Classification of security properties in a Linda-like process algebra

Abstract

We provide a classification of noninterference-based security properties for the formal analysis of secure information flow in concurrent and distributed systems. This is done in the setting of a process algebra modeling some Linda coordination primitives (asynchronous communication and read operation). For this purpose, we define relaxed notions of behavioural equivalence that take into account the observational power of the external observer. The resulting taxonomy is compared with analogous security definitions based on synchronous communication models, thus emphasizing the influence of the Linda coordination model upon the expressivity of the security properties, by giving a new intuition to the relative merits. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.