Principle Of Privilege Research Articles

Automatically Reducing Privilege for Access Control Policies

Access control policies are programs used to secure cloud resources. These polices should only grant the necessary permissions that a given application needs. However, it is challenging to write and maintain policies as applications and their required permissions change over time. In this paper, we focus on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) IAM policy language and present an approach that, given a policy, synthesizes a modified policy that is more restrictive and better abides to the principle of least privilege. Our approach looks at the actual access history (e.g., access logs) used by an application and computes the least permissive local modification of the user-given policy that still provides the same permissions that were observed in the access history. We treat the problem of computing the least permissive policy as a generalization problem in a lattice of possible policies (i.e., the set of local modifications). We show that our synthesis algorithm comes with correctness guarantees and is amendable to an efficient implementation that is easy to parallelize. We implement our algorithm in a tool IAM-PolicyRefiner and evaluate it on policies attached to AWS roles with access logs. For each role, IAM-PolicyRefiner can compute easy-to-inspect refined policies in less than 1 minute, and the refined policies do not overfit to the requests in the log---i.e., the policies also allow requests in a left-out test set of requests.

The Critical Role of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in securing backup, recovery, and storage systems

In the contemporary digital landscape, safeguarding data through robust access control mechanisms is crucial. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is an effective strategy for managing access to backup and recovery systems, as well as storage devices. RBAC assigns permissions based on user roles, thereby enforcing the principle of least privilege and enhancing data security. This blog explores the significance of RBAC in these contexts and extends its relevance to ransomware and malware threats, as well as disaster recovery. Supported by scientific research and industry case studies, it underscores how RBAC can mitigate risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve data management practices.

Emerging Trends in Cloud Security: Zero Trust and SASE

Abstract: A lot has changed in the world of IT since cloud computing came along. Now, businesses can use shared tools and services whenever they need to. The old security models that were based on perimeters no longer work to protect cloud settings. This change has also made businesses more vulnerable in new ways. This article talks about two new security trends in the cloud: zero trust and secure access service edge (SASE). The idea behind zero trust security is that you shouldn't trust anyone or anything by default. Based on the principle of least privilege, every request for entry has to be checked out and given the goahead. SASE, on the other hand, is a cloud-based architecture that combines WAN and network security features to make it easy and safe to access cloud services. The article tells the truth about these technologies and how they will grow. It also talks about what they can do for businesses and how they will affect their security

Verify and trust: A multidimensional survey of zero-trust security in the age of IoT

The zero-trust (ZT) model assumes that all users, devices, and network traffic should not considered as trusted until proven. The Zero-trust model emphasizes the importance of verifying and authenticating every user and device, and limiting access to resources based on the principle of least privilege. Under the principle of the zero-trust model, devices are granted access after they have been successfully presented with their authentication credentials and access rights based on different factors, such as user identity, device health, location, and behaviour. Access controls are then continuously evaluated and updated as user properties, locations and behaviour change. The zero-trust model can be applied in various domains (healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, government etc.) to provide a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that helps organizations to reduce risk and protect critical assets. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the zero-trust model, its principles, and its applications, as well as to propose recommendations for organizations looking to adopt this approach. We explore the major components of the zero-trust framework and their integration across different practical domains. Finally, we provide insightful discussions on open research issues within the zero-trust model in terms of the security and privacy of users and devices. This paper should help researchers and practitioners understand the importance of a zero-trust framework and adopt the zero-trust model for effective security, privacy, and resilience of their networks.

Implementing the principle of least administrative privilege on operating systems: challenges and perspectives

Implementing the principle of least administrative privilege on operating systems: challenges and perspectives

