Confidential authentication and provisioning

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/187,125, entitled “CONFIDENTIAL TOKEN PROVISIONING” and filed on Jun. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. The present application is similar to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/595,792, entitled “EFFICIENT METHODS FOR PROTECTING IDENTITY IN AUTHENTICATED TRANSMISSIONS” and filed on Jan. 13, 2015, and U.S. application Ser. No. 14/743,874, entitled “EFFICIENT METHODS FOR AUTHENTICATED COMMUNICATION” and filed on Jun. 18, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

0002As user devices such as mobile phones continue to increase in popularity, ensuring that data is securely provisioned to user devices continues to be a concern. For instance, in order to provision data onto a user device, it may be necessary to authenticate a user prior to transmitting provisioning data. However, an attacker may attempt to eavesdrop on the registrations, authentication, and provisioning processes (e.g., by conducting a man-in-the-middle attack). Thus, an attacker may attempt to intercept data, such as a public key, that can be used to infer the identity of a user, a user device, or a server computer. An attacker may also attempt to intercept authentication data, such as a password or response to a challenge. The intercepted data could be used to track the user device or it may be used for illicit purposes.

0003Further complicating matters is the prior state of the user device. In some cases, the user device may not previously store a digital certificate for a provisioning server—in other words, the user device may not trust a priori the provisioning server. Conducting secure and authenticated provisioning in such circumstances may pose a challenge.

0004Embodiments of the present invention address these and other problems individually and collectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY

0005Some embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for securely authenticating a user device. A user device may be authenticated by an authentication server. The user device may have previously registered a user device authentication public key of the user device with the authentication server. To authenticate the user device, the authentication server may send an authentication challenge to the user device. The authentication server may encrypt the authentication challenge prior to sending it to the user device. The user device may decrypt the authentication challenge to obtain the authentication challenge.

0006In some embodiments, the user device may sign the authentication challenge using a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key. The user device may generate a first shared secret using the user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key and an authentication server public key of the authentication server. The user device may encrypt an authentication response including the challenge using the first shared secret to obtain an encrypted authentication response.

0007In some embodiments, the encrypted authentication response may include the signed challenge. The user device may send the encrypted authentication response to the authentication server. The authentication server may receive the encrypted authentication response from the user device and generate the first shared secret using an authentication server private key corresponding to the authentication server public key and the user device authentication public key. The authentication server may decrypt the encrypted authentication response using the first shared secret to obtain an authentication response including the challenge. The authentication server may authenticate the user device based on the decrypted authentication response. In some embodiments, the authentication server may verify the signed challenge using the user device authentication public key.

0008Other embodiments are directed to systems, portable consumer devices, and computer readable media associated with methods described herein.

0009A better understanding of the nature and advantages of embodiments of the present invention may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a message flow diagram for registration and authentication of a user device with an authentication server, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a message flow diagram for confidentially provisioning data from a provisioning server to a user device, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a message flow diagram for authenticating a user device and provisioning data to the user device, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a message flow diagram including an authentication response and provisioning data that are confidential and secure, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> shows a message flow including authentication of a user device that may not store a provisioning server certificate, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows a message flow diagram for securely provisioning data to a user device using a registered user device authentication public key, in accordance with some embodiments.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows a message flow diagram for secure authentication of a user device using a registered user device authentication public key, in accordance with some embodiments.

TERMS

0017Prior to discussing embodiments of the invention, description of some terms may be helpful in understanding embodiments.

0018The term “server computer” may include a computer or cluster of computing devices. For example, the server computer can be a large mainframe, a minicomputer cluster, or a group of servers functioning as a unit. In one example, the server computer may be a database server coupled to a Web server. The server computer may be coupled to a database and may include any hardware, software, other logic, or combination of the preceding for servicing the requests from one or more client computers. The server computer may comprise one or more computational apparatuses and may use any of a variety of computing structures, arrangements, and compilations for servicing the requests from one or more client computers.

0019The term “public/private key pair” may include a pair of linked cryptographic keys generated by an entity (e.g., a computer or an electronic device). The public key may be used for public functions such as encrypting a message to send to the entity or for verifying a digital signature which was supposedly made by the entity. The private key, on the other hand may be used for private functions such as decrypting a received message or applying a digital signature. The public key will usually be authorized by a body known as a Certification Authority (CA) which stores the public key in a database and distributes it to any other entity which requests it. The private key will typically be kept in a secure storage medium and will usually only be known to the entity. However, the cryptographic systems described herein may feature key recovery mechanisms for recovering lost keys and avoiding data loss. Public and private keys may be in any suitable format, including those based on RSA or elliptic curve cryptography (ECC).

