Client Authentication via Timing Data Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer authentication systems relying on user names and passwords are vulnerable to malicious entity access due to credential compromise, making it difficult to detect unauthorized access, especially from distant locations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that validates client authentication using timing data by instructing clients to retransmit data to multiple timing servers, calculating round trip times, and applying a digital signature for verification, ensuring that only authorized clients with valid credentials access cloud resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional username and password authentication is used, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to credential compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication verification process is segmented into multiple independent timing measurements across different servers. Instead of relying on a single authentication check, the system divides verification into multiple timing-based validation steps, where each server independently measures round trip times and collectively determines authentication validity, preventing single-point credential compromise from fully compromising security
Solution Approach 2:
Timing servers act as intermediaries between the client and the authentication system. These intermediary servers measure round trip times without directly handling sensitive credentials, providing an additional layer of verification that detects credential misuse through timing analysis while maintaining the ease of traditional authentication for legitimate users
2Reliability
If timing data validation is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The timing servers perform multiple functions: they serve as authentication verification points, measure round trip times, validate timing data against thresholds, and detect credential misuse. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into unified servers that handle various authentication and monitoring tasks, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced security
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being measured from simple presence/absence of credentials to quantitative round trip time measurements. By transforming authentication verification into a parameter-based measurement system with configurable thresholds, the system achieves enhanced security through mathematical validation while maintaining relatively simple implementation through standardized timing protocols
3Measurement precision
If multiple timing servers are used for validation, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process uses periodic timing measurements where timing servers send regularly spaced requests to clients and measure round trip times. This periodic action allows multiple measurements to be taken efficiently, improving statistical precision of authentication verification while keeping each individual measurement brief, thus balancing accuracy with time efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Timing thresholds and validation criteria are predetermined and configured in advance before actual authentication occurs. This preliminary setup of acceptance ranges and timing parameters eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations during authentication, allowing multiple servers to quickly validate timing data against pre-established criteria, thereby improving precision without proportionally increasing processing time
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for validating client authentication using timing data is described. A connection request is received from a client. Data are transmitted to the client. The client is instructed to retransmit the data. The retransmitted data are received from the client. Timing data that indicates a time to transmit the data to the client and receive the retransmitted data from the client are calculated. A protective element is applied to the timing data.