Database Decomposition to satisfy the Least Privilege Principle in Healthcare

The Multilevel Database Decomposition Framework is a cybersecurity strategy to enhance system robustness and minimize the impact of data breaches with a focus on healthcare systems. With respect to more conventional normalization methods, the framework prioritizes robustness against cyber threats over mere data redundancy reduction. The key strategy of the framework is the decomposition of a database into smaller databases to restrict user access and mitigate the impact of successful intrusions by satisfying the least privilege principle in a more complete way. For this purpose, each database the decomposition produces is uniquely associated with a set of users and the decomposition ensures that each user can access all and only the data his/her operations need. This limits the potential impact of threat agents impersonating users to the information a compromised user can access.
 To prevent the propagation of an intrusion across the databases it produces, the framework can apply alternative allocation strategies by distributing the databases to distinct virtual or physical entities according to the security requirement of the original application. This flexibility in allocation management ultimately reinforces defenses against evolving cyber threats and it is the main advantage of the deposition.
 As a counterpart of better robustness, some tables will be replicated across the databases the decomposition returns and updates of these tables should be properly replicated to prevent inconsistencies among copies of the same table in distinct databases. The paper includes a performance analysis to evaluate the overheads associated with the alternative allocations. This offers insights into the framework implementation and adaptability to distinct security needs and to evaluate the framework effectiveness for healthcare data systems.

THEORETICAL INSIGHTS INTO SECURING REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEMS IN WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM AFRICA-US PROJECTS

This review paper delves into the critical realm of securing remote monitoring systems within water distribution networks, illuminating theoretical insights and practical lessons gleaned from collaborative projects between Africa and the United States. Given the pivotal role of water distribution networks in public health and safety, integrating remote monitoring systems offers substantial benefits in operational efficiency and resource management. However, this integration also introduces significant security vulnerabilities that pose risks to critical infrastructure data's integrity, availability, and confidentiality. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper explores the multifaceted security challenges inherent in these systems, underscores the importance of robust theoretical frameworks for cybersecurity, and highlights effective security practices derived from international collaboration projects. It proposes principles for designing, implementing, and managing secure systems, emphasizing the necessity of defence-in-depth strategies, the principle of least privilege, and the critical role of continuous monitoring and adaptive response mechanisms. Furthermore, it identifies ongoing challenges and future directions for research, stressing the dynamic nature of cybersecurity threats and the potential of emerging technologies to fortify security measures. The paper advocates for sustained collaborative efforts and research to navigate the evolving landscape of security challenges in water distribution networks, ensuring their resilience against threats.
 Keywords: Remote Monitoring Systems, Water Distribution Security, Cybersecurity Frameworks.

Basic Security Mechanisms in Linux

The article provides an overview of the key security aspects of the Linux operating system. The relevance of this work lies in the fact that in light of the rapid development of technology and increased threats in the field of information security, special attention is paid to mechanisms that ensure stable protection of data and system resources. The article begins by reviewing basic security principles such as the principle of least privilege and need-based access. Next, we look at modern authentication and authorization mechanisms, including the role of Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) and Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) multi-user rules. Particular attention is paid to access control systems, including mechanisms for managing access rights to files through the Discretionary Access Control (DAC) and Mandatory Access Control (MAC). The iptables and firewalld firewalls are analyzed as key tools for ensuring the security of network interactions. The article also covers current Linux security trends and challenges, as well as an overview of the latest kernel and software updates. Ultimately, the reader will gain a comprehensive understanding of Linux security mechanisms, allowing him to make informed decisions to effectively protect his systems and data.

Confidentiality of advocate activities

The article examines the principle of attorney-client privilege in the system of the principles of the Advocacy and Practice of Law, and also the possibility of using electronic technologies and artificial intelligence by an attorney when providing legal assistance to a client in the context of ensuring compliance with the principle of attorney-client privilege.
 It is proved that the principles of the advocacy are the central, leading segments of the principles of the Advocacy, but the «principles of organization and operation of the Advocacy» as a legal institution and the «principles of the Practice of Law» on which the professional activities of attorneys-at-law are based can and should be separated from each other.
 It is established that the general prerequisite for distinguishing any principle of the Practice of Law is its significance, general nature, clarity and comprehensibility. The principle of confidentiality in the practice of law is fundamental since this principle is directly enshrined in Ukrainian legislation. However, in terms of observance of the principle of confidentiality of the Practice of Law, it is required not only from the attorney but also from the client to prevent information leakage to other users when using information technologies.
 When using the capabilities of artificial intelligence in the provision of legal aid, the author recommends that a separate clause of the contract should be provided for, whether the client allows the attorney to use artificial intelligence technologies in the provision of legal aid and to what extent.
 It is concluded that along with the progress and simplification of procedures, uncontrolled use of artificial intelligence by an attorney-at-law may lead to a violation of the principle of confidentiality of the attorney’s practice of law against the will of the attorney-at-law. Under any circumstances, when using artificial intelligence technologies, an attorney-at-law is prohibited from entering any personal data of a client or any other data which may identify the client in order to avoid leakage of confidential information.

