Secure Provisioning via HTTPS Intermediary for VoIP Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing provisioning systems for Internet telephony devices are insecure, leading to potential unintended operation with the wrong service provider's systems, as they rely on insecure protocols like TFTP and require complex authentication processes such as PKINIT with Kerberos.
Innovation Solution
A secure provisioning system that uses HTTPS to establish a secure connection, obtain a second provisioning server ID and cipher key, and then decrypt an encrypted configuration file using the cipher key, ensuring only authorized devices receive the correct configuration over an open network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If insecure protocols like TFTP are used for provisioning, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an HTTPS server as an intermediary between the provisioning system and the device. This server acts as a secure gateway that receives provisioning requests, retrieves configuration files through TFTP, and delivers them securely to authorized devices. The intermediary maintains the simplicity of TFTP for file retrieval while adding security layers through HTTPS authentication and encrypted transmission.
2Reliability
If secure authentication mechanisms like PKINIT with Kerberos are implemented, then provisioning security is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The HTTPS server performs the complex authentication and security verification functions automatically without requiring the device to implement complex authentication mechanisms. The server validates device credentials, manages security certificates, and controls access to provisioning files, allowing devices to remain simple while achieving secure provisioning through the server's self-service security management.
3Reliability
If HTTPS secure connection is established for configuration file transfer, then provisioning security is improved, but use of energy and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial security measures by using HTTPS only for the specific configuration file transfer phase rather than securing all device communications. The TFTP protocol remains unencrypted for routine operations, while HTTPS is selectively applied when configuration files need to be provisioned or updated, balancing security needs with energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for securely provisioning a device for operation within a service provider infrastructure over an open network comprises the device establishing physical and data link layer network connections for communication on at least a subnet of the open network and obtaining a network configuration data such as an IP address and a subnet mask from a provisioning server that responds to a network configuration broadcast request. A device establishes a secure hypertext transport protocol connection to a first provisioning server that corresponds to one of: i) and IP address and port number; and ii) a fully qualified domain name stored in a non-volatile memory of the device. After mutual authentication, the first provisioning server provides at least one of: i) a configuration file; and ii) identification of a second provisioning server and a cipher key through the secure connection. If the first provisioning server provided identification of a second provisioning server, the device establishes a transport connection to the identified second provisioning server. The second provisioning server provides an encrypted file which, when decrypted using the cipher key yields the configuration information needed by the device for operation with the service provider infrastructure.