Quest Software Inc.

Dell Software Inc.

Matthew Todd Peterson

Daniel F Peterson

Jordan S Jones

Jeff Marsden Webb

John Joseph Bowers

A system for auditing authorized key files associated with secure shell (SSH) servers is disclosed. In an example, the system may include a purpose-built SSH audit server. The SSH audit server may be configured to receive an authorized key file and a list of users. The SSH audit sever may generate and provide unique registration codes for each of the users in the list. The SSH audit server may associate particular users with particular public keys as each of the users accesses the SSH audit server using a public key and inputs a registration code.

Secure shell public key audit system

A privileged account management system can maintain a database that defines a normal amount of time that it takes to perform a task associated with a reason code. When an administrator requests admin credentials for accessing a server, the administrator can provide a reason code which defines a task that the administrator intends to accomplish. A PAM system can maintain a database that defines, for each reason code, a normal amount of time that is required to accomplish the task associated with the reason code. The PAM system can then monitor an elapsed time over which the admin credentials are checked out to an administrator to determine whether the elapsed time exceeds the corresponding normal amount of time. If the elapsed time exceeds the normal amount, the PAM system can take appropriate action to mitigate any potential harm to the server.

Detecting unauthorized risky or inefficient usage of privileged credentials through analysis of task completion timing

A privileged account management system can detect when credentials used to access one or more servers have been shared or otherwise compromised. This detection can occur through analysis of simultaneous actions that are performed via multiple sessions associated with the same administrator. When two or more sessions associated with the same administrator are opened, the interactions performed over each of the sessions can be monitored to identify whether such interactions could be performed by a single administrator. If it is determined that the interactions over the multiple sessions could not reasonably be performed by a single administrator, various actions can be taken to address the possible breach to the security of the one or more servers.

Detecting shared or compromised credentials through analysis of simultaneous actions

A privileged account management system can maintain a database that defines a normal amount of data that should be transferred over a remote session and/or a normal rate at which the data should be transferred when performing a particular task. Using a reason code used to obtain a remote session and possibly a combination of various different characteristics of the remote session, the system can access the database to identify the appropriate normal amount and/or normal rate. The system can then compare the amount and/or rate of data transferred over the remote session to the appropriate normal amount and/or normal rate to detect when an abnormal amount and/or abnormal rate is being transferred. In cases where abnormal behavior is detected, the system can determine that the remote session is likely being used in an improper manner, and can take action to mitigate any potential harm to the server.

Detecting unauthorized, risky, or inefficient usage of privileged credentials through analysis of remote shell protocol bandwidth

One or more user service tickets are obtained (i.e. pre-fetched) from an authentication server and stored in a ticket cache. The user service tickets facilitate a login device communicating with one or more users or group members associated with the login device. Login credentials for the users or group members may be subsequently authenticated against the user service tickets within the ticket cache thereby eliminating the need for immediate access to the authentication server or a previous login session by the users or group members. The user service tickets within the ticket cache may be refreshed as needed. In one embodiment, the user service tickets are refreshed daily and also in response to login attempts if the authentication service is readily accessible.

Disconnected credential validation using pre-fetched service tickets

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system. Policies may specify hardware or software configuration information. Policies on a first computer with a native operating system are translated into configuration information usable on a second computer having a foreign operating system. In an embodiment, a translator manager manages the association between the policy on the first computer and the translator on the second computer. Computer management complexity and information technology management costs are reduced by centralizing computer management on the native operating system. Further reductions in management complexity are realized when the present invention is used in conjunction with network directory services.

Systems and methods for managing policies on a computer

Authentication credentials from legacy applications are translated to Kerberos authentication requests. Authentication credentials from the legacy application are directed to an authentication proxy module. The authentication proxy module acts as a credential translator for the application by receiving a set of credentials such as a user name and password, then managing the process of authenticating to a Kerberos server and obtaining services from one or more Kerberized applications, including Kerberos session encryption. A credential binding module associates a user corresponding to authentication credentials from a legacy authentication protocol with one or more Kerberos credentials. Anonymous authentication credentials may be translated to authentication requests for a network directory services object, such as a computer object or service object.

Growing community of inventors

Lindon, UT, United States of America

Matthew Todd Peterson