A comparison of trusted X security policies, architectures, and interoperability

During the past several years, interest in architectures for multilevel secure versions of the X Window System (X) has grown dramatically, primarily in the compartmented mode workstation (CMW) community. The architectures and security policies implemented in existing CMWs are similar to each other, although they differ in certain key details. Alternatives to the current approaches are being investigated. Most notably, a TRW-led team of researchers has designed and prototyped a trusted X implementation aimed at the trusted computer systems evaluation criteria (TCSEC) B3 level. The architecture and security policies adopted by this implementation differ radically from those of all the existing CMWs. The architectures and security policies implemented in existing CMWs and the TRW prototype are surveyed, areas of commonality and divergence are identified, and areas where interoperability can be achieved are noted