Multiprotocol Authentication Device for HPC and Cloud Environments Based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography

• Main Authors: Antonio F. Díaz, Ilia Blokhin, Mancia Anguita, Julio Ortega, Juan J. Escobar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Electronics
• Subjects: elliptic curve cryptography; authentication protocol; cryptographic devices; security keys
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/7/1148

Multifactor authentication is a relevant tool in securing IT infrastructures combining two or more credentials. We can find smartcards and hardware tokens to leverage the authentication process, but they have some limitations. Users connect these devices in the client node to log in or request access to services. Alternatively, if an application wants to use these resources, the code has to be amended with bespoke solutions to provide access. Thanks to advances in system-on-chip devices, we can integrate cryptographically robust, low-cost solutions. In this work, we present an autonomous device that allows multifactor authentication in client–server systems in a transparent way, which facilitates its integration in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and cloud systems, through a generic gateway. The proposed electronic token (eToken), based on the system-on-chip ESP32, provides an extra layer of security based on elliptic curve cryptography. Secure communications between elements use Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) to facilitate their interconnection. We have evaluated different types of possible attacks and the impact on communications. The proposed system offers an efficient solution to increase security in access to services and systems.