Combined Digital Certificate Multi-Authority Key Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital certificate systems are vulnerable to security breaches as they rely on a single certificate authority, making them susceptible to unauthorized access and compromising the entire system if one authority is compromised.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating a combined digital certificate using multiple certificate authorities, where a private key is generated based on data from multiple authorities, ensuring that even if one authority is compromised, the private key remains secure, and liability is distributed among the authorities, enhancing security resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single certificate authority is used to issue digital certificates, then the system is simpler to manage and operate, but the system becomes vulnerable to security breaches and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the certificate authority function into multiple independent authorities (first CA, second CA, etc.). Each CA issues its own digital certificate, and the system combines multiple certificates to form a composite credential. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure, as compromising one CA does not compromise the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple digital certificates from different certificate authorities into a single combined credential structure. The system combines the public keys and certificate data from multiple CAs, creating a unified authentication mechanism that leverages the strength of all participating authorities while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Reliability
If multiple certificate authorities are used to generate a combined digital certificate, then security resistance and liability distribution are enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trust model into multiple independent certificate authorities, each maintaining its own security domain. This allows the system to achieve high security resistance through diversity while keeping each individual CA's operations simple and well-defined.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined digital certificate structure serves multiple functions: it provides authentication, authorization, and audit capabilities while working with standard cryptographic protocols. The system maintains compatibility with existing digital certificate infrastructures while adding the benefit of multi-authority support.
3Reliability
If a private key is generated based on data from multiple certificate authorities, then unauthorized access to one authority does not compromise the entire system, but the key generation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the private key generation process so that each certificate authority contributes a portion of the key material independently. Each CA generates its own random value and uses it to contribute to the overall private key, ensuring that no single CA has control over the complete key while maintaining cryptographic security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a key generation mediator that coordinates between multiple certificate authorities. This intermediary facilitates the secure exchange of key material and performs the combination operation, simplifying the overall process while ensuring that no single party has excessive control over the final private key.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can comprise a memory to store computer readable instructions and a processing unit to access the memory and to execute the computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions can comprise a certificate manager configured to request generation of N number of random values, where N is an integer greater than or equal to one. The certificate manager can also be configured to request a digital certificate from at least one certificate authority of at least two different certificate authorities. The request can include a given one of the N number of random values. The certificate manager can also be configured to generate a private key of a public-private key pair, wherein the private key is generated based on a private key of each of the least two certificate authorities.