ITNS and CERIAS CISSP Luncheon Series: Access Control Systems & Methodology

Presented by Jeff Smith, CISSP

Access Controls From (ISC)2 Candidate Information Bulletin:

Access control is the collection of mechanisms that permits managers of a system to exercise a directing or restraining influence over the behavior, use, and content of a system. It permits management to specify what users can do, which resources they can access, and what operations they can perform on a system.

Access Controls From (ISC)2 Candidate Information Bulletin:

The candidate should fully understand access control concepts, methodologies and implementation within centralized and decentralized environments across the enterprises computer systems. Access control techniques, detective and corrective measures should be studied to understand the potential risks, vulnerabilities, and exposures.

Access Control Overview

Access Controls: The security features that control how users and systems communicate and interact with one another.

Access: The flow of information between subject and object

Subject: An active entity that requests access to an object or the data in an object Object: A passive entity that contains information

Security Principles

The three main security principles also pertain to access control:

Availability Integrity Confidentiality

Identification, Authentication, and Authorization Identification, Authentication, and Authorization are distinct functions.
Identification Authentication Authorization

Identity Management: A broad term to include the use of different products to identify, authenticate, and authorize users through automated means.

Identification

Identification
Method of establishing the subjects (user, program, process) identity.
Use of user name or other public information. Know identification component requirements.

Authentication Authentication
Method of proving the identity.
Something a person is, has, or does. Use of biometrics, passwords, passphrase, token, or other private information.

Strong Authentication is important

Authentication Biometrics
Verifies an identity by analyzing a unique person attribute or behavior (e.g., what a person is).

Most expensive way to prove identity, also has difficulties with user acceptance.

Many different types of biometric systems, know the most common.

Authentication Most common biometric systems:

Fingerprint Palm Scan Hand Geometry Iris Scan Signature Dynamics Keyboard Dynamics Voice Print Facial Scan Hand Topography

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Authentication

Biometric systems can be hard to compare.

Type I Error: False rejection rate.

Type II Error: False acceptance rate.
This is an important error to avoid.

Crossover Error Rate

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Authentication

Passwords
User name + password most common identification, authentication scheme. Weak security mechanism, must implement strong password protections Implement Clipping Levels

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Authentication Techniques to attack passwords

Electronic monitoring Access the password file Brute Force Attacks Dictionary Attacks Social Engineering

Know difference between a password checker and a password cracker.

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Authentication

Passphrase
Is a sequence of characters that is longer than a password. Takes the place of a password. Can be more secure than a password because it is more complex.

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Authentication

One Time Passwords (aka Dynamic Passwords)

Used for authentication purposes and are only good once. Can be generated in software (soft tokens), or in a piece of hardware

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Authentication

Two types of Token Devices (aka Password Generator)

Synchronous
Time Based Counter Synchronization

Asynchronous

Know the different types of devices and how they work.

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Authentication

Smart Cards and Memory Cards

Memory Cards: Holds but cannot process information. Smart Cards: Holds and can process information.
Contact Contactless
Hybrid Combi
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Authentication Attacks on Smart Cards

Fault Generation Microprobing Side Channel Attacks (nonintrusive attacks)
Differential Power Analysis Electromagnetic Analysis Timing Software attacks

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Authentication Hashing & Encryption

Hash or encrypting a password to ensure that passwords are not sent in clear text (means extra security)

Windows environment, know syskey modes. Salts: Random values added to encryption process for additional complexity.

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Authentication

Cryptographic Keys
Use of private keys or digital signatures to prove identity

Private Key Digital Signature

Beware digital signature vs. digitized signature.

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Authorization

Authorization
Determines that the proven identity has some set of characteristics associated with it that gives it the right to access the requested resources.

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Authorization

Access Criteria can be thought of as:

Roles Groups Location Time Transaction Types

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Authorization

Authorization concepts to keep in mind:

Authorization Creep Default to Zero Need to Know Principle Access Control Lists

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Authorization

Problems in controlling access to assets:

Different levels of users with different levels of access Resources may be classified differently Diverse identity data Corporate environments keep changing

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Authorization Solutions that enterprise wide and single sign on solutions supply:
User provisioning Password synchronization and reset Self service Centralized auditing and reporting Integrated workflow (increase in productivity) Regulatory compliance

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Authorization Single Sign On Capabilities

Allow user credentials to be entered one time and the user is then able to access all resources in primary and secondary network domains

SSO technologies include:

Kerberos Sesame Security Domains Directory Services Dumb Terminals

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Access Control Models

Access Control Models: Three Main Types

Discretionary Mandatory Non-Discretionary (Role Based)

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Access Control Models

Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

A system that uses discretionary access control allows the owner of the resource to specify which subjects can access which resources. Access control is at the discretion of the owner.

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Access Control Models

Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

Access control is based on a security labeling system. Users have security clearances and resources have security labels that contain data classifications. This model is used in environments where information classification and confidentiality is very important (e.g., the military).

