Web Caching Proxy Access Control Token Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Content management systems integrated with web caching proxies lack effective enforcement of access control rules, allowing unauthorized users to access restricted content cached by proxy servers, which compromises the security and integrity of the content management system.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a content management system with a web caching proxy that uses access control tokens validated by a library server or proxy, with options for local validation and public/private key technology to ensure secure delivery of content while minimizing the need for network communication and secret key distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content is cached by proxy server, then network bandwidth is minimized and quality of service is improved, but access control rules cannot be enforced and unauthorized users can access restricted content
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding access control tokens in cached content before delivery. These tokens contain authorization information that enables the proxy to enforce access control rules at the time of cached content delivery, rather than requiring real-time validation against the content management system.
Solution Approach 2:
Access control tokens serve as intermediaries between the content management system and the proxy server. The tokens carry authorization information that mediates the interaction between cached content and users, enabling the proxy to enforce access control rules without direct connection to the content management system.
2Reliability
If proxy server validates access control tokens, then access control is enforced for cached content, but network communication with library server increases
Solution Approach 1:
Access control tokens are generated and embedded in content before caching, performing the authorization validation in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time network communication during cached content delivery, reducing network traffic and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server performs self-service by validating access control tokens locally using embedded validation logic and public keys. This eliminates the need for continuous communication with the library server, allowing the proxy to independently enforce access control rules for cached content.
3Ease of operation
If secret key is distributed to resource manager, then token validation can be performed, but security is compromised if resource manager behaves improperly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses asymmetric cryptography with public and private keys. The library server retains the private key for token generation, while public keys are distributed to proxies for validation. This asymmetric key distribution eliminates the security risk of sharing secret keys with resource managers while enabling decentralized token validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The secret key is extracted from the resource manager and retained exclusively by the library server. Only public keys and validation logic are distributed to proxies, separating the key management function from the resource manager and eliminating the security vulnerability of key distribution to potentially untrusted components.
4Loss of energy
If proxy cache delivers content without contacting back end server, then network bandwidth is reduced, but access control rules are not enforced
Solution Approach 1:
Access control tokens are embedded in content before caching, performing authorization validation in advance. The proxy validates these tokens locally using embedded public keys and validation logic, enabling access control enforcement without real-time contact with the back-end server.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server performs self-service by validating access control tokens independently using embedded validation logic and public keys. This enables the proxy to enforce access control rules for cached content without requiring continuous communication with the back-end server, maintaining both security and caching efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A content management system integrated with a web caching proxy that delivers content according to access control rules. An access control token is generated using a secret key when a user selects a desired object (to be provided only upon token validation, thus the object retrieval and delivery task can be delegated). However, tokens for other content and/or for other users could be generated by a rogue resource manager. If the desired object is already cached, the proxy asks the resource manager to validate the token and then selectively provides the desired object without contacting a library server. Alternately, the proxy itself performs the token validation, but must coordinate with the library server to ensure it has the latest secret key. Finally, the tokens may contain digital signatures generated with a private key and validated with a corresponding public key, so that private keys need not be distributed.