Time-Sliced Authentication Tokens for Replay-Resistant Stateless Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stateless client-server communication systems face vulnerabilities due to the reuse and insecure storage of authentication tokens, such as JWTs, leading to potential security breaches and unauthorized access, as they lack time-sensitive and dynamic token generation methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and validating time-based dynamic authentication tokens using a time-slicing approach, where each request is assigned a unique token including a user identifier, device identifier, request identifier, and time slice identifier, synchronized across client and server to ensure validity within a short time frame, and validated using HMAC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stateless authentication tokens (JWT) are used for scalable client-server communication, then server scalability and ease of operation are improved, but security is worsened due to token reuse and inability to detect unauthorized access across devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication token validation process by dividing time into discrete time slots and time slices. Each request is associated with a specific time slice identifier, allowing the server to validate tokens based on temporal segmentation. This enables the server to maintain stateless operation while detecting token reuse across different time slices and devices, resolving the contradiction between scalability and security.
2Ease of operation
If tokens are made valid for extended periods to reduce authentication frequency, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to increased window for token misuse and replay attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic token validation by associating each token with a specific time slice within a time slot. The server dynamically determines the current time slice and validates tokens accordingly, allowing tokens to remain valid for extended periods while preventing reuse in unauthorized time slices. This dynamic approach reduces authentication frequency requirements while maintaining security against token misuse and replay attacks.
3Ease of operation
If time synchronization tolerance is increased to accommodate network delays, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to difficulty in determining valid time slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a predefined tolerance window around the current time slice that acts as a cushion for time synchronization variations. This tolerance window is established in advance and allows the server to accept tokens from adjacent time slices when network delays are detected, maintaining validation accuracy while accommodating synchronization flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for generating and validating time-based dynamic authentication tokens for stateless client-server communication. The system comprises a client device that generates a unique authentication token for each request, including a user identifier, device identifier, request identifier, and time slice identifier corresponding to a portion of a time slot divided into slices. The client device transmits the token with the request to a server, that includes a time server to synchronize the server and client time. A token validation module verifies whether the time slice identifier belongs to the current or previous time slice within the same time slot and validates the token by reconstructing it based on the identifiers. The server rejects requests if the token is generated outside the valid time slice or does not match the reconstructed token, providing enhanced security.