Proxy Server Interception for Automated Domain Certificate Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for verifying domain ownership for cloud service provider-hosted domains using HTTP-based challenges are time-consuming and require manual updates, leading to potential service outages due to expired certificates.

Innovation Solution

A certificate management service utilizes a proxy server to intercept HTTP-based domain certificate challenges, allowing the proxy server to respond with the challenge string instead of forwarding the request to the domain host, thereby automating the verification process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual HTTP-based challenges are used to verify domain ownership, then certificate authorities can confirm control over the domain, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedomain certificate verificationVSAvoidcertificate procurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a certificate management service as an intermediary between the certificate authority and the domain host. This service automatically performs HTTP-based challenges by sending requests to the domain and verifying the responses, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining verification reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automated self-service certificate procurement where the certificate management service autonomously executes the verification process. The service automatically sends HTTP requests to challenge URLs, retrieves responses, and completes the certificate acquisition without requiring domain owners to manually perform verification steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual updates are required for domain certificates, then certificate authorities can issue certificates, but service outages may occur due to expired certificates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidcertificate management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The certificate management service implements automated feedback loops that continuously monitor certificate expiration dates. When certificates approach expiration, the system automatically initiates renewal processes by performing new HTTP-based challenges and acquiring replacement certificates, ensuring service continuity without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively renewing certificates before they expire. The automated monitoring and renewal process ensures that new certificates are obtained in advance, preventing service outages caused by expired certificates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If cloud service provider infrastructure hosts domains, then domains can be managed centrally, but traditional HTTP-based challenges cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud domain hosting capabilityVSAvoidcertificate verification capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The certificate management service provides universal functionality that works across both traditional and cloud-hosted domains. By implementing automated HTTP-based challenge verification, the service enables certificate procurement for cloud service provider infrastructure domains, which previously could not perform traditional verification methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12375296B2Obtaining a domain certificate utilizing a proxy server

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

According to certain implementations, a certificate management service of a cloud service provider requests a certificate for a domain from a certificate authority utilizing an HTTP-based challenge. The certificate authority responds with a challenge string and a subdirectory within the domain. The challenge string and subdirectory within the domain are sent from the certificate management service to a proxy server of the cloud service provider that manages a flow of data to a host that hosts the domain. When the certificate authority sends a request to the sub directory within the domain, the request is intercepted at the proxy server. Instead of forwarding the request to the host that hosts the domain, the proxy server responds to the certificate authority with the challenge string. This verifies ownership of the domain, which is required to obtain the certificate for the domain.