Federated Identity Token Management for API Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of integrating web-based APIs is exacerbated by the multitude of standards and protocols, leading to burdensome customization and security challenges, particularly with shared secrets being vulnerable to exposure during API interactions.
Innovation Solution
A unified authentication and credential management system enables federated identity across multiple APIs, using identity tokens associated with linked service tokens to streamline API interactions and secure storage, allowing for single token management and secure access to external services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual API authentication protocols are implemented separately, then each API can be secured independently, but the system complexity and customization burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual API authentication protocols into a single unified federated identity system. Instead of implementing separate authentication mechanisms for each API, the system merges them under a common identity framework that handles multiple protocols (OAuth, API keys, basic auth) through a single standardized interface, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The federated identity system is designed to be universal, supporting multiple authentication protocols and API types through a single identity token. This multi-functional approach allows the same identity infrastructure to serve diverse API authentication needs without requiring protocol-specific implementations, reducing both complexity and customization burden
2Ease of operation
If shared secrets are stored as variables for API integration, then authentication is enabled, but security vulnerabilities arise from potential exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the application code and the actual secret credentials. Instead of storing secrets directly as accessible variables, the system uses encrypted credential storage with decryption occurring only at runtime within a controlled environment. This intermediary mechanism enables easy API integration while protecting credentials from exposure in source code and configuration files
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary encryption of credentials during the build or deployment phase, storing only encrypted forms in the application. The actual decryption and credential retrieval happen automatically at runtime within a secure context. This preliminary action ensures that sensitive credentials never exist in plaintext in the codebase, eliminating exposure risks while maintaining integration ease
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom authentication implementations are created for each API, then specific API requirements are met, but development time and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The federated identity system provides a universal authentication framework that adapts to multiple API types and protocols through a single implementation. The system automatically detects and handles different authentication methods (OAuth tokens, API keys, basic authentication) through unified identity tokens, eliminating the need to create custom authentication code for each API while maintaining full compatibility with diverse API requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments authentication concerns into two parts: a universal federated identity management layer that handles protocol-specific logic, and a simplified application layer that only needs to present identity tokens. This segmentation allows the complex adaptation logic to be isolated in the identity system while keeping individual API integrations simple and maintainable
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for federated identity functionality for API integration can include creating an identity token associated with an application service; in association with the application service, configuring a linked service token of an external service; storing the linked service token in association with the identity token; invoking the application service which includes validating the identity token and performing an application programming interface (API) interaction with the external service using the linked service token.