Patent Abstract:
In one embodiment a secure computer system comprises a processor and a memory module including logic instructions stored on a computer readable medium which. When executed by the processor, the logic instructions configure the processor to receive, in a secure computing environment, a portion of a data log from an application operating outside the secure computing environment, and when the portion of the data log exceeds a size threshold, to assign a timestamp to the portion of the data log, assign an identifier to the portion of the data log, create a digital signature load block comprising the portion of the data log, the timestamp, and the identifier, and store the digital signature load block in a memory module.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates to electronic computing, and more particularly to secure data log management. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Computer system security remains an important issue. As computer networks expand, the opportunity for malicious attacks on computer systems expands concomitantly. Hence, additional computer security techniques are desirable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computing system configured to implement secure data log management. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of data flows in a computing system configured to implement secure data log management. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating operations in one embodiment of a system for secure data log management. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a series of digital signature load blocks in a computing system for secure data log management. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operations in one embodiment of a system for secure data log management. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary computing environment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are exemplary systems and methods for secure data log management. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium. When executed on a processor, the logic instructions cause a general purpose computing device to be programmed as a special-purpose machine that implements the described methods. The processor, when configured by the logic instructions to execute the methods recited herein, constitutes structure for performing the described methods. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary computer system  100  adapted to perform secure data log management. The computer system  100  includes a computer  108  and one or more accompanying input/output devices  106  including a display  102  having a screen  104 , a keyboard  110 , other I/O device(s)  112 , and a mouse  114 . The other device(s)  112  can include a touch screen, a voice-activated input device, a track ball, and any other device that allows the system  100  to receive input from a developer and/or a user. The computer  108  includes system hardware  120  and random access memory and/or read-only memory  130 . A file store  180  is communicatively connected to computer  108 . File store  180  may be internal such as, e.g., one or more hard drives, or external such as, e.g., one or more external hard drives, network attached storage, or a separate storage network. 
     Memory  130  includes an operating system  140  for managing operations of computer  108 . In one embodiment, operating system  140  includes a hardware interface module  154  that provides an interface to system hardware  120 . In addition, operating system  140  includes a file system  150  that manages files used in the operation of computer  108  and a process control subsystem  152  that manages processes executing on computer  108 . Operating system  140  further includes a system call interface module  142  that provides an interface between the operating system  140  and one or more application modules and/or libraries. 
     In operation, one or more application modules and/or libraries executing on computer  108  make calls to the system call interface module  142  to execute one or more commands on the computer&#39;s processor. The system call interface module  142  invokes the services of the file system  150  to manage the files required by the command(s) and the process control subsystem  152  to manage the process required by the command(s). The file system  150  and the process control subsystem  152 , in turn, invoke the services of the hardware interface module  154  to interface with the system hardware  120 . 
     The particular embodiment of operating system  140  is critical to the subject matter described herein. Operating system  140  may be embodied as a POSIX compliant operating system with secure memory partitions and mandatory access controls. For example, the operating system that may be Common Criteria certified to evaluation levels of 5 or higher against established Common Criteria operating system protection profiles. 
     In one embodiment, computer system  100  implements a secure computing environment. For example, computer system  100  may implement trust methodologies that comply with level 3 or level 4 of the Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS)  140 - 1  and  140 - 2  issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as described in patent application Ser. No. 11/125,458, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,064, entitled, Secure Circuit Assembly, filed May 10, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The system may also implement a secure initialization paradigm described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,072, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     In one embodiment a trusted cryptographic application layer runs on top of a secure operating system to provide security services the secure data log collection application will utilize as described in patent application Ser. No. 11/177,715 entitled, Policy Based Cryptographic Application Programming Interface Deployed in Secure Memory, filed Jul. 8, 2005 (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0011736), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Operation of one embodiment of a system for secure data log management will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of data flows in a computing system configured to implement secure data log management. Referring to  FIG. 2 , an application  210  generates a source data log  215 . Application  210  may execute within computing system  100  or may execute on a remote computing system coupled to computing system  100  via a communication network. Application  210  and source data log  215  may be implemented as any type of application that generates a data log. The particular details of application  210  and source data log  215  are beyond the scope of this disclosure. 
     Data from data log  215  is delivered to data buffer module  220  over a communication network via any suitable transport protocol (e.g., HTTP, FTP, etc.) and may be encrypted using one or more encryption techniques such as, e.g., IPSec, TLS, or the like.  FIG. 2  shows a single application  210  generating a single source data log  215 . In practice, any number of applications may generate one or more source data logs, which may be delivered to data buffer module  220 . 
