SSH Tunneling Policy Enforcement for Zero Trust Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing Zero Trust security models in network environments is challenging due to the need for cost-effective and easy deployment without extensive alterations to existing applications, particularly in dynamic and distributed computing environments, and traditional security models expose vulnerabilities to internal and external threats.
Innovation Solution
A modified SSH tunneling mechanism is used as a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) to manage network traffic flows by intercepting DNS resolutions and rerouting traffic through secure tunnels based on user entitlements, ensuring only authorized access to applications, utilizing SSH key pairs for authentication, and employing a Catalog Service to manage user permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional authentication practices are used where user identity is checked once to establish a long-lasting session, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to prolonged session access without ongoing verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic re-validation of user credentials and entitlements during the session through SSH tunnel requests. The PEP periodically checks user identity and access rights by intercepting tunnel requests and validating against the Catalog Service, ensuring continuous security verification without requiring constant user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback loops where the PEP continuously monitors and re-validates user credentials and entitlements during the session. The SSH tunnel mechanism provides feedback channels for the PEP to verify user identity and access rights, ensuring that security policies are continuously enforced rather than assumed.
2Reliability
If continuous authentication checks are implemented in applications requiring low latency or high data volumes, then security is improved, but productivity is worsened due to performance impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The SSH tunnel mechanism acts as an intermediary layer between the application and the PEP. The tunnel requests are intercepted and validated by the PEP without requiring the application itself to perform authentication checks, thus maintaining application performance while enforcing continuous security validation through the tunnel protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The security enforcement is segmented into separate SSH tunnel requests that are intercepted and validated independently from the main application data flow. This allows security checks to occur in parallel or at specific intervals without blocking the primary application performance, separating security validation from application processing.
3Reliability
If Zero Trust security controls are integrated by modifying application setup or codebase, then security is improved, but ease of manufacture is worsened due to intricate and expensive processes
Solution Approach 1:
The PEP acts as an intermediary that enforces Zero Trust security policies without requiring modifications to the application codebase. The SSH tunnel mechanism provides a neutral layer where security validation occurs independently from the application, allowing existing applications to be secured through infrastructure changes rather than code changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The SSH tunnel mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides encrypted communication, acts as an authentication channel, enables PEP interception of tunnel requests, and facilitates entitlement validation. This multi-functional approach allows a single infrastructure component to enforce Zero Trust security across multiple applications without requiring application-specific modifications.
4Reliability
If SSH tunneling is used to intercept DNS resolutions and reroute traffic through secure tunnels, then security is improved by enforcing access controls, but device complexity is worsened due to the modified tunneling implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The SSH tunnel mechanism on the client device automatically intercepts DNS resolutions and reroutes traffic through secure tunnels without requiring manual configuration or user intervention. The tunnel client service runs autonomously, managing the interception and rerouting of traffic based on configured policies, reducing the operational complexity despite the enhanced security functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Enhanced security for Zero Trust networks is provided by SSH-customized tunnel clients/tunnel servers, a catalog service, and loopback address DNS mechanisms. Systems and methods provide Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) layer enhancements, strategically positioning the PEP between the user and the network resource. It manages network traffic flows and provides moderate control granularity, near-real-time enforcement decisions, low overheads, and broad applicability to TCP/IP traffic through modified tunneling implementations of Secure Shell (SSH). Unique use of SSH tunneling is utilized and adapted to selectively filter tunnel requests based on user entitlements, ensuring secure and authorized access to network resources. This method entails detailed assessment of tunneling requests, DNS manipulation, and the use of loopback address space for traffic redirection, all without requiring modifications to client-side applications. The approach significantly enhances network security by controlling access based on continuous verification of user entitlements, addressing the shortcomings of traditional network security models.