Secured systems and Ada: a trusted system software architecture

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we will present an architecture for developing a system reliant upon trusted Ada software, and some of the lessons learned in our having done such a development. Some background on trusted software and the trusted information systems within which such Ada software operates is provided, as well as some theoretical and practical aspects of the use of Ada in developing these systems. The notion of a trusted computing base (TCB) is presented and defined. A generalized trusted software development approach will be adduced and some aspects of developing CMW TCB components are offered.

REFERENCES

• 1: Department of Defense, Department of Dej~nse Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria, DoD 5300.28-STD, December 1985.
• 2: Richard Graubart, Operating System Support for Trusted Applications, 15th National Computer Security Conference, Washington, D.C., 1992.
• 3: Dennis Longley, et al, Information Security: Dictionary of Concepts, Standards & Terms, M Stockton Press, 1992.
• 4: Dorothy Elizabeth Rob Denning, Cryptography and Data Security, Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1982
• 5: Kjell Nielsen, Object-oriented design with Ada: maximizing reusability for real-time systems, Bantam Books, Inc., New York, NY, 1992
• 6: ANS~-STD- 1815A, Ada Programming Language, U. S. Department of Defense, 1983.
• 7: Woodward, John P. L., Compartmented Mode Workstation Labeling: Source Code and User Interface Guidelines, DDS- 2600-6215-89, The Mitre Corporation, 1989.
• 8: Woodward, John P. L., Compartmented Mode Workstation Labelling.' Encodings Format, DDS--2600-6216-89, The Mitre Corporation, 1989.
• 9: Woodward, John P. L., Security Requirements for System High and Compartmented Mode Workstations, DDS--2600- 5502-87, The Mitre Corporation, 1987.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.4 Processors
          Subjects: Compilers

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.0 General
          Subjects: Protection mechanisms
      D.2.m Miscellaneous
          Subjects: Reusable software**
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: Ada
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.6 Security and Protection
          Subjects: Access controls

General Terms:
Design, Languages, Security