Federated Realm Discovery via Login UI
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In federated security environments, users face challenges when accessing network services across different realms without authenticating first, as the system must determine the correct realm for authentication while protecting user credentials from exposure, without complicating the user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a login UI to accept user identifiers and determines the user's home realm by accessing a realm list datastore or an account authority service, directing the user to authenticate within their home realm before passing credentials to a non-home realm, thereby preventing exposure of secret information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system allows users to access network services before authentication, then user convenience is improved, but security is worsened because credentials may be exposed to non-home realms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary realm discovery using only the user identifier before authentication occurs. The login UI determines the user's home realm and redirects to the appropriate account authority service before any password or secret information is transmitted. This preliminary action ensures credentials are never exposed to non-home realms while maintaining seamless access.
2Reliability
If the system redirects users to the correct home realm for authentication, then credential security is improved, but system complexity is worsened due to realm discovery mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The login UI serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the user's authentication request and the appropriate account authority service. It uses the user identifier to query realm information and determines the correct home realm, then redirects users accordingly. This intermediary approach centralizes realm discovery logic and simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If the system uses user identifier for realm discovery, then credential exposure is prevented, but authentication time is worsened due to additional lookup steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and uses only the user identifier for realm discovery, separating this public identification function from the secret password authentication process. By taking out the user identifier as a standalone element for realm determination, the system avoids exposing credentials while enabling efficient redirection to the correct account authority service before authentication occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
A federated realm discovery system within a federation determines a “home” realm associated with a portion of the user's credentials before the user's secret information (such as a password) is passed to a non-home realm. A login user interface accepts a user identifier and, based on the user identifier, can use various methods to identify an account authority service within the federation that can authenticate the user. In one method, a realm list of the user device can be used to direct the login to the appropriate home realm of the user. In another method, an account authority service in a non-home realm can look up the user's home realm and provide realm information directing the user device to login at the home realm.