Forged Authentication Object Detection via Hash Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current single-sign-on protocols like SAML, Kerberos, and OAuth2 are vulnerable to forged authentication object attacks, allowing attackers to masquerade as legitimate users and access sensitive systems undetected, leading to potential security breaches.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for detecting and mitigating forged authentication object attacks by using an external validation service that tracks cryptographic hashes of legitimate authentication objects and compares incoming requests against a database, employing event-condition-action rules and machine learning models to identify and respond to suspicious activity, including dynamic authentication revocation and alerting mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional stateless SSO technology is used, then user-friendly single-sign-on experience is provided across federated services, but security vulnerability to forged authentication objects is created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-sign-on experienceVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary validation service that sits between the authentication system and federated services. This service validates authentication objects by checking cryptographic hashes against a database of legitimate hashes, acting as a mediator that maintains both the convenience of SSO and the security needed to prevent forged authentication objects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary validation of authentication objects by computing cryptographic hashes and comparing them against a database of known legitimate hashes before allowing access to federated services. This preliminary check prevents forged authentication objects from succeeding while maintaining seamless SSO operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If cryptographic hash validation is implemented, then forged authentication objects are detected, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication verificationVSAvoidvalidation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the authentication verification process by computing cryptographic hashes of authentication objects and comparing them against a database of pre-stored legitimate hashes. This copying approach simplifies the validation logic while maintaining strong security guarantees

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The validation service performs self-service by automatically computing cryptographic hashes and comparing them against the database without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously detects forged authentication objects and triggers appropriate responses, reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring and validation is performed, then attack detection capability is improved, but processing time and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattack detection capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical security verification processes with cryptographic hash computation and comparison. This substitution enables rapid validation of authentication objects while maintaining high detection precision, as cryptographic operations can be performed efficiently with minimal processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic validation by checking cryptographic hashes at regular intervals and continuously monitoring authentication objects. This periodic approach maintains high detection capability while managing processing time through efficient batching and caching of hash comparisons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20230319019A1Detecting and mitigating forged authentication attacks using an advanced cyber decision platform
Publication Date: 2023.10.05 QOMPLX INC
  • US20230319019A1 patent drawing
  • US20230319019A1 patent drawing
  • US20230319019A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for detecting and mitigating forged authentication attacks is provided, comprising an authentication inspector configured to observe a new authentication object generated by an identity provider, and retrieve the new authentication object; and a hashing engine configured to retrieve the new authentication object from the authentication object inspector, calculate a cryptographic hash for the new authentication object, and store the cryptographic hash for the new authentication object in a data store; wherein subsequent access requests accompanied by authentication objects are validated by comparing hashes for each authentication object to previous generated hashes.