parameters during said association.

21. A multi-level network security system for a computer device coupled to at least one computer network, comprising:

means for placing a first secure network interface Unit (SNIU) within a communications stack of said computer device, said first SNIU communicating with other like SNIU devices on said network by establishing an association, wherein components of said network may be individually secure or non-secure, said first SNIU configured to perform a plurality of security functions and comprising;

means for receiving said messages sent between said computer device and said network;

means for converting said received messages to and from a format utilized by said network;

means for identifying and verifying said computer device requesting access to said network;

means for determining whether said association exists with another SNIU device;

means for transmitting said messages received from said computer device when said association exists; and

means for establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when said association does not exist.

22. The system of claim 21, which further includes means for encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages of said first SNIU.

23. The system of claim 22, which further includes means for generating and writing cryptographic residues for outgoing messages and validating cryptographic residues for incoming residues.

24. The system of claim 21, which further includes means for generating an audit trail.

25. The system of claim 21, which further includes means for temporarily storing said received messages from said computer device when said association does not exist.

26. A multi-level network security system for a computer device coupled to at least one computer network, comprising:

a first secure network interface unit (SNIU) contained within a communications stack between a Network layer and a Data Link layer, said first SNIU communicating with other like SNIU devices on a network, wherein components of said network may be individually secure or non-secure, comprising;

a network interface for receiving messages sent between a computer device and said network, said network interface configured to convert said received messages to and from a format utilized by said network;

a message parser configured to determine whether an association exists between the first SNIU and another SNIU device;

a session manager coupled to said network interface and configured to request access to and transmit said messages to said network, when said message parser determines said association exists; and

an association manager coupled to said network interface for establishing an association with other like SNIU devices when said message parser determines said association does not exist.