Securing A Microsoft Application
Securing A Microsoft Application
Overview
Web Application Security Overview Windows-Based Authentication Forms-Based Authentication Microsoft Passport Authentication
Multimedia
Windows-based Authentication
ASP.NET do not authenticate Relies on Win OS to do the authentication User request secure web page from ASP.NET web application The request go through IIS IIS compare user logon credentials with the domain If the credentials do not match as authorize users IIS rejects the request Client computer will generate logon dialog User need to enter correct credentials Again, this credential are verified by IIS If the credential is correct IIS allow users to access the web application Secure web page return to users
Form-based Authentication
IIS do not perform the authentication IIS allow anonymous users Client request secure web page IIS authenticate as anonymous user Pass the user to ASP.NET web application ASP.NET check for specific cookies on client If there is no cookies ASP.NET rejects the request and provide logon page User need to supply correct logon info Again, IIS authenticate as anonymous user and pass to ASP.NET This time ASP.NET authenticate user by credential supplied and generate a cookie The secure page and cookie return to client As long as the cookie remains valid, user can request and view other secure page use the same credential
Passport Authentication
Neither IIS or ASP.NET do not do the authentication When user request secure page Request sent to IIS IIS authenticate as anonymous user Pass to ASP.NET ASP.NET check for specific cookie, if the cookie is not present Request is rejected User is directed to Passport.com web site for authentication Passport generate the login form which is sent back to user User need to provide appropriate login info and submit back to passport site If it match with passport database passport authenticate the user and generate a cookie to the client Client redirected to initially requested page with a cookie back to ASP.NET web application ISS authenticate as anonymous ASP.NET authenticate by ticket (cookie) and return the secure page to client
Forms-based Authentication
Based on cookies Microsoft Passport Single sign in for many Fees involved Authentication Internet sites No need to maintain a database to store user information Allows developers to customize the appearance of the registration page
Client sends username and password Low (Medium with SSL) as clear text Can be encrypted by using SSL Part of the HTTP specification and supported by most browsers
Digest
Medium
Sends information as encoded hash Requires Internet Explorer 5 or later Requires Active Directory Uses NTLM Generally good for intranets, not Internet Does not work through most firewalls
Integrated Windows
High