Implementation of a hypertext transfer protocol server on a high assurance multilevel secure platform

摘要

In a client/server environment on a local area network (LAN), a server should provide various network applications including a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server. HTTP is a client/server, request/response application protocol that is used on the World Wide Web (WWW). It provides the definition and means for transferring objects across internets. A server used in the context of a multilevel secure (MLS) LAN should be no exception. A MLS LAN should be capable of providing an HTTP web server that can be used by commercially available web browsers executing on client workstations. This server needs to be aware of the MLS environment and provide clients access to all web pages and objects for which they are authorized. This thesis implements an HTTP web server running on a high assurance host in a MLS LAN. The web server is based on a commercially available web server application. The commercially available application has been modified and configured to run on the high assurance host. This thesis discusses the details for implementing the web server on the high assurance host. The result of this thesis is an HTTP web server application that runs on a high assurance host servicing clients on a MLS LAN that are using commercially available web browsers. These clients now have the capability of web browsing at varying levels of classification on one workstation.