The Role of Cloud Service Brokers: Enhancing Security and Compliance in Multi-cloud Environments


 The goal of this study is to put encryption key management strategies into practice while taking legal restrictions and the necessity for data accessibility into account. In order to reduce the danger of unauthorized access to cloud resources, this article explores the creation of Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions that successfully apply role-based access control and abide by the least privilege principle. The advancement of digital business is both facilitated and disrupted by the usage of cloud technologies. Spending on cloud computing platforms and infrastructure is expected to rise significantly, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% predicted for the period between 2013 and 2018. In comparison, the corporate IT industry as a whole is anticipated to develop at a rate that is quite slow—5%. Additionally, an increasing number of businesses—precisely 85%—are seeing the benefits of using several cloud platforms to boost employee productivity, encourage collaboration, and spur corporate innovation. Regulations and standards are quite complicated, with possibilities for repetition and occasionally discrepancies. Utilizing existing standard models, patterns, architectures, and best practices is one efficient way to manage the difficulties brought on by compliance complexity, uncertainties, and overlaps. Examining regulatory practices and looking for overlaps have been efforts.

A Systematic Review of Identity and Access Management Requirements in Enterprises and Potential Contributions of Self-Sovereign Identity

Digital identity and access management (IAM) poses significant challenges for companies. Cyberattacks and resulting data breaches frequently have their root cause in enterprises’ IAM systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, issues with the remote authentication of employees working from home highlighted the need for better IAM solutions. Using a design science research approach, the paper reviews the requirements for IAM systems from an enterprise perspective and identifies the potential benefits of self-sovereign identity (SSI) – an emerging, passwordless paradigm in identity management that provides end users with cryptographic attestations stored in digital wallet apps. To do so, this paper first conducts a systematic literature review followed by an interview study and categorizes IAM system requirements according to security and compliance, operability, technology, and user aspects. In a second step, it presents an SSI-based prototype for IAM, whose suitability for addressing IAM challenges was assessed by twelve domain experts. The results suggest that the SSI-based authentication of employees can address requirements in each of the four IAM requirement categories. SSI can specifically improve manageability and usability aspects and help implement acknowledged best practices such as the principle of least privilege. Nonetheless, the findings also reveal that SSI is not a silver bullet for all of the challenges that today’s complex IAM systems face.

Designing a Robust Security Framework for Safeguarding Cloud Computing Environments in the Age of Cyber Threats

As online threats grow, it is very important to keep cloud computer settings safe. This paper suggests a complete security system that will keep cloud platforms and data safe from different threats. To make a multi-layered defense system, the framework combines a number of important parts, such as encryption methods, access control systems, and intruder detection systems. Strong encryption methods, like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), are at the heart of the system. They protect the privacy and security of data. Strong key management techniques go along with these methods to keep encryption keys safe and stop people from getting in without permission. Based on the principle of least privilege, access control methods are very important for making sure that only the right people can use resources. Tough access rules are put in place with role-based access control (RBAC) and attribute-based access control (ABAC). In addition, the framework has an intrusion detection system (IDS) that constantly checks cloud settings for any strange activity. Machine learning techniques are used by the IDS to find and stop possible threats in real time. This security strategy covers all aspects of protecting cloud computing settings and adapts to the changing nature of cyber dangers. By using this framework, businesses can make their cloud systems safer and keep private data safe from threats and people who aren't supposed to see it.

Database Security

Abstract: Database security is a crucial factor in safeguarding sensitive data in today's information-centric world. As organizations increasingly rely on databases for storing and managing vast volumes of data, ensuring the security of databases has become a top priority. This paper proposes a methodology for enhancing database security by addressing identified challenges and attacks. The methodology involves various steps, including identifying and assessing potential threats, evaluating existing security measures, implementing multi-layered defense, enforcing the principle of least privilege, regularly updating and patching DBMS, conducting regular security audits, providing user awareness training, implementing data encryption, monitoring and logging database activities, developing an incident response plan, staying updated with the latest research and best practices, and continuously improving security measures. By following this methodology, organizations can effectively enhance the security of their databases and safeguard critical data from potential attacks and breaches. Emphasis is placed on regular review and updates to security measures to proactively address evolving threats and ensure continuous protection of sensitive data.

