SSH Authentication via Segmented Key Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information handling systems face challenges in securely authenticating parties to network communications, particularly in ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information, especially when connecting front office and back office systems over potentially insecure networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a secure shell (SSH) protocol with end-to-end encryption and authentication using private/public key pairs, where the authentication server in the back office handles the private key, preventing its direct access and use in the front office, thereby maintaining security by separating key storage from the connection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the private key is stored and used directly in the front office system, then authentication speed and connection establishment are improved, but security is worsened due to increased exposure to potential attacks and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into two distinct components: a key management server that securely stores and manages private keys, and a front office system that performs authentication operations without directly accessing private keys. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high security while distributing functionality across multiple components, thus resolving the contradiction between security and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A key management server acts as an intermediary between the front office system and the private key storage. This intermediary handles all operations involving private keys, including generation, storage, and usage for authentication. The front office system communicates with the intermediary rather than directly accessing private keys, thereby improving security while maintaining system functionality through the mediating component.
2Reliability
If encryption and authentication protocols are implemented for all network communications, then data integrity and confidentiality are improved, but processing overhead and communication speed are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication credentials and encryption keys are established in advance through a preliminary authentication phase. The key management server pre-generates and distributes necessary cryptographic materials before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary setup allows subsequent communications to use efficient encryption protocols without repeated key exchange overhead, thus improving both data integrity and communication efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A first information handling system receives a security challenge and forwards it to a second information handling system. The second information handling system retrieves a private key from a public/private encryption key pair and satisfies the challenge with the private key. The second information handling system forwards the satisfied challenge without divulging the private key. The second information handling system is in a more secure environment than the first information handling system. The challenge may be satisfied by signing the challenge with the private key. Satisfying the challenge may be a step in creating a secure shell connection between the first information handling system and an organization maintaining the first information handling system and the second information handling system.