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Access Control Models

Non-Discretionary (Role Based) Access Control Models

Role Based Access Control (RBAC) uses a centrally administered set of controls to determine how subjects and objects interact. Is the best system for an organization that has high turnover.

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Access Control Techniques There are a number of different access controls and technologies available to support the different models.
Rule Based Access Control Constrained User Interfaces Access Control Matrix Content Dependent Access Control Context Dependent Access Control

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Access Control Techniques

Rule Based Access Control

Uses specific rules that indicate what can and cannot happen between a subject and an object. Not necessarily identity based. Traditionally, rule based access control has been used in MAC systems as an enforcement mechanism.
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Access Control Techniques Constrained User Interfaces

Restrict users access abilities by not allowing them certain types of access, or the ability to request certain functions or information

Three major types

Menus and Shells Database Views Physically Constrained Interfaces

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Access Control Techniques

Access Control Matrix

Is a table of subjects and objects indicating what actions individual subjects can take upon individual objects.

Two types
Capability Table (bound to a subject) Access Control List (bound to an object)

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Access Control Techniques

Content Dependent Access Control: Access to an object is determined by the content within the object. Context Based Access Control: Makes access decision based on the context of a collection of information rather than content within an object.

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Access Control Administration

First an organization must choose the access control model (DAC, MAC, RBAC). Then the organization must select and implement different access control technologies. Access Control Administration comes in two basic forms:
Centralized Decentralized

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Access Control Administration

Centralized Access Control Administration:

One entity is responsible for overseeing access to all corporate resources. Provides a consistent and uniform method of controlling access rights.
Protocols: Agreed upon ways of communication Attribute Value Pairs: Defined fields that accept certain values.

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Access Control Administration

Types of Centralized Access Control

Radius TACAS Diameter

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Access Control Administration

Decentralized Access Control Administration:

Gives control of access to the people who are closer to the resources Has no methods for consistent control, lacks proper consistency.

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Access Control Methods

Access controls can be implemented at various layers of an organization, network, and individual systems Three broad categories:
Administrative Physical Technical (aka Logical)

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Access Control Methods Administrative Controls

Policy and Procedure Personnel Controls
Separation of Duties Rotation of Duties Mandatory Vacation

Supervisory Structure Security Awareness Training Testing

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Access Control Methods

Physical Controls
Network Segregation Perimeter Security Computer Controls Work Area Separation Data Backups Cabling Control Zone
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Access Control Methods

Technical (Logical) Controls

System Access Network Architecture Network Access Encryption and protocols Auditing

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Access Control Types Each control works at a different level of granularity, but can also perform several functions

Access Control Functionalities

Prevent Detect Correct Deter Recover Compensate

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Access Control Types

Security controls should be built on the concept of preventative security Preventative Administrative Controls
Includes policies, hiring practices, security awareness

Preventative Physical Controls

Includes badges, swipe cards, guards, fences

Preventative Technical Controls

Includes passwords, encryption, antivirus software

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Accountability Accountability is tracked by recording user, system, and application activities. Audit information must be reviewed
Event Oriented Audit Review Real Time and Near Real Time Review Audit Reduction Tools Variance Detection Tools Attack Signature Tools

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Accountability
Other accountability concepts Keystroke Monitoring
Can review and record keystroke entries by a user during an active session. A hacker can also do this May have privacy implications for an organization

Scrubbing: Removing specific incriminating data within audit logs

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Access Control Practices Know the access control tasks that need to be accomplished regularly to ensure satisfactory security. Best practices include:
Deny access to anonymous accounts Enforce strict access criteria Suspend inactive accounts Replace default passwords Enforce password rotation Audit and review Protect audit logs

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Access Control Practices Unauthorized Disclosure of Information

Object Reuse Data Hiding

Emanation Security
Tempest White Noise Control Zone

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Access Control Monitoring Intrusion Detection

Three Common Components
Sensors Analyzers Administrator Interfaces

Common Types
Intrusion Detection Intrusion Prevention Honeypots Network Sniffers

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Access Control Monitoring

Two Main Types of Intrusion Detection Systems
Network Based (NIDS) Host Based (HIDS)

HIDS and NIDS can be:

Signature Based Statistical Anomaly Based
Protocol Anomaly Based Traffic Anomaly Based

Rule Based

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Access Control Monitoring

Intrusion Prevention Systems

The next big thing Is a preventative and proactive technology, IDS is a detective technology. Two types: Network Based (NIPS) and Host Based (HIPS)

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Access Control Monitoring

Honeypots
An attractive offering that hopes to lure attackers away from critical systems

Network sniffers
A general term for programs or devices that are able to examine traffic on a LAN segment.

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Threats to Access Control

A few threats to access control
Insiders
Countermeasures include good policies and procedures, separation of duties, job rotation

Dictionary Attacks
Countermeasures include strong password policies, strong authentication, intrusion detection and prevention

Brute Force Attacks

Countermeasures include penetration testing, minimum necessary information provided, monitoring, intrusion detection, clipping levels

Spoofing at Logon
Countermeasures include a guaranteed trusted path, security awareness to be aware of phishing scams, SSL connection

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