Secure Vault Enrollment for Passwordless Identity Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing identity management systems require users to remember multiple usernames and passwords, leading to credential fatigue and increased forgotten-password requests, and six-digit PINs limit scalability without introducing security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method for passwordless vault access through secure vault enrollment using cryptographically random identifiers, generating asymmetric keypairs, and device-assisted key transfer, enabling users to access applications without knowledge factors like passwords.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passwords and PINs are used for secure vault access, then security is maintained, but user fatigue increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the knowledge factor (password/PIN) from the authentication process and replaces it with possession-based authentication using cryptographic keys stored on the user's device. The Recovery Key is generated and stored locally without requiring the user to remember complex credentials, thereby eliminating user fatigue while maintaining security through cryptographic protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/memory-based authentication system (remembering passwords and PINs) with a cryptographic system based on mathematical key pairs. The asymmetric keypair generation and encryption/decryption processes replace the need for human memory and manual password management, providing both enhanced security and improved user experience.
2Reliability
If passwords and PINs are used for secure vault access, then security is maintained, but scalability is limited due to insufficient PIN diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter space for authentication from limited PIN codes (typically 4-6 digits, providing only thousands of possible combinations) to cryptographic key pairs with vast entropy. The asymmetric keys generated using standard cryptographic algorithms provide billions of times more possible combinations, enabling the system to scale to millions of users without compromising security or encountering diversity limitations.
3Reliability
If complex passwords are required for secure access, then security is improved, but user burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating the Recovery Key and cryptographic keypair without requiring user input for creating complex passwords. The user simply needs to securely store the generated Recovery Key, and the system handles all cryptographic operations including key generation, encryption, and decryption automatically, eliminating the burden of managing complex credentials.
4Ease of operation
If PINs are used for authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but security is weakened due to limited diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cryptographic elements (asymmetric keypair, symmetric key, encrypted private key) into a composite authentication mechanism. This composite structure integrates the ease of possession-based authentication (having the Recovery Key on the device) with strong cryptographic security, achieving both user-friendly operation and robust security that neither simple PINs nor standalone passwords can provide alone.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are described. A client may perform a sign-in or registration process to register a user with an application of an identity management system. The sign-in or registration process may include receiving an indication of at least one credential associated with an identity of the user. The client may perform a vault enrollment process to configure a secure vault for the user of the application. The client may upload data to the identity management system. The data may be associated with the secure vault configured for the user of the application. The client may perform a device pairing operation to transfer a Recovery Key from the first client device to a second client device of the user. The client may use one or more keys stored in the vault to access the application of the identity management system via the second client device of the user.