Authentication Control Device for API Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased risk of attacks on business systems when new access routes are opened from external networks to a previously closed environment, as existing authentication mechanisms may inadvertently provide information useful to attackers through error responses during unauthenticated access attempts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual determination process for request information validity, using both identification information and authentication token information, and transmitting non-disclosing error messages to prevent information exposure to attackers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new access routes are opened from external networks to business systems, then adaptability and accessibility are improved, but security and vulnerability to attacks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
An authentication control device is introduced as an intermediary component between the external network and the business system. This device intercepts and validates authentication requests, using identification information and authentication token information to determine whether to permit access. The intermediary prevents direct exposure of the business system to external attacks while maintaining accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If detailed error information is provided during authentication failures, then ease of debugging and operation is improved, but information security worsens by providing attackers with useful information
Solution Approach 1:
The error information provided is made context-dependent. For authenticated users, detailed error information including API name validity and authentication status is provided to aid debugging. For unauthenticated access attempts, generic error information is provided that does not reveal system details. This local differentiation of information quality prevents attackers from gathering useful information while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.
3Reliability
If multiple determination processes are implemented for request validation, then security is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication token information is validated in advance as part of the authentication process. The authentication control device performs preliminary determination using identification information and authentication token information before allowing access to the business system. This preliminary action ensures that security checks are already performed when requests arrive, reducing the need for repeated complex validation processes and managing processing complexity efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
The resolution of the problem is achieved by performing a first determination process in which when request information is received, validity of the request information is determined on the basis of identification information of the interface included in the request information and a second determination process in which validity of the request information is determined on the basis of key information or authentication token information for an interface included in the request information and that permits a user who made the application to utilize the interface or the authentication token information that determines the validity of the user; and transmitting to a transmission source of the request information and regardless of a result of the first determination process, error information indicating that an access is not allowed when the request information is determined to be not valid as a result of the second determination process.