| The mobile code paradigm encompasses programs that can be executed on one or several hosts other than the one they originate from. Mobility of such programs implies some built-in capability for each piece of code to travel smoothly from one host to another. Mobile code systems range from simple applets to intelligent software agents. These systems offer several advantages over the more traditional distributed computing approach. Decisions regarding the employment of mobile code within the firewall are based on the potential for the code to cause damage to the system if used maliciously. Mobile code technologies include Java, JavaScript, ActiveX, PDF, Postscript, Shockwave movies, Flash animations, and VBScript. The firewall implementation must be configured to detect mobile code and prevent the affected traffic from reaching its intended destination and being executed.
This requirement requires enforcement action that is not the purview of the firewall. |
