Unique Pre-Shared Key Generation for VPN Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
VPN systems using a global pre-shared key for authentication are vulnerable to credential-theft attacks, as a compromised key can affect all connected devices, and manual configuration of unique keys for each client is impractical in large deployments.
Innovation Solution
A VPN server generates a unique pre-shared key for each VPN client based on its identity, storing the mapping in a database and sharing it encrypted, allowing secure authentication without manual configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a global pre-shared key is used for all VPN clients, then authentication is simplified and ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates because a compromised key affects all connected devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the global pre-shared key into individual client-specific keys. Each VPN client is assigned a unique pre-shared key that is stored in the database associated with their identity. This segmentation ensures that compromise of one key does not affect other clients, resolving the security vulnerability while maintaining automated key management.
2Reliability
If unique pre-shared keys are manually configured for each VPN client, then security is improved, but device complexity and administrative overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service key management where the VPN server automatically generates, stores, and manages unique pre-shared keys for each client in its database. When a new client connects, the server automatically creates their unique key without requiring manual administrator intervention. This eliminates the administrative burden while maintaining security through unique keys per client.
3Reliability
If unique pre-shared keys are manually configured for each VPN client, then security against credential-theft attacks is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-generating and storing unique pre-shared keys for each VPN client in the database before actual connection occurs. When a client attempts to connect, the server retrieves their pre-configured unique key from the database and uses it for authentication. This preliminary setup ensures security through unique keys while eliminating manual configuration during the connection process.
Data Source
AI summary
Some examples relate to a pre-shared key based virtual private network. In an example, a VPN server generates a unique pre-shared key (PSK) corresponding to an identity of a VPN client. The VPN server creates a mapping between the identity and the unique PSK of the VPN client, and stores it in a database. The VPN server shares the unique PSK with the VPN client. In response to receiving an IKE packet comprising an encrypted identity of the VPN client, the VPN server decrypts the encrypted identity of the VPN client from the IKE packet to determine the identity of the VPN client associated with the IKE packet. The VPN server retrieves the unique PSK corresponding to the identity of the VPN client associated with the IKE packet from the mapping stored in the database. The VPN server establishes a VPN connection with the VPN client.