Open-Source Attestation Agent for Secure Device Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing attestation systems face challenges with proprietary software, including customer discomfort due to lack of source code inspection, security issues from improper patching, and increased attack surfaces from pull attestation models.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an open-source attestation agent that downloads from a distribution system, supports automatic updates, and uses a push attestation model, along with cryptographic device identities and short-lived credentials, to facilitate secure registration and attestation processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If proprietary attestation software is used, then attestation functionality is provided, but customers cannot inspect source code and security issues arise from improper patching

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsource code inspection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses open-source attestation software that can be downloaded and inspected from public distribution systems. The source code is made publicly available, allowing customers to verify the software's integrity and security claims, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing attestation functionality and enabling source code inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements automatic update mechanisms that provide feedback to customers about security patches and updates. This ensures timely security improvements while maintaining transparency through open-source distribution, addressing both the security reliability and source code inspection requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If pull attestation model is used, then device registration is required, but attack surface increases and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional pull attestation model by implementing a push attestation model. Instead of devices actively registering themselves with attestation servers (pull model), the system pushes attestation credentials and policies to devices, simplifying the installation process while maintaining security through automated credential distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If open-source attestation agent is used, then source code inspection is enabled, but automatic updates must be managed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource code inspectionVSAvoidautomatic updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service update mechanisms where the open-source attestation agent automatically checks for and applies security patches and updates. This eliminates the need for manual intervention in update management while maintaining the benefits of open-source code inspection, resolving the contradiction between source code accessibility and update automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260058821A1Electronic device registration and attestation

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

In some examples, an electronic device downloads an attestation agent from an open-source distribution system, and initiates a registration process of the electronic device with an attestation server. The registration process includes sending, by the attestation agent in the electronic device, a cryptographic device identity for receipt by the attestation server, and receiving, by the attestation agent, an indication of registration of the electronic device based on the attestation server verifying the cryptographic device identity.