A near-term design for the SeaView multilevel database system

Abstract

The SeaView formal security policy model admits a range of designs for a multilevel secure relational database system. The requirement for a near-term implementation suggests that the design should utilize existing technology to the extent possible. Thus the design uses an existing database management system ported to an existing TCB (trusted computing base) environment. A preprocessor translates key constructs of the SeaView multilevel relational data model to those of the standard relational model used by the commercial database system. The underlying reference monitor enforces mandatory and basic discretionary controls with A1 assurance. By combining single-level data into a multilevel view, it is possible to use a commercial database system and classify data at the relation level to implement the SeaView model, with element-level classification. >