In recent years, eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) has emerged as a foundational technology in mainstream software and application development.

eBPF Practical Definition

• eBPF is a programmable interface for the Linux operating system and, more recently, for Microsoft Windows.

• It allows developers to add new functionality and gain deep observability into individual applications and the broader ecosystem during both testing and production.

eBPF as a Foundational Technology

• As a foundational technology, eBPF enables software products to access the operating system and the applications running on it directly.

eBPF as a Standardized Technology vs Proprietary Approaches

• eBPF is a standardized method for extending operating system capabilities, rather than a proprietary technology.

• The Linux Foundation offers, endorses, supports, and advances eBPF, ensuring it remains a non-proprietary, standardized solution.

• This contrasts with eBPF predecessors such as interactive application security testing (IAST) and runtime application self-protection (RASP), which are proprietary solutions.  

Enabling Advanced Functionality

• eBPF offers deep observability into all processes initiated by applications on the operating system. It monitors application and API processes from their origin, capturing events such as invoked APIs, opened libraries, and loaded components. Additionally, it provides detailed visibility into application calls, inter-application processes, and both North-South and East-West transactions.

Primary Purpose of the eBPF-based User Products  

• With its advanced capabilities, eBPF enables highly accurate observability into application logic, architecture, vulnerability paths, and attack flows.

• The primary use of eBPF-based products is observability and monitoring, including performance and security monitoring, as well as detection and response.

Safety and Stability of eBPF-based User Products

• An eBPF-enabled product dynamically connects to an application or API process at startup and disconnects when the process terminates.

• eBPF maintains the safety and stability of the operating system kernel when running alongside user-developed functions or software.

• User-developed eBPF-based software runs in a sandbox environment, preserving operating system integrity.

• eBPF-based code can be deployed only after passing verification procedures established by Linux.

• User software cannot modify the OS code.  

• Installing or updating an eBPF-based product does not require restarting the server.

Independence from the Programming and Language-Runtime Environments

• eBPF is not dependent on any programming language and supports code written in any language. In contrast, IAST and RASP require separate agents for each language, such as Java, C#, or PHP.

• eBPF does not require insertion into application code or language virtual machines, such as the Java VM. This approach ensures easy installation and reliable operation.

Comprehensives of the eBPF-based products

• An eBPF-based monitor can be dynamically connected to every running entity, such as an application or microservice, and remains attached throughout its lifecycle. This ensures all entities are continuously monitored.

• It operates autonomously, requiring minimal to no human intervention.  

• It operates across the Dev and Ops lifecycle phases and enables vulnerability detection and protection against attacks.  

eBPF in Product Development

• eBPF is a powerful foundation and tool to build modern software products.  

• Examples include application performance management solutions and application security detection and protection products, such as Runtime CNAPP.

Advantages of eBPF-based User Products

• Complete insight into a running application ecosystem  

• Deep observability into runtime processes  

• Automatic asset discovery: applications, APIs, OSS components, URIs, containers  

• Continuous monitoring of assets and processes  

• Detection and Protection  

• Complete across Dev and Ops  

• High accuracy with low False Positive and False Negative rates  
  

Therefore, eBPF serves as an ideal technological platform for Runtime CNAPP. For more information, see our previous blog, Runtime Observability as an Emerging Capability in CNAPP.

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