LDAP Directory Server Attribute Certificate Issuance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LDAP directories lack the ability to verify the authenticity of attribute values sent to recipients, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and less adaptable to network environments with proxy servers, as they rely on the data source rather than the authenticity of the data itself.
Innovation Solution
An LDAP directory server generates and transmits a digital certificate with a signature for attribute values, allowing recipients to verify authenticity, with the option to generate signatures on the fly or offline by an attribute authority, and grouping attributes reduces the number of signatures needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional LDAP directories rely on data source for authenticity, then the system is simple to implement, but security is weak and susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a certificate authority (CA) as an intermediary entity that issues digital certificates to LDAP directory servers. This CA acts as a trusted mediator between the LDAP server and the recipient, verifying the authenticity of attribute values without requiring the recipient to directly trust the data source. The digital certificate serves as a mediator that contains both the attribute value and its cryptographic verification, enabling authenticity confirmation without compromising system simplicity.
2Reliability
If digital certificates are generated on the fly for each attribute request, then authenticity verification is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-generating and caching digital certificates for LDAP entries before they are actually requested. The system maintains a cache of valid digital certificates that can be quickly retrieved when attribute values are needed. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need to generate certificates on the fly during actual attribute requests, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining strong authenticity verification.
3Measurement precision
If multiple individual signatures are generated for each attribute, then verification accuracy is improved, but the number of signatures increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual attribute signatures into a single consolidated digital certificate. Instead of generating separate cryptographic signatures for each attribute value, the system creates one unified certificate that contains all attribute values and their collective verification. This merging approach maintains verification accuracy by including all necessary attribute information in the certificate while dramatically reducing the number of separate signatures that need to be managed and processed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for issuing an attribute certificate for attributes of a Light Weight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) entry stored in an LDAP repository. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for an attribute of an LDAP entry. The method further includes, in response to the request, sending a reply that includes an attribute value of the requested attribute and a digital signature to authenticate the attribute value.