Intermediary Authentication for Local Devices Without Credential Exposure

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online authentication methods are vulnerable to exploits that rely on credentials being input and transmitted from user devices, leading to security risks and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

An intermediary device on the network performs remote authentication processing, intercepting credential requests and responses on behalf of the user device, eliminating the need for credential input and transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional username and password authentication is used, then users can access online services, but credentials may be discovered and accounts exploited by unauthorized users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccount securityVSAvoidcredential exploitation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the credential transmission step from the authentication process by using an intermediary device that retrieves credentials directly from a credential storage system, preventing credentials from being transmitted through vulnerable channels where they could be discovered by unauthorized users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary device that acts as a mediator between the user device and the online service. This intermediary retrieves credentials from a credential storage system and completes authentication without requiring the user device to transmit credentials, thereby eliminating the vulnerability to credential discovery attacks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multi-factor authentication with out-of-band mechanisms is implemented, then account security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to additional authentication steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication process convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service authentication mechanism where the intermediary device automatically retrieves credentials from the credential storage system and completes the authentication process without requiring user intervention for additional authentication steps, thereby maintaining security while improving convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If credentials are transmitted from user device to web service, then authentication is completed, but security vulnerabilities arise from credential exposure during transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication efficiencyVSAvoidcredential exposure during transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the credential transmission step from the authentication process by using an intermediary device that retrieves credentials directly from a credential storage system, preventing credentials from being transmitted through vulnerable channels where they could be discovered by unauthorized users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary device that acts as a mediator between the user device and the online service. This intermediary retrieves credentials from a credential storage system and completes authentication without requiring the user device to transmit credentials, thereby eliminating the vulnerability to credential discovery attacks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12463958B2Remote authentication processing for a local user device

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An embodiment intercepts an authentication request being sent from a secure web service to a user device associated with a user. The embodiment transmits, responsive to the authentication request, a credential request to a credential storage, wherein the credential request includes a request for a credential associated with the user and the secure web service. The embodiment receives, responsive to the credential request, the credential associated with the user and the secure web service. The embodiment transmits, as a response to the authentication request, the credential associated with the user to the secure web service. The embodiment intercepts, responsive to successful validation of the credential by the secure web service, an authentication response from the secure web service, where the authentication response includes session data required for maintaining an authenticated session with the secure web service. The embodiment forwards the authentication response with the session data to the user device.