Secure Short-Lived Debugging Tools for CPE via Expiring Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for remotely configuring consumer premises equipment (CPE) lack secure methods for validating public keys and managing short-lived debugging tools, leading to potential unauthorized access and loss of remote access capabilities when debugging tools are removed.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an automatically expiring authentication token system that generates and verifies a package verification key, allowing secure download and execution of remote access tools for a limited time, ensuring only verified tools are executed and subsequently removed from memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If debugging tools are permanently included in CPE firmware to enable remote access, then remote access capability is maintained, but security is compromised due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic debugging tools that can be enabled or disabled at runtime based on authentication. The tools are not permanently active but can be activated temporarily when an authenticated user needs remote access, and then deactivated. This dynamic approach maintains remote access capability when needed while minimizing security exposure by not having tools permanently enabled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state parameters of debugging tools from permanent to temporary. Tools are loaded into memory with expiration timestamps and authentication requirements. The tools exist in different states: disabled, authenticated, active, and expired. This parameter change allows the system to provide remote access capability on-demand while maintaining security by ensuring tools are not permanently accessible.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If debugging tools are removed from CPE firmware to enhance security, then unauthorized access risk is reduced, but remote access capability is lost when debugging is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares debugging tools in advance by compiling them separately and storing them for later activation. The tools are pre-configured with authentication mechanisms and expiration logic. When remote debugging is needed, the system can quickly activate these pre-prepared tools rather than having them permanently installed or needing to install them at the moment of need.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an authentication server as an intermediary between the user and the debugging tools. The server verifies user credentials, issues authentication tokens, and manages the activation state of debugging tools. This intermediary layer enables remote access capability while maintaining security, as the tools are only activated through the controlled intermediary process rather than being directly accessible.
3Ease of operation
If SSH public keys are blindly accepted during handshake to simplify key management, then ease of operation is improved, but security is compromised due to inability to validate server identity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication server as an intermediary that provides public keys to clients through authenticated channels. Instead of clients blindly accepting server public keys or manually managing key distributions, the authentication server acts as a trusted intermediary that delivers the correct public keys to authorized clients. This maintains ease of operation while ensuring security through the intermediary's validation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the authentication server provides public keys to clients based on authentication status. The server receives authentication credentials from the client, validates them, and then provides the appropriate public key feedback. This feedback loop ensures that clients receive validated keys from a trusted source rather than blindly accepting keys, maintaining both ease of operation and security.
4Ease of operation
If a single password is used for SNMP key localization to simplify network key management, then ease of operation is improved, but security is compromised as the entire network is vulnerable if the password is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network key management system so that each device has its own unique authentication credentials stored in secure elements. Instead of using a single network-wide password, each CPE device, gateway, and authentication server has individualized keys and certificates. This segmentation ensures that compromise of one device's credentials does not affect the entire network, while still maintaining ease of operation through automated credential management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing unique authentication credentials to each device based on its specific identity and security requirements. Each device has locally-stored credentials in secure elements rather than sharing a common password. This allows each device to be authenticated independently with its own credentials, maintaining network security while simplifying key management through localized credential storage and automated distribution by the authentication server.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing remote access to a device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an automatically expiring authentication token having encrypted authentication token data including a session key from the device, transmitting the authentication token to secure facility, receiving the decrypted authentication token data from the secure facility, signing a tool package with a package verification key derived at least in part from the session key, the tool package comprising processor instructions providing remote access to the device when executed by the processor, providing the signed tool package to the device. The device verifies the signed tool package using the package verification key and executes the tool package only if the signature of the tool package is verified.