Secure mashup-providing platforms - Implementing encrypted wiring

Abstract

Mashups were not designed with security in mind. Their main selling point is the flexible and easy to use development approach. The fact that mashups enable users to compose services to create a piece of software with new functionalities, integrating inputs from various sources, implies a security risk. However, in many scenarios where mashups add business value, e.g. enterprise mashups, security and privacy are important requirements. A secure environment for the handling of potentially sensitive end user information is needed, unless the user fully trusts the mashup-providing-platform (MPP), which is unlikely for hosted enterprise mashups. In this paper we present a proof-of-concept implementation which enables the secure usage of a mashup-providing platform and protects sensitive data against malicious widgets and platform operators. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.