Abstract: Exemplary embodiments for protecting a data network from a DNS denial of service attack are disclosed. The systems and methods provide for the use of a shared DNS cache between DNS UDP and DNS TCP proxy servers, to enable detection and mitigation of DNS denial of service attacks.

Abstract: Hardware-based packet editor receives a packet editing script which includes script entries indicating modifications to a data packet and a data block with data for the modified data packet. For a script entry in the packet editing script, the packet editor copies data in the data block at a block location and with a block length identified in the script entry into a packet buffer. The packet editor repeats the copying for the remaining script entries for the modified data packet. The packet editor then generates the modified data packet with the data in the packet buffer. The packet editing script is generated such that a script entry is created for data to be included in the modified data packet and data to be inserted into the modified data packet. Creation of a script entry is omitted for data to be removed.

Abstract: Expertise, for performing classification of a type of network traffic, can be encapsulated in a module. A set of modules, as currently available to a traffic controller, can be referred to as a collection. Programming language constructs are introduced that facilitate the writing of modules customized to identify network traffic that is peculiar to a particular user, or to a relatively small group of users. An example programming language, based on Tcl, is introduced. A key aspect is event-driven programming, and the “when” command construct is introduced. Three important event types, that can trigger a “when” command, are CLIENT_DATA, SERVER_DATA, and RULE_INIT. Another key aspect is an ability to keep state information between events. Constructs for intra-session, intra-module, and global state are introduced. A module can be blocked from executing more than once for a session. Successful execution of a module can be specified by a “match” statement.

Abstract: The inventive system includes a host, a network including a security gateway, and a public application. Established are an access session between the network and the host and an application session between the public application and the network. An application session record is created for the application session, and includes the user's public user identity used to access the public application, the user's private user identity used to access the network, a host identity, and an application session time. To determine the private user identity for the application session, the security gateway sends a query with the host identity and the application session time. These are compared with the host identity and access session time in an access session record, if they match, then the private user identity in the access session record is returned, and it is stored as the private user identity in the application session record.

Abstract: A modular system uses point-to-point communication between field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) on a control module and each port module, respectively, to manage basic module functions, such as power, environmental monitoring, and health checks on the modules and their components. This allows a chassis to be managed without fully powering each card first, frees processors on the modules from having to perform health checks, allows dedicated resources to rapidly monitor the health of each card, and prevents one bad card from disabling management of all cards.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for load distribution in a data network. A method for load distribution in the data network may comprise retrieving network data associated with the data network and service node data associated with one or more service nodes. The method may further comprise analyzing the retrieved network data and service node data. Based on the analysis, a service policy may be generated. Upon receiving one or more service requests, the one or more service requests may be distributed among the service nodes according to the service policy.

Abstract: Applying a security policy to an application session, includes recognizing the application session between a network and an application via a security gateway, determining by the security gateway a user identity of the application session using information about the application session, obtaining by the security gateway the security policy comprising network parameters mapped to the user identity, and applying the security policy to the application session by the security gateway. The user identity may be a network user identity or an application user identity recognized from packets of the application session. The security policy may comprise a network traffic policy mapped and/or a document access policy mapped to the user identity, where the network traffic policy is applied to the application session. The security gateway may further generate a security report concerning the application of the security policy to the application session.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic threat protection are disclosed. An example method for dynamic threat protection may commence with receiving real-time contextual data from at least one data source associated with a client. The method may further include analyzing the real-time contextual data to determine a security threat score associated with the client. The method may continue with assigning, based on the analysis, the security threat score to the client. The method may further include automatically applying a security policy to the client. The security policy may be applied based on the security threat score assigned to the client.

Abstract: A service gateway processes a service request received from a host by: relaying the service request from the service gateway to a server over a service session between the service gateway and the server; determining a service request time for the service session; receiving by the service gateway a service response from the server; determining by the service gateway a service response time; calculating by the service gateway a service processing time for the service request from the service request time and the service response time; comparing the service processing time with an expected service processing time; and updating a server busy indicator for the server in response to the comparing. If the service processing time exceeds the expected service processing time, the server busy indicator is updated to indicate that the server is busy. Otherwise, the server busy indicator is updated to indicate that the server is not busy.

Abstract: Allocation of buffers for a TCP proxy session between a client and a server by a service gateway includes monitoring dynamic network behaviors for server and client side sessions of the TCP proxy session; and allocating capacity for a server side buffer and capacity for a client side buffer in a memory buffer based on the dynamic server side network behaviors, the dynamic client side network behaviors, and a weighted average of a capacity of the memory buffer. In one approach to the allocation, the gateway determines whether an available capacity of the server or client side buffer is sufficient to store a data packet. If not sufficient, the allocated capacity of the server or client side buffer is increased based on measurements of the dynamic network behaviors and the weighted average, and the available capacity of the server or client side buffer is adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronization of configuration files of a plurality of blades in a virtual application distribution chassis are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a master blade processes a configuration command, updates a first configuration file with the configuration command and generates an updated tag, and sends a configuration message to at least one slave blade of the virtual application distribution chassis informing of the updated configuration file. The configuration message is received by a given slave blade of the one or more slave blades and compared with a second configuration file stored at the given slave blade; and in response to determining that the updated tag in the configuration message is more recent than the tag in the second configuration file stored at the given slave blade, the slave blade sends a request for the updated configuration file to the master blade.

