Inter-process Communication (IPC) Security
Protecting the communication between processes within a system.
Understanding Inter-Process Communication (IPC) Security
Refers to the protection of data and messages exchanged between processes running on the same or different systems. IPC mechanisms, such as shared memory, message queues, pipes, and remote procedure calls (RPCs), enable processes to communicate efficiently but also introduce security risks, including unauthorized access, data interception, and privilege escalation.
Common Applications and Use Cases
Operating System Communication – Processes in an OS share data via IPC mechanisms like named pipes and message queues.
Microservices and Container Security – Microservices use IPC mechanisms such as gRPC, REST APIs, and message brokers for communication.
Database and Application Integration – IPC is used for real-time data exchange between applications and databases.
Cloud and Distributed Systems – Remote IPC methods like RPC and D-Bus facilitate communication in cloud environments.
IoT Device Communication – IPC mechanisms are used in embedded systems and IoT devices to share sensor data.
Best Practices and Security Considerations
Enforce Access Control – Use role-based access control (RBAC) and discretionary access control (DAC) to restrict which processes can communicate.
Use Secure Communication Channels – Implement TLS encryption for network-based IPC and memory protection mechanisms for local IPC.
Minimize IPC Exposure – Disable unnecessary IPC mechanisms and limit process privileges to reduce attack surfaces.
Sanitize Input in IPC Messages – Prevent code injection attacks by validating and sanitizing IPC data exchanges.
Use Sandboxing for IPC-Enabled Applications – Restrict process access to system resources using sandboxing techniques (e.g., AppArmor, SELinux).
Monitor and Log IPC Activities – Continuously log IPC interactions to detect and mitigate unauthorized process communication.