Tagged Questions

1
vote
2answers
51 views

Force SSL/TLS client cert authentication even if server does not request it?

Usually the server specifies in the Server Hello message if a client certificate is needed/wanted. Does anybody know if it is possible to perform an authentication via client cert if the server does ...
-3
votes
0answers
47 views

How to determine the sequence of ordering certificates by browser? [closed]

I did a Mutual Certificate Authentication implementation with OpenSSL and Apache Web Server on CentOS platform. To simple explanation see this diagram: ---------- | ...
-4
votes
0answers
33 views

missing configuration in apache to achive mutual SSL authentcaion [closed]

After implementing a Mutual Certificate Authentication with OpenSSL and Apache Web Server on CentOS platform. I tried this scenario ( see this diagram ): ---------- ...
2
votes
0answers
79 views

How do I make or get computer certificates to use with IPSEC user authentication?

I am having trouble and need some direction using computer certificates with windows 7 firewall IP Security rules, using certificates only for user authentication. I can get everything to work ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views

Looking for general guidance on securing web API application for client applications and users

I have a web service built with WebAPI that accepts JSON requests and responds accordingly. The core architecture is built but there isn't any authentication/authorization. After a lot of googling ...
5
votes
1answer
68 views

Authentication by Signing or MAC?

I'm still new to security, so I'm sorry if this question doesn't make sense or if I'm completely off base with something. I've got some messages I want to encrypt (probably with AES-256-CBC) and send ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views

certificate based network authentication

In certificate based network authentication, is the user tied to just the system the certificate has been installed on such that if he tries to authenticate using another system access is denied?
0
votes
2answers
115 views

OpenID without SSL certificate

Is it wise to use OpenID (from Google or Yahoo) to log-into a website instead of a username+password login if that website doesn't have an SSL certificate installed? Just to make things clear, ...
2
votes
4answers
265 views

Client Certificate in SSL HandShake insecure?

Imagine we have an application which is trying to establish a secure connection to a server by using SSL. Now we want the user to authenticate himself with a client certificate which he stores in an ...
3
votes
3answers
460 views

How to distribute client certificates without exposing private key?

I'm desgining a B2B web service based on WCF. As the number of clients is relatively small and security is a priority, i have chosen to go with X509 client certificates for client authentication. I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
119 views

Can Diffie-Hellman Anonymous be used as a cipher for SSL for one-way certifiate-based authentication

I want to use Diffie-Hellman anonymous cipher for SSL. I also want to use a one-way certificate for server authentication. Is this possible?
10
votes
4answers
1k views

Are there technical disadvantages in using free ssl certificates?

Note this question is related, except this one is about free SSL certs. There are providers who are offering totally free entry-level SSL certs (like StartSSL). I was wondering if they are ...
1
vote
1answer
199 views

What makes a secure smartcard secure? Is contactless/RFID better?

In short what security features exist that I should look for in a smart card? What physical features exist, which are important? It appears smart cards may exhibit different levels of wear and ...
0
votes
1answer
246 views

How do I constrain Windows Smartcards for AD Authentication so that “anyExtendedKeyUsage” is not implied?

This document describes how there are 3 ways to constrain a SmartCard certificate The Enhanced Key Usage field defines one or more purposes for which the public key may be used. RFC 5280 states ...
5
votes
1answer
15k views

How do I clear cached credentials from my Windows Profile?

Windows seems to be saving my credentials for a variety of applications (terminal servers, etc) and I'd like to purge this data. How can I backup and purge this data?
2
votes
2answers
77 views

Using External Certificates on a network that doesn't permit outbound HTTP/S access

Some highly secure networks and DMZs prevent all communication to outside hosts. This can cause issues with validating externally signed data I can guess that issues with signature validation occur ...
2
votes
3answers
98 views

Whether certificates can be used for regulating access

I am thinking of a mechanism where I need to authenticate the client and control the access. I am thinking of using SSL for this purpose. I want to know whether using SSL solves my purpose. My ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views

Two-factor authentication w/certificate and username & password?

Example scenario: ActiveSync Authentication method: certificate-based authentication AND Active Directory domain username-password Encrypted on device: public & private key AD username ...
1
vote
2answers
129 views

X509 mutual authentication: is there a security flaw?

On the client side, my application accepts the server's certificate in case of the client certificate being signed by this server cert. Is this correct or may it be dangerous? Is it better to ask a ...
0
votes
1answer
106 views

Authentication methods without trusting 3rd parties unless explicitly indicated

The plan is to have a situation in which no third parties have to be trusted unless you explicitly indicate so. For example CA's are only used when the contact explicitly added the CA as a trusted ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views

Viable way to authenticate certificate without a web of trust?

For SSL certificates we have a web-of-trust principle. If we are allowed to make alterations to the certificate format, are there viable ways to automatically or semi-automatically authenticate the ...
2
votes
2answers
311 views

Is DIGEST-MD5 secure if done over HTTPS?

If the DIGEST-MD5 negotiation is done over an HTTPS connection instead of HTTP, does that prevent this list of disadvantages from Wikipedia?: Digest access authentication is intended as a security ...
4
votes
1answer
433 views

How secure is TOTP key on phones?

Our company is considering several options in moving to MFA with software OATH TOTP or yubikey OATH OTP. In regards to where the secret is stored, I'm aware that a yubikey or similar hardware device ...
3
votes
1answer
299 views

Apple Developer Account Hacked?

I just did a fresh install of Snow Leopard on a newly-formatted hard drive. Logged into the iPhone Developer Page with Google Chrome (latest build) here: ...
6
votes
2answers
151 views

Limiting the root certificate chain

I'm playing around with the idea of running a mini-CA with my (hobby) website, likely only used internally with a few select developers for internal emails, client authentication, staging/development ...
9
votes
3answers
406 views

Multiple CAs signing a single Cert/CSR?

Just saw this suggested on Slashdot So I've seen quite a few people wanting a switch to self-signed certs (who IMO mostly don't understand what making that secure actually involves), and an idea ...
3
votes
2answers
247 views

Web Certificate invalidation - You might be connecting to a website that is pretending to be [Site name]

Recently while trying to log-in to facebook this notification starts to appear at first I ignored it (by pressing Continue), but it started to popup every time I navigate through the website! I ...
2
votes
2answers
631 views

SSL verification of host name of https server

I recently found that a library I am using (specifically Apache HTTPClient) when is configured to verify the hostname of the remote server against the certificate's CN it just seems to be doing a ...
9
votes
2answers
847 views

Secure communication between applications using SSL Certificates

I am looking for a way how to secure communication between our applications. There is a "server" application listening on some TCP port and "client" application which is communicating with the ...
41
votes
5answers
10k views

Certificate based authentication vs Username and Password authentication

What are the advantages and drawbacks of the certificate based authentication over username and password authentication? I know some, but I would appreciate a structured and detailed answer. UPDATE ...
8
votes
3answers
340 views

Are there any smartcard/hardware-tokens for certificate-based authentication which are easily destroyed?

It's all very well to use multi-factor authentication, but supposing you want to 'destroy a factor' so that in an situation where you are likely to be coerced to provide your passphrase, you can ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views

Dealing with expired or revoked signing certificates with Infopath documents

Suppose I have an Infopath form that is digitally signed today by a valid, and active user. When that user leaves the company, we disable the account and revoke the certificate. This causes a problem ...
28
votes
4answers
14k views

What is the difference between an x.509 “client certificate” and a normal SSL certificate?

I am setting up a web service through which my company will talk to a number of business customers' services. We will be exchanging information using SOAP. I would like to handle authentication with ...