Dynamic API Key Generation via Hash Chain Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional API keys, often implemented as static passwords, are vulnerable to interception and replay attacks, compromising the security of access to protected resources.
Innovation Solution
API keys are generated based on credentials associated with respective access control intervals, using techniques such as hash chains, which provide dynamic and secure authentication by varying the API keys over time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If static passwords are used for API keys, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates due to vulnerability to interception and replay attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static API keys into dynamic credentials that change over time through hash chain computation. Each credential is valid only for a specific time interval and cannot be reused, making the authentication system dynamic and resistant to replay attacks while maintaining ease of operation through automated credential generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of API keys from static to dynamic by using hash chain intermediate values that evolve over time. Each credential is derived from a unique intermediate value in the hash chain, ensuring that credentials change with each access control interval while remaining easy to generate and use.
2Reliability
If dynamic credentials based on hash chains are used, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing the hash chain from a master secret before deployment. The intermediate values of the hash chain are stored in advance, allowing credentials to be generated on-demand without performing complex real-time computations. This reduces device complexity during operation while maintaining high security through pre-established cryptographic foundations.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory and is configured to obtain a credential associated with a particular access control interval, to determine an application programming interface (API) key based at least in part on the credential, and to utilize the API key in an API key enrollment protocol. The obtaining, determining and utilizing are repeated for one or more additional instances of the API key enrollment protocol corresponding to respective ones of one or more additional access control intervals. The processing device illustratively comprises a service requester device configured to carry out at least a portion of a given instance of the API key enrollment protocol with a service provider device. The API key may comprise, for example, the credential itself, or a function of the credential and other information. The credential may comprise, again by way of example, an intermediate value of a hash chain.