Remote Private Key Tunnel Establishment via Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryptographic tunnel establishment methods require a private key to be locally accessible at the responder device, which can limit flexibility and security in network communications, especially when the private key is not physically or logically available at the responder device.
Innovation Solution
A method where the responder device initiates a request to a key server that has access to the static private key, allowing the key server to perform cryptographic operations and generate transport keys for secure data transmission over the cryptographic tunnel, even if the private key is not locally available at the responder device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the private key is stored locally at the responder device, then the tunnel establishment process is simple and direct, but the security and flexibility are reduced when the private key is not physically or logically available at the responder device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a key server as an intermediary component that stores the private key and performs cryptographic operations on behalf of the responder device. The key server receives requests from the responder device, executes the private key operations (such as signing cryptographic information or decrypting encrypted premaster secrets), and returns the results. This mediator approach allows the tunnel establishment to proceed without requiring the private key to be physically present at the responder device, thereby improving flexibility and security while managing complexity through a dedicated key management service.
2Reliability
If the private key is remotely located from the responder device, then security is enhanced and flexibility is improved, but the tunnel establishment process requires additional components and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the private key storage and management functionality from the responder device and places it in a separate key server. This extraction allows the responder device to operate without sensitive private key material, improving security by isolating the private key in a dedicated secure environment. The key server becomes a specialized component responsible solely for key management and cryptographic operations, while the responder device focuses on tunnel establishment and data transmission. This separation of concerns enhances security without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the responder device does not store the private key, then the risk of key compromise is reduced, but the responder device cannot independently perform private key operations
Solution Approach 1:
The key server acts as an intermediary that enables the responder device to perform private key operations without storing the private key locally. When the tunnel establishment process requires a private key operation, the responder device sends a request to the key server with the necessary cryptographic parameters. The key server executes the operation using the stored private key and returns the result to the responder device. This intermediary mechanism maintains the responder device's operational independence while eliminating the security risk of local private key storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A responder device receives, from an initiator device, a request to initiate a cryptographic tunnel between the initiator device and the responder device. The responder device does not include a static private key to be used in an asymmetric cryptography algorithm when establishing the tunnel. The responder device transmits a request to a key server that has access to the static private key and receives a response that is based on at least a result of at least one cryptographic operation using the static private key. The responder device receives from the key server, or generates, a transport key(s) for the responder device to use for sending and receiving data on the cryptographic tunnel. The responder device transmits a response to the initiator device that includes information for the initiator device to generate a transport key(s) that it is to use for sending and receiving data on the cryptographic tunnel.