Self-Signed Certificate Deployment via Short-Range Wireless
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of security certificates, such as TLS certificates, to network devices is hindered by the challenge of establishing initial trust when new devices are added to a network, and the risk of security threats like man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks during certificate transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a newly-added device generating a self-signed digital certificate and using short-range wireless communications to request and transmit this certificate to a mobile configuration device, which then distributes it to existing devices on the network, enabling secure communication through a handshake protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital certificates are transmitted over unsecured communications to deploy them to new network devices, then certificate deployment is enabled, but security is compromised due to susceptibility to man-in-the-middle attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary that physically connects to both the new network device and the existing network infrastructure. This intermediary facilitates secure certificate transmission by acting as a trusted mediator, allowing certificates to be deployed without exposing them to unsecured communication channels where MITM attacks could occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing physical connectivity and trust relationships before certificate transmission occurs. The mobile device must physically connect to the new network device first, creating a secure foundation before any sensitive certificate data is exchanged, thereby preventing MITM attacks from compromising the deployment process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new devices are added to the network without pre-established trust relationships, then network expandability is improved, but initial trust establishment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as a portable trust intermediary that carries trusted certificates and can establish trust relationships with new network devices on-demand. This allows the network to expand freely while maintaining security, as each new device can establish trust through the intermediary without requiring pre-established relationships with all existing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The new network device performs self-service by generating its own certificate signing request and receiving the signed certificate through the mobile intermediary. This self-provisioning capability enables automatic trust establishment without manual configuration, facilitating easy network expansion while ensuring each device has its own verified identity.
Data Source
AI summary
Example aspects include a method performed by a newly-added device to a private network of a communication system. The method includes generating a self-signed digital certificate. The method further includes receiving, from a mobile configuration device, via a first short range wireless communication, a request for the self-signed digital certificate. The method also includes transmitting, in response to the request, via a second short range wireless communication, the self-signed digital certificate to the mobile configuration device. The method additionally includes performing, via the self-signed digital certificate, a handshake protocol with an existing device on the private network, the existing device having received the self-signed digital certificate from the mobile configuration device.