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How To Avoid Sloppy Authentication
Viewing authentication as a process, not simply as an encryption or algorithm, is the key to defending corporate resources from attacks.
3 Min Read
It’s always obvious in hindsight review of the impact of a major bug like Heartbleed that something was missed. Hackers like it when the authentication deployment and security experts build sloppy authentication. The sloppiness generates vulnerabilities and thus the vector(s) for attack.
Common myths state that website hacks are the result of the breaking of authentication algorithms or the stealing of authentication seeds. But none of the major notable hacks, such as Living Social, Target, SnapChat, or Heartbleed have provided any truth to these misconceptions.
Instead, hackers attack the enterprise rather than the algorithm. Hacks are not assaults on the authentication algorithms. Simply buying new tokens (or SMS systems or PUSH two-factor systems) is not going to remove hackers, because the attacks are on the entire authentication system. We must look at authentication as an entire process, not just as an encryption or algorithm. This way, any organization can confidently secure access to all of its resources.
When looking at authentication as an entire process, you find that it involves the issuance of authentication credentials, the collection of credentials, the validation of the credentials, and finally, the assertion to the target:
The issuance of authentication credentials. This is one of the sloppiest parts of the authentication process as it continually consists of embarrassing procedures, including extensive helpdesk assistance, contractors, and lack of automation. Instead, the two-factor credential should be distributed to the user without helpdesk involvement, without contractors, and as fully auditable and repeatable.
The collection of authentication credentials. How many reports of cross-site scripting and SQL injection do we need to occur until we finally realize that authentication collectors should not be coded? The coding of the collection credential providers, whether single or two-factor, is a constant source of hacker delight. Custom coding, by its very nature, is a target for hackers. By how many quality assurance tests, peer reviews, and hundreds of similar installs has that code segment been reviewed?
The validation of authentication credentials. The validation of authentication credentials is another point of implementation where authentication integration has been consistently sloppy. What does it matter if your authentication algorithm is the latest commercial or non-commercial algorithm (Silent Circle, Tails, OTR, TrueCrypt, etc.) if the way in which we are communicating with the membership/profile provider is handled in a careless manner? Enterprises simply should not allow multiple authentication parties to access the key data stores. Furthermore, synching and migration of user data, especially to offsite locations, adds to the mess.
The SSO assertion to the target. This is the last and most key point. Most solutions think that sending a red light/green light signal for the identity is enough; and that the problem of asserting via single sign on (SSO) to the final resource (web, network, cloud, or mobile) is some integration outside of the authentication flow. Looking at authentication in such a limited way has no foundation in logic, yet the majority of solutions in the marketplace do just that.
This key step in authentication is often left to a highly vulnerable form post or other sloppy form of SSO assertion. But why shouldn't the authentication solution also include in its process the assertion to the web resource, the network gateway/VPN, the cloud resource, and the mobile application?
While there are technologies that combine all of the mechanisms of authentication into a single solution to ensure the integrity of the final authentication process (disclosure: SecureAuth offers one such solution), enterprises can also incorporate standalone two-factor/SSO solutions, or conduct the full code reviews, penetration tests, and crypto validation to refine their authentication process and deliver a complete solution to mitigate attacks.
The bottom line is that hackers will keep feeding off misguided and sloppy authentication deployments. It's up to us in the security profession to start mandating and implementing authentication solutions that address, not just the authentication algorithm, but the process as a whole. By centralizing the authentication and assertion procedures and removing all untrusted human contact from the system, organizations can more efficiently mitigate hackers.
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