Banking API Token Validation Against Replay Attacks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current application security systems for web-based and mobile banking applications are vulnerable to replay attacks and rely on a single gateway module, which acts as a single point of failure, and fail to provide adequate security by only validating tokens at the start of the user session.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system that issues new session tokens, such as MORF tokens, for each request, requiring validation for every request, and includes multiple layers of token validation across various components to ensure security and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single gateway module is used for application security, then the system structure is simplified, but the system becomes vulnerable to single point of failure and replay attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the security validation function into multiple independent components: a reverse proxy that performs initial token validation, multiple pod instances that can process requests in parallel, and distributed session storage. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure while maintaining simplified architecture through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically generates new session tokens for each request rather than using static tokens. The reverse proxy and pods continuously validate and regenerate tokens, creating a dynamic security mechanism that prevents replay attacks while adapting to changing request patterns.
2Device complexity
If token validation is performed only at the start of user session, then the validation process is simplified, but security is compromised as session tokens become vulnerable to replay attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous token validation throughout the entire user session. The reverse proxy and pod validators continuously check session tokens against stored credentials, ensuring that validation is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. This continuous action maintains security without requiring complex validation logic at each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the reverse proxy validates tokens and returns validation results to the pods, which then use this information to make authorization decisions. This feedback loop ensures that security decisions are based on current validation results rather than assumptions about token validity.
3Reliability
If multiple layers of token validation are implemented, then security against replay attacks is improved, but the processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reverse proxy performs preliminary token validation before requests reach the pods. By validating tokens upfront and caching validation results, the system reduces the processing burden on subsequent components. This preliminary action ensures security while minimizing overall processing time through early decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial validation at different levels: the reverse proxy performs basic token validation, while pods perform more comprehensive validation only when necessary. This partial action approach ensures adequate security without requiring every component to perform every validation check, thereby reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for application security improvements are provided. The systems and methods may receive a banking request, including a request header, from a web browser or mobile application. Thereafter, a session cookie may be extracted from the request header. The session cookie may include one or more of a CSRF token, a MORF token, and a JWT. Thereafter, an outer API may validate the one or more tokens and create a validated banking request object. Upon such validations, a financial institution's APIs may allow a banking request to proceed with a high degree of confidence that the request is free of interference by bad actors and fraud. The validated banking request object may be transmitted to an inner API to accomplish the banking request. Thus, the system and methods described herein provide an improved system for application security, which decreases rates of fraud below that of known systems.