Central Access Control Server for LDAP Single Sign-On
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network systems require users to authenticate separately for each application, even if they have already been authenticated by another application using the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), due to the lack of support for shared access control services like Single Sign-On (SSO) in the LDAP protocol.
Innovation Solution
A central access control server authenticates users once and generates temporary credentials for subsequent applications, acting as a proxy to handle login processes, allowing users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials without re-entering their information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users authenticate separately for each application, then each application can maintain secure access control, but user convenience deteriorates and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central access control server as an intermediary between users and multiple applications. This server receives user credentials once, validates them against the LDAP directory, and then issues temporary credentials that can be used to access multiple applications without repeating the full authentication process. The intermediary handles the complexity of credential management and application-specific authentication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication process is segmented into two distinct phases: a credential validation phase where the central access control server verifies user credentials against the LDAP directory, and a temporary credential issuance phase where the server provides application-specific temporary credentials. This segmentation allows the expensive LDAP authentication to occur once, while subsequent application access uses lighter-weight temporary credentials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If LDAP protocol is used for authentication, then directory access is simplified, but shared access control services like SSO are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The central access control server is designed with multi-functionality to handle both LDAP directory authentication and the issuance of temporary credentials for multiple applications. It serves as a universal authentication gateway that can validate credentials against the LDAP directory and then issue different types of temporary credentials suitable for various application contexts, thereby extending LDAP's capabilities without requiring changes to the LDAP protocol itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The central access control server acts as an intermediary layer between the LDAP directory and the applications. It translates LDAP authentication results into application-specific temporary credentials, bridging the gap between LDAP's directory access capabilities and the need for shared access control services across multiple applications.
3Reliability
If repeated authentication is required for multiple applications, then application security is maintained, but network resources are consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the expensive LDAP directory authentication as a preliminary action before application access. By validating user credentials against the LDAP directory in advance and issuing temporary credentials, the system ensures that subsequent application access does not require repeated LDAP queries. This preliminary authentication action secures the user identity once, and temporary credentials maintain security while reducing network resource consumption for subsequent access requests.
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein may be used to provide a user with access to distinct applications (with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) authentication) based on a single set of user credentials from the user. A server may receive user credentials from a user device. The server may authenticate the user of the user device by communicating with an LDAP server. After the user has been authenticated, the server may detect a request from the user device to access a first application with LDAP authentication. The server may create temporary credentials for the user, provide the temporary credentials to the application, receive an authentication request (that includes the temporary credentials) from the application, and authenticate the user based on a local copy of the temporary credentials. If/when the user requests access to a second application, the server may authenticate the user for the second application in a similar manner.