Managing Identity and Access Management (IAM) in Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays a pivotal role within Amazon Web Services (AWS) by governing the utilization of cloud resources and enhancing the overall security of the AWS ecosystem. IAM allows AWS users to effectively manage resource access while ensuring a robust security framework. This exploration delves into the fundamental concepts that underpin IAM, shedding light on authentication and authorization processes, best practices, practical implementation scenarios, and the convergence of IAM and security, and provides a forward-looking perspective into emerging trends in the field. IAM's significance lies in its ability to control access for individual users and groups, roles, and policies, ensuring the principle of least privilege and minimizing security risks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a key facet of IAM within AWS, offering an extra layer of security and identity verification. This enables organizations to fortify access control measures, safeguarding their AWS resources from potential threats. In addition to these foundational concepts, this exploration delves into practical implementations, elucidating how IAM can be leveraged to meet realworld security and compliance requirements. IAM's robust features enable users to define and manage access permissions with precision, catering to the specific needs of their organizations. Furthermore, this abstract introduces the IAM Query API, which provides a means to interact directly with AWS services. The IAM Query API supports GET and POST methods through APIs, offering developers and administrators a more streamlined approach to managing access to AWS resources. IAM is a linchpin in AWS security, ensuring that access to cloud resources is fine-tuned, well-protected, and compliant with best practices. The continued evolution of IAM, including integrating emerging technologies and security measures, promises to further enhance the security posture of AWS users and the cloud computing ecosystem.

Modeling and Defense of Social Virtual Reality Attacks Inducing Cybersickness

Social Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLE) offer a new medium for flexible and immersive learning environments with geo-distributed users. Ensuring user safety in VRLE application domains such as education, flight simulations, military training is of utmost importance. Specifically, there is a need to study the impact of “immersion attacks” (e.g., chaperone attack, occlusion) and other types of attacks/faults (e.g., unauthorized access, network congestion) that may cause user safety issues (i.e., inducing of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">cybersickness</i> ). In this article, we present a novel framework to quantify the security, privacy issues triggered via immersion attacks and other types of attacks/faults. By using a real-world social VRLE viz., vSocial and creating a novel attack-fault tree model, we show that such attacks can induce undesirable levels of cybersickness. Next, we convert these attack-fault trees into stochastic timed automata (STA) representations to perform statistical model checking for a given attacker profile. Using this model checking approach, we determine the most vulnerable threat scenarios that can trigger high occurrence cases of cybersickness for VRLE users. Lastly, we show the effectiveness of our attack-fault tree modeling by incorporating suitable design principles such as <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">hardening</i> , <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">diversity</i> , <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">redundancy</i> and <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">principle of least privilege</i> to ensure user safety in a VRLE session.

Least Privilege across People, Process, and Technology: Endpoint Security Framework

ABSTRACT A common target of cyberattacks today is the vulnerable endpoint device, which can be exploited by hackers to gain access into an organization. This paper presents a theoretical framework for addressing endpoint security by leveraging the principle of least privilege across the overlapping domains of people, process, and technology in organizations. The framework emphasizes nine key elements to endpoint security with associated policy statements designed to promote an organizational culture favorable to least privilege thinking. Leveraging an action design research methodology, we integrated the proposed managerial tool in an organization and incorporated feedback from industry professionals to evaluate it and to generate ideas for the development of a commercial endpoint security application. As a contribution, this framework is one of the first scholarly efforts to apply the principle of least privilege to endpoint security which can be valuable to cybersecurity consultants and academics.

Basic principles of neuroimmunology.

