An algebra for fine-grained integration of XACML policies
Abstract
Collaborative and distributed applications, such as dynamic coalitions and virtualized grid computing, often require integrating access control policies of collaborating parties. Such an integration must be able to support complex authorization specifications and the fine-grained integration requirements that the various parties may have. In this paper, we introduce an algebra for fine-grained integration of sophisticated policies. The algebra, which consists of three binary and two unary operations, is able to support the specification of a large variety of integration constraints. To assess the expressive power of our algebra, we introduce a notion of completeness and prove that our algebra is complete with respect to this notion. We then propose a framework that uses the algebra for the fine-grained integration of policies expressed in XACML. We also present a methodology for generating the actual integrated XACML policy, based on the notion of Multi-Terminal Binary Decision Diagrams.
Keywords
distributed applications, virtual grid computing, access control, privacy, security, integration constraints, XACML
Date of this Version
2009
Comments
SACMAT '09 Proceedings of the 14th ACM symposium on Access control models and technologies