PAM Appliance Credential Injection for Web Endpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for authenticating access to computer systems and applications are insecure due to password vulnerabilities, with issues such as password leakage, human error, and the expense of two-factor authentication, especially when dealing with third-party entities and remote database storage.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a Privileged Access Management (PAM) appliance that securely selects, injects, and manages credentials for web endpoints, ensuring that credentials are never exposed in plain text, using a protocol agent and credential manager to facilitate secure login and access while maintaining granular control and minimizing exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional username and password authentication is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but security is compromised due to password leakage and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a credential manager as an intermediary component that automatically manages authentication credentials. The credential manager stores, secures, and automatically injects credentials into applications without requiring users to manually handle passwords. This mediator approach maintains security by preventing password exposure while preserving ease of operation through automated credential injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service authentication by enabling applications to automatically obtain and use credentials without user intervention. The credential manager autonomously manages the authentication process, selecting and injecting appropriate credentials based on application context, thereby eliminating the need for users to manually enter or manage multiple passwords.
2Reliability
If two-factor authentication is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The credential manager acts as an intermediary that consolidates multiple authentication factors and credentials in a single secure location. Instead of requiring separate physical tokens and software components for two-factor authentication, the credential manager unified manages all authentication elements, reducing device complexity while maintaining enhanced security through centralized credential control.
3Ease of operation
If credentials are stored in remote databases, then ease of access is improved, but security is worsened due to anonymous internet nature and compromise risks
Solution Approach 1:
The credential manager serves as a secure intermediary layer between remote databases and applications. It establishes secure communication channels for credential retrieval, automatically manages authentication protocols, and injects credentials into applications without exposing them to network threats. This mediator approach maintains ease of remote access while protecting against security compromises through encrypted credential transmission and automated secure authentication.
4Device complexity
If manual password management is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases due to human error and password leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The credential manager implements self-service functionality by automatically selecting, securing, and injecting appropriate credentials based on application context without user intervention. This automation eliminates human errors such as password reuse, accidental disclosure, and improper storage, thereby preventing password leakage while keeping the system simple for users to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is described for securely and automatically handling credentials when used for accessing endpoints, and/or applications and resources on the endpoints, and more particularly accessing web endpoints and/or web applications and resources on the web endpoints. The approach involves selecting and injecting credentials at an endpoint by an accessor and/or protocol agent to log into the endpoint, running applications, or gaining access to resources on the endpoint, without full credential information traversing the accessor's machine.