     Data from the source data log  215  is received via an interface module  160  of computer system  100 . Interface module  160  may manage input/output operations with data buffer module  220 . Received data may be operated upon by data log module  162 .  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating operations implemented by data log module  162  in one embodiment of a system for secure data log management. In one embodiment the interface module  160  and the data log module  162  may be located inside the certified FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at operation  310  a data stream from a source data log such as source data log  215  is received. In some embodiments the data from data log  215  may be pushed to computing system  100 . In alternate embodiments, computing system  100  may need to pull data from data log  215 . 
     In some embodiments, data log module  162  may implement one or more pre-processing operations. For example, if the data received is encrypted, then data log module  162  may implement a decryption operation to decrypt the received data. Data log module accumulates received data in a suitable memory location. 
     If, at operation  315 , the amount of data received fails to exceed a threshold, then control passes back to operation  310  and the data log module  162  continues to receive data. In some embodiments the threshold may be a static threshold that corresponds to an amount of data that can be packaged into a digital signature load block. In alternate embodiments, the threshold may be a dynamic value. 
     By contrast, when the amount of data exceeds the threshold, control passes to operation  320  and a timestamp is assigned to the received data. In one embodiment the time apparatus is also maintained inside the FIPS  140 - 2  boundary such that the time stamp is a trusted time-stamp. At operation  325  an identifier is assigned to the received data, and at operation  330  a digital signature load block is created. In one embodiment creating a digital signature load block may include obtaining a digital signature for the load block. The digital signature may be generated locally, on the hardware that is inside the FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. The timestamp assigned in operation  320  must represent a time at which the digital signature is generated, and the identifier generated in operation  325  may be implemented as an integer counter that indicates the position of the digital signature load block in a sequence of digital signature load blocks. After each digital signature is applied to a block, the counter is incremented by the integer one. This insures that when blocks are retrieved that deleted blocks can be detected. Observe that the data in the load block may be encrypted with a symmetric encryption algorithm (e.g. Triple DES, AES, etc.) before the digital signature is applied. 
     At operation  335  the digital signature load block is stored in a memory module. Because a digital signature has already been applied to this data, this memory module (disk, etc) does not have to be inside the FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. To further secure computing system  100 , operating system  140  may be implemented in compliance with a Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 5+, which implements memory partitions that prevent applications using the operating system from compromising other applications running on the operating system. 
     Thus, the computing system  100  may maintain one or more data buffer modules  220 , each of which includes a plurality of data buffers, i.e., buffer  1 ,  222 , buffer  2 ,  224 , buffer  3 ,  226 , up to buffer N  228 . When the computer system  100  receives an incremental data log (i.e.,  215 ) the system  100  stores this data in a temporary buffer inside the secure boundary. The schematic illustration depicted in  FIG. 2  demonstrates a single source data log and a single buffer. In alternate embodiments the computer system  100  may accommodate additional source data logs. For example, assume the computer system  100  collects data from three log sources. Each of the log sources will incrementally produce a data log  215 , which will each be stored in a different memory buffer module. 
     When a buffer threshold is reached (the threshold may be different for each source) a count and timestamp are generated and the digital signature is applied to the buffer entries, timestamp and count, which become one load block for that source. The load block can then be written into a database on disk (i.e., digital signature and data in Buffer-A- 1 , Buffer-A- 2 , Buffer-A-N). After that action the incremental buffers may be erased to accommodate new incremental data. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a series of digital signature load blocks, such as may be created by the operations of  FIG. 3 , in a computing system for secure data log management. Referring briefly to  FIG. 4 , each digital signature load block include a timestamp that indicates a time at which the digital signature was generated, an identifier that may be implemented as an integer counter that indicates the position of the digital signature load block in a sequence of digital signature load blocks. Each digital signature load block includes one or more data entries that include data from a source data log such as source data log  215 . Each data entry also includes a timestamp that indicates a time at which the data was generated and an integer count. Each data entry may also be encrypted before the digital signature is applied. 
     Once the digital signature load blocks are stored in the memory module, the data associated with the digital signature data blocks may be used by one or more applications executing on computing system  100  or on a remote computing system coupled to computing system  100 .  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operations in one embodiment of a system for secure data log management. In one embodiment, the operations of  FIG. 5  may be implemented by the data log module  162 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , at operation  510  a request for data stored in the secure data buffer module  220  is received in the computing system  100 . The request may be initiated one or more applications executing on computing system  100  or on a remote computing system coupled to computing system  100 . 
