PAM Credential Injection for Secure Legacy Endpoint Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional authentication methods, such as username-password combinations and two-factor authentication, are prone to security breaches due to password leaks, human error, and compatibility issues with legacy systems, especially when granting access to third-party entities.
Innovation Solution
A credential handling system utilizing a PAM appliance for automated, secure credential selection and injection, enabling access to endpoints or applications through a privileged access management system that maintains credential confidentiality and supports granular access controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional username-password authentication is used, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to password leaks and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a privileged access management (PAM) system as an intermediary between users and target systems. The PAM system securely stores credentials, automatically injects them during authentication, and masks the complexity of credential management from users, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving security reliability through automated, secure credential handling
2Reliability
If two-factor authentication with physical tokens is implemented, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical token component from the authentication process and replaces it with a virtual credential system managed by the PAM system. Credentials are stored securely in the PAM system and automatically provided during authentication, eliminating the need for physical tokens while maintaining strong security and reducing device complexity
3Reliability
If two-factor authentication with software tokens is implemented, then security reliability is improved, but ease of operation and productivity worsen due to adjustment to new security regime
Solution Approach 1:
The PAM system provides self-service automated credential injection, where the system automatically retrieves and injects credentials without requiring user intervention or adjustment to new security procedures. This maintains high security reliability while preserving user productivity by eliminating the need for users to adapt to complex new authentication workflows
4Ease of operation
If credentials are widely distributed for access control, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential password leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments credential management into two distinct parts: secure storage and management in the PAM system, and automatic injection at the point of use. This segmentation allows credentials to be effectively distributed to multiple systems while maintaining security, as the PAM system controls and protects the actual credential data while enabling easy access where needed
Data Source
AI summary
A privilege access management (PAM) appliance can receive an access request from an accessor device to access an endpoint device. The PAM appliance can establish a session via a secure connection between the accessor device and the endpoint device. The PAM appliance can transmit a request for credential information available for the accessor device to access the endpoint device from a credential management device. The credential management device can receive the request for credential information available for the accessor device to access the endpoint device. The credential management device can extract a set of credentials that are available for the accessor device from a plurality of credentials. The credential management device can provide at least one of the set of credentials to the endpoint device for the accessor device for the session.