Abstract: In processing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) headers, a packet pre-processor is configured with at least one predetermined header field identifier. The packet pre-processor detects at least one header field identifier in a header field of an HTTP packet received over an HTTP session between a host and a server, matches the predetermined header field identifier to the header field identifier in the HTTP packet, generates a header report block comprising information corresponding to the header field identifier in the HTTP packet, and sends the HTTP packet and the header report block to a processor module for processing the HTTP packet based on the header report block. The processor module receives the HTTP packet and the header report block from the packet pre-processor, retrieves a service policy using the header report block, applies the service policy to the HTTP packet, and sends the HTTP packet to the host or the server.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for mitigating a DoS attack. A method for mitigating a DoS attack may commence with receiving, from a client, a request to initiate a secure session between the client and a server. The method may continue with determining whether the client is on a whitelist. Based on a determination that client is absent from the whitelist, a pre-generated key may be sent to the client. The method may include determining validity of the established secure session. The determination may be performed based on further actions associated with the client. Based on the determination that the secure session is valid, a renegotiation of the secure session may be forced. The method may further include generating a new key using a method for securely exchanging cryptographic keys over a public channel. The new key is then sent to the client.

Abstract: A high-speed router backplane is disclosed. The router backplane uses differential signal pairs on multiple signal layers, each sandwiched between a pair of digital ground layers. Thru-holes are used to connect the differential signal pairs to external components. To reduce routing complexity, at least some of the differential signal pairs route through a via pair, somewhere along their path, to a different signal layer. At least some of the thru-holes and vias are drilled to reduce an electrically conductive stub length portion of the hole. The drilled portion of a hole includes a transition from a first profile to a second profile to reduce radio frequency reflections from the end of the drilled hole.

Abstract: In providing packet forwarding policies in a virtual service network that includes a network node and a pool of service load balancers serving a virtual service, the network node: receives a virtual service session request from a client device, the request including a virtual service network address for the virtual service; compares the virtual service network address in the request with the virtual service network address in each at least one packet forwarding policy; in response to finding a match between the virtual service network address in the request and a given virtual service network address in a given packet forwarding policy, determines the given destination in the given packet forwarding policy; and sends the request to a service load balancer in the pool of service load balancers associated with the given destination, where the service load balancer establishes a virtual service session with the client device.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for flagging security threats in web service requests. Specifically, a method for flagging security threats in web service requests can include receiving a request addressed to an addressee. The method can further include analyzing the request based on at least one security signature. The method can continue with determining a threat level associated with the request. The determination can be carried out based on the analysis. The method can further include creating a flag corresponding to the threat level. The method can further include inserting the flag into a network packet associated with the request, thereby creating a modified request. The method may further include sending the modified packet to the addressee. An application associated with the addressee can be operable to selectively process the request based on the threat level.

Abstract: Reducing buffer usage for a TCP proxy session between a client and a server by a service gateway includes: determining a first round trip time (RTT) for a server side TCP session and determining a second RTT for a client side TCP session; comparing the first RTT with the second RTT; determining whether the second RTT exceeds the first RTT beyond a threshold; if so, then calculating a desired RTT based on the second RTT; and setting a timer according to the calculated desired RTT, where a TCP acknowledgement for the server side TCP session is delayed until the timer expires. The desired RTT may be calculated as a percentage of the second RTT or as the second RTT minus a predetermined value. The service gateway waits until the timer has expired before sending a TCP acknowledgement data packet to the server.

Abstract: Applying a security policy to an application session, includes: recognizing the application session between a network and an application via a security gateway; determining by the security gateway a user identity of the application session using information about the application session; obtaining by the security gateway the security policy comprising network parameters mapped to the user identity; and applying the security policy to the application session by the security gateway. The user identity may be a network user identity or an application user identity recognized from packets of the application session. The security policy may comprise a network traffic policy mapped and/or a document access policy mapped to the user identity, where the network traffic policy is applied to the application session. The security gateway may further generate a security report concerning the application of the security policy to the application session.

Abstract: A method for electing a master blade in a virtual application distribution chassis (VADC), includes: sending by each blade a VADC message to each of the other blades; determining by each blade that the VADC message was not received from the master blade within a predetermined period of time; in response, sending a master claim message including a blade priority by each blade to the other blades; determining by each blade whether any of the blade priorities obtained from the received master claim messages is higher than the blade priority of the receiving blade; in response to determining that none of the blade priorities obtained is higher, setting a status of a given receiving blade to a new master blade; and sending by the given receiving blade a second VADC message to the other blades indicating the status of the new master blade of the given receiving blade.

Abstract: A packet network device such as a network switch includes a number of functional cards or chassis modules at least some of which are connected to both an electrical backplane and a wireless backplane. The electrical backplane provides data plane signal paths and the wireless backplane provides control plane signal paths.