SSH Certificate Group Authorization for Secure Server Tunneling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise data infrastructures face complexity and security challenges due to the need for multiple credentials and mappings for accessing various servers, especially when transitioning between core and non-core segments, which complicates governance and auditing, and requires tedious and time-consuming processes for user authentication across different segments.
Innovation Solution
The use of secure communication certificates, such as SSH certificates, modified to include user group authorization information, allows for streamlined access by establishing secure tunnels and leveraging existing enterprise Identity Provider (IdP) functionality for Single Sign-On (SSO), reducing the need for multiple credentials and enhancing security through key-based authentication and governance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple credentials and mappings are maintained for accessing different servers and segments, then user access to various enterprise infrastructure components is enabled, but system complexity and governance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple credential verification functions into a single credential by embedding user identity, group memberships, and server authorization mappings within one SSH certificate. This merging eliminates the need to maintain separate credentials for each server while preserving comprehensive access control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The SSH certificate is designed as a universal credential that can authenticate users across multiple servers and network segments simultaneously. The certificate contains embedded authorization information that enables it to function as a multi-functional access key, replacing the need for server-specific credentials.
2Ease of operation
If traditional SSH certificate authentication is used without embedded group authorization information, then simple key-based authentication is achieved, but the ability to perform group-based access control and auditing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds group authorization information nested within the SSH certificate structure itself. The certificate contains embedded data fields that store user group memberships and authorization mappings, allowing the certificate to carry layered information about user identity and permissions without requiring external lookup tables.
3Measurement precision
If users log into each server individually with server-specific credentials, then precise server-level authentication is achieved, but time consumption and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing and embedding all necessary authorization mappings and group information into the SSH certificate during certificate issuance. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for real-time credential lookup and verification across multiple servers, allowing users to authenticate quickly at each server without repeated credential management overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology provides for authenticating access to servers using enterprise credentials. A method can include: generating, by a client device operating within an enterprise environment, a request to access a destination server including a token authenticating a user of the client device, transmitting the request to a computer system that can use the token to obtain the SSH certificate signed by an SSH certificate authority (CA), retrieve, from a data store, authorized group information for the user based on the token, and mint the SSH certificate with the retrieved information. The method can include receiving the SSH certificate with the authorized group information and returning the request and the SSH certificate with the authorized group information to a server to access the destination server. The server can be preconfigured with authorized group credentials corresponding to destination servers, which can include the destination server.