Dynamic Credential Rotation for Image Processing Server Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customized scan and send solutions for image processing devices face security challenges due to hard-coded user names and passwords, which are vulnerable to unauthorized access and brute-force attacks, and existing authentication mechanisms can hinder authorized users by requiring multiple logins across different systems.
Innovation Solution
Generating random user names and passwords at startup, which are stored temporarily and changed frequently, and implementing a single sign-on mechanism to simplify user authentication across applications without persisting credentials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If hard coded user name and password are used for server authentication, then the server implementation is simplified and cost is reduced, but security is compromised due to vulnerability to unauthorized access and brute-force attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic credentials that change over time rather than static hard-coded credentials. The system generates new user names and passwords periodically or on-demand, making the authentication data dynamic and time-sensitive. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple server implementation while dramatically improving security through ephemeral credentials that cannot be compromised long-term.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of credential persistence from permanent (hard-coded) to temporary (generated and rotated). By implementing credentials with limited lifetime and automatic rotation, the system maintains implementation simplicity while eliminating the security vulnerability of static credentials that can be brute-forced or leaked indefinitely.
2Reliability
If traditional authentication mechanisms are implemented for each application, then system security is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates due to multiple logins required across different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication mechanism where a single set of dynamically generated credentials can be used across multiple applications and services. Instead of requiring separate authentication for each application, the system creates credentials that work universally across the application ecosystem, maintaining security through dynamic generation while providing user convenience through single sign-on capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary credential generation service that mediates between the user and multiple applications. This intermediary service generates and manages credentials that can be shared across applications, acting as a mediator that maintains security policies while enabling convenient cross-application access without requiring users to remember multiple credentials.
3Ease of operation
If credentials are persisted for long-term use, then user convenience is improved through single sign-on, but security is reduced due to increased risk of credential leakage and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic credential rotation where credentials are automatically generated and renewed at regular intervals. This periodic action maintains user convenience by allowing credentials to be stored and used across sessions, while simultaneously improving security by limiting the window of opportunity for credential compromise. Even if credentials are leaked, their short lifetime minimizes the damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent treats credentials as disposable, short-lived objects rather than permanent assets. By generating credentials that are intentionally designed to have limited lifetime and automatic expiration, the system enables convenient storage and reuse while minimizing security risk. The credentials are cheap to generate and replace, making the system resilient to credential compromise.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided. Some embodiments include generating credentials for accessing a transmission service; sending, from a first application to a second application, the credentials and a request to perform operations related to a scan job; receiving, at the first application from the second application, credentials from the second application, and a request to access the transmission service; determining whether the credentials from the second application are valid; and in response to determining that the credentials from the second application are valid, getting a file from the second application using the transmission service; and sending the file to a destination.