The brain is an immune-privileged organ such that immune cell infiltration is highly regulated and better tolerating the introduction of antigen to reduce risk of harmful inflammation. Thus, the composition and the nature of the immune response is fundamentally different in the brain where avoiding immunopathology is prioritized compared to other peripheral organs. While the principle of immune privilege in the central nervous system (CNS) still holds true, the role of the immune system in the CNS has been revisited over the recent years. This redefining of immune privilege in the brain is a result of the recent re-discovery of the extensive CNS meningeal lymphatic system and the identification of resident T cells in the brain, meningeal layers, and its surrounding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in both humans and rodents. While neuro-immune interactions have been classically studied in the context of neuroinflammatory disease, recent works have also elucidated unconventional roles of immune-derived cytokines in neurological function, highlighting the many implications and potential of neuro-immune interactions. As a result, the study of neuro-immune interactions is becoming increasingly important in understanding both CNS homeostasis and disease. Here, we review the anatomically distinct immune compartments within the brain, the known mechanisms of leukocyte trafficking and infiltration into the CNS and unique transcriptional and functional characteristics of CNS-resident immune cells.

HUNG OUT TO DRY? ATTORNEY-CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE REPORTING DUTIES IMPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT 38 OF 2001

According to the South African Law Reform Commission, money laundering is the manipulation of illegally acquired wealth in order to obscure its true source or nature. This is achieved by performing a series of transactions with the proceeds of criminal activities that, if successful, will leave the illegally derived proceeds appearing as a product of legitimate transactions or investments. Professional money laundering assists and strengthens organised crime and may contribute to the undermining of the civil society and the financial system of a country. Attorneys as professionals are no doubt in a precarious position. On the one hand there is the duty to keep in confidence private information pertaining to clients’ affairs which is no doubt essential to the attorney-client relationship and on the other hand there is the duty to the community to uphold the ethics of the profession. Attorneys may find that they are caught between these seemingly conflicting duties and the question is which duty is more important. This article weighs the newly-imposed duties on the legal profession pertaining to money laundering against the equally important principle of attorney-client privilege and asks whether it is possible to reconcile anti-money laundering obligations with legal professional privilege. The article considers the latter duty in light of the ethics of the legal profession in South Africa and the foundation of legal professional conduct. In addition, the position in the United Kingdom and in Canada is also considered. Against this background it is argued that there is no need to regulate the South African professional legal industry any further. Until FICA’s reporting provisions are formally challenged in the Constitutional Court, attorneys will continue to remain uncertain as totheir position, notwithstanding the fact that guidance notes have been issued to aid attorneys in this regard. In order to comply with FICA and simultaneously preserve the attorney-client relationship, attorneys need to educate clients on the provisions of FICA. Furthermore, legal practitioners should have a sound legal knowledge of FICA in order help the State combat organised crime and laundering activities. Finally, it is advisable to keep up to date with the latest guidelines which regarding the independence of the profession; possible infringements of the fundamental right to privacy and potential threats to the confidential attorney-client relationship. It is the awareness of this precarious balance that will ensure compliance with the FICA without causing the attorneys’ profession to lose its credibility.

A Proposed Methodology to Prevent a Ransomware Attack

RANSOMWARE as malware, increasing threat, three techniques-prevent, detect and mitigate, backup, software updates, educating users, network protection, software optimization, antivirus solution, don’t pay ransom, RDP (remote desktop protocol), disabling macros, principle of least privilege, software restriction policies(SRP), Sender Policy Framework (SPF), Domain Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM), administrative rights, network segmentation.

Advocate Anomalies in Money Laundring Practices in Indonesia: Analysis of Legal System Theory to Reporting Function in Government Regulation No. 43 Year 2015

This study focuses on how anomalies advocate in money laundring practices in Indonesia by providing analysis of the law and reporting functions in government regulation No. 43 year 2015. Government Regulation No. 43 year 2015 is obliging the advocate profession to report suspicious financial transactions to the PPATK. This research also aims to determine the implementation of PPATK in carrying out its duties as one of the institutions that supervise the travel flow of financial funds in Indonesia, especially from various professions that have potential harm to the country, Besides, also know the policies and applications and attitudes of the advocacy profession who are often involved in the practice of money laundring, as well as the conflict of interest that occurs from the PPATK with the advocate. This certainly caused PPATK to see the flow of funds often clash between the law and government regulation number 43 year 2015. With this law the confidentiality of the advocate profession has been assured, because the advocate has an internationally known lawyer-client privilege principle , which is not to convey the Considered confidential (confidential) except for the permits or orders of his clients so feared from this clash suspected the occurrence of business to do money laundring practices.