WAF Password Hash Evaluation for Brute-Force Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing password security systems are inadequate in preventing brute-force attacks on web applications, as they often rely on weak password assessment during account creation or periodic updates, which can be compromised over time, and lack comprehensive protection against distributed attacks and IP reputation bypasses.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses a web application firewall (WAF) to intercept and evaluate password inputs by calculating a hash value, which is then checked against a database of weak passwords, and if found, prompts a password reset, while also managing IP addresses through blacklists and whitelists to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If password strength is assessed only during account creation or periodic updates, then the web application can maintain simple authentication flow, but the password security becomes vulnerable to brute-force attacks over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary password evaluation by checking the hash against a database of known weak password hashes before allowing login. This preliminary check prevents compromised passwords from being used, addressing security proactively rather than reactively after account creation or periodic updates
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated server acts as an intermediary between the WAF and the password validation system. This server receives hash values from the WAF, compares them against a database of weak password hashes, and returns evaluation results, thereby separating the complexity of password security assessment from the web application itself
2Reliability
If a WAF is configured to intercept and evaluate every password input by calculating hash values and checking against a database, then weak passwords can be blocked effectively, but the system processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
Password hashes are pre-computed and stored in a database during off-peak times. During login attempts, the system performs only a lookup operation rather than computing hashes in real-time, significantly reducing the time penalty for evaluating each password
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing actual passwords in the database, the system stores hash values (copies) of passwords. This allows for rapid comparison during login attempts while maintaining security, as the database contains only hash representations rather than plaintext passwords
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system blocks access for weak passwords using a dedicated server and WAF integration, then brute-force attacks can be prevented, but the device complexity and deployment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the password security functionality into separate modular components: the WAF handles interception and hash calculation, the dedicated server handles database management and evaluation logic, and the web application handles user interface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and deployed flexibly
Solution Approach 2:
The dedicated server provides multiple functions: it manages the database of weak password hashes, evaluates incoming password hashes, maintains blacklists of compromised credentials, and provides API endpoints for both the WAF and web applications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for rapid password evaluation. A method may include: configuring a web application firewall (WAF) to monitor login credentials for one or more web applications; intercepting, using the WAF, a password input during a login attempt to a web application by an entity; calculating a hash value of the password input; transmitting the hash value to a dedicated server configured to: determine whether the hash value is in a database of hashes corresponding to weak passwords; and in response to determining that the hash value is in the database of hashes, transmit a message to the WAF indicating that the password input corresponds to a weak password; and generating for display, using the WAF, a web page prompting for a password reset for the web application.