     At operation  515  one or more digital signature blocks that contain the requested data of interest may be retrieved from memory, i.e., from the data buffer module  220 . At operation  520  one or more of the digital signature blocks and the data in the signature blocks may be verified. Verification may include confirming that digital signature blocks retrieved from data log  220  are in the correct sequence order and that in the span of blocks retrieved there are no gaps in sequence numbers (which would indicate detection of a block deletion), for example by comparing the identifiers associated with the respective digital signature loads. At operation  525  the retrieved data may be transferred to the requesting entity. In some embodiments, the retrieved data may be encrypted before the data is transmitted to requesting entity, in which case the requesting entity may be required to authenticate itself to the computer system  100 . In the event that contents of the data blocks are already encrypted, such encryption for transfer would not be necessary. Verification of the digital signature may occur inside the FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. Evaluation of the unique identifiers on the span of data blocks should also be performed in the FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. 
     Exemplary Computing Environment 
     Some embodiments discussed herein may include various operations performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be in turn utilized to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor, or logic circuits programmed with the instructions to perform the operations. Alternatively, the operations may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. 
     The various components and functionality described herein are implemented with a number of individual computers.  FIG. 6  shows components of typical example of such a computer, referred by to reference numeral  600 . Generally, various different general purpose or special purpose computing system configurations can be used. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
     The functionality of the computers is embodied in many cases by computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, that are executed by the computers. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Tasks might also be performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media. 
     The instructions and/or program modules are stored at different times in the various computer-readable media that are either part of the computer or that can be read by the computer. Programs are typically distributed, for example, on floppy disks, CD-ROMs, DVD, or some form of communication media such as a modulated signal. From there, they are installed or loaded into the secondary memory of a computer. At execution, they are loaded at least partially into the computer&#39;s primary electronic memory. The invention described herein includes these and other various types of computer-readable media when such media contain instructions, programs, and/or modules for implementing the steps described below in conjunction with a microprocessor or other data processors. The invention also includes the computer itself when programmed according to the methods and techniques described below. 
     For purposes of illustration, programs and other executable program components such as the operating system are illustrated herein as discrete blocks, although it is recognized that such programs and components reside at various times in different storage components of the computer, and are executed by the data processor(s) of the computer. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the components of computer  600  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  604 , a system memory  606 , and a system bus  608  that couples various system components including the system memory  606  to the processing unit  604 . The system bus  608  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as the Mezzanine bus. 
     Computer  600  typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  600  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media. “Computer storage media” includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computer  600 . 
     The system memory  606  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  610  and random access memory (RAM)  612 . A basic input/output system  614  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  600 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  610 . RAM  612  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  604 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 6  illustrates operating system  616 , application programs  618 , other software components  620 , and program data  622 . 
     The computer  600  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, the computer system of  FIG. 6  may include a hard disk drive  624  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  626  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  628 , and an optical disk drive  630  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  632  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  624  is typically connected to the system bus  608  through a non-removable memory interface such as data media interface  634 , and magnetic disk drive  626  and optical disk drive  630  are typically connected to the system bus  608  by a removable memory interface. 
     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 6  provide storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for computer  600 . In  FIG. 6 , for example, hard disk drive  624  is illustrated as storing operating system  616 ′, application programs  618 ′, software components  620 ′, and program data  622 ′. Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  616 , application programs  618 , software components  620 , and program data  622 . Operating system  616 , application programs  618 , other program modules  620 , and program data  622  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  600  through input devices such as a keyboard  636  and pointing device  638 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone  640 , joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  604  through an input/output (I/O) interface  642  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  644  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  606  via an interface, such as a video adapter  646 . In addition to the monitor  644 , computers may also include other peripheral output devices (e.g., speakers) and one or more printers  670 , which may be connected through the I/O interface  642 . 
     The computer may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computing device  650 . The remote computing device  650  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to computer  600 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 6  include a local area network (LAN)  652  and a wide area network (WAN)  654 . Although the WAN  654  shown in  FIG. 6  is the Internet, the WAN  654  may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the like. 
     In some embodiments the computing system  600  may be implemented as a secure computing system. Hence, various components such as, e.g., processor  604 , ROM  610  and RAM  612  (and its components operating system  616 , application programs  618 , software components  620 , and program data  622 ) may be inside a FIPS  140 - 2  boundary. Further operating system  616  may implement secure memory partitions and access controls such as, e.g., common criteria EAL 5+. 
     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  600  is connected to the LAN  652  through a network interface or adapter  656 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  600  typically includes a modem  658  or other means for establishing communications over the Internet  654 . The modem  658 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  606  via the I/O interface  642 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  600 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote computing device  650 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 6  illustrates remote application programs  660  as residing on remote computing device  650 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
     Moreover, some embodiments may be provided as computer program products, which may include a machine-readable or computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process discussed herein. The machine-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, hard disk, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, erasable programmable ROMs (EPROMs), electrically EPROMs (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other suitable types of media or computer-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions and/or data. Moreover, data discussed herein may be stored in a single database, multiple databases, or otherwise in select forms (such as in a table). 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an implementation. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6