0020A “digital signature” may refer to the result of applying an algorithm based on a public/private key pair, which allows a signing party to manifest, and a verifying party to verify, the authenticity and integrity of a document. The signing party acts by means of the private key and the verifying party acts by means of the public key. This process certifies the authenticity of the sender, the integrity of the signed document and the so-called principle of nonrepudiation, which does not allow disowning what has been signed. A certificate or other data that includes a digital signature by a signing party is said to be “signed” by the signing party.

0021A “certificate” or “digital certificate” may include an electronic document or data file that uses a digital signature to bind a public key with data associated with an identity. The certificate may include one or more data fields, such as the legal name of the identity, a serial number of the certificate, a valid-from and valid-to date for the certificate, certificate-related permissions, etc. A certificate may contain a “valid-from” date indicating the first date the certificate is valid, and a “valid-to” date indicating the last date the certificate is valid. A certificate may also contain a hash of the data in the certificate including the data fields. Unless otherwise noted, each certificate is signed by a certificate authority.

0022A “certificate authority” (CA) may include one or more server computers operatively coupled to issue certificates to entities. The CA may prove its identity using a CA certificate, which includes the CA's public key. The CA certificate may be signed by another CA's private key, or may be signed by the same CA's private key. The latter is known as a self-signed certificate. The CA may maintain a database of all certificates issued by the CA, and may also maintain a list of revoked certificates.

0023In a typical process, the certificate authority receives an unsigned certificate from an entity whose identity is known. The unsigned certificate includes a public key, one or more data fields, and a hash of the data in the certificate. The CA signs the certificate with a private key corresponding to the public key included on the CA certificate. The CA may then store the signed certificate in a database, and issue the signed certificate to the entity.

0024A “cryptographic nonce” may include any number, string, bit sequence, or other data value intended to be used in association with a single communication session. In some cases, a cryptographic nonce may be randomly or pseudo-randomly generated. Typically, a cryptographic nonce is of sufficient length as to make insignificant the likelihood of independently generating the same nonce value multiple times.

0025A “blinded key,” such as a “blinded public key” may include a key that has been obfuscated or otherwise modified from its original value by combination with another data element, such as a cryptographic nonce. For example, in elliptic curve cryptography, a public key may be multiplied by the nonce to generate a “blinded public key.” Similarly, a private key may be multiplied by the nonce to generate a “blinded private key.” The nonce may have the same bit-length as the public key and the private key.

0026An “ephemeral key pair” may include a public key (i.e., an “ephemeral public key”) and a private key (i.e., an “ephemeral private key) generated for use with a single transaction or other communication session. The ephemeral key pair may be of any suitable format, such as ECC or RSA. Typically, an ephemeral key pair may is deleted once the transaction or communication session has concluded.

0027A “static key pair” may include a public key (i.e., a “static public key”) and a private key (i.e., a “static private key”) maintained over a period of time. Typically, though not necessarily, a static private key may be stored securely, such as in a hardware security module (HSM) or secure element (SE). Typically, though not necessarily, a static public key may be bound to an identity through the use of a digital certificate. The static key pair may be of any suitable format, such as ECC or RSA.

0028A “shared secret” may include any data value or other information known only to authorized parties in a secure communication. A shared secret can be generated in any suitable manner, from any suitable data. For example, a Diffie-Hellman based algorithm, such as Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) may be used to generate a shared secret from a private key and a public key. For example, a first computer may generate a first key pair include a first public key and a first private key. A second computer may generate a second key pair including a second public key and a second private key. The first computer may generate a shared secret using the second public key of the second computer and the first private key of the first computer. The second computer may generate the same shared secret using the first public key of the first computer and the second private key of the second computer. The first computer and the second computer may both use the shared secret to generate a session key.

0029The term “identification data” may include any data or information associated with a user or device. Examples of identification data may include a name of a user associated with the device, an organization associated with the device, payment information such as a primary account number (PAN) associated with the device, an expiration date of the device, a certificate associated with the device, an IMEI or serial number of the device, etc.

0030The term “authentication” generally refers to a process of establishing confidence in the identity of a user or a computer. Certain electronic authentication systems may require a user to input authentication information (e.g., a password, a personal identification number (PIN), or other similar information) for authentication of the user. For example, a user may request access to a website by entering a user ID and a PIN into their user device, which communicates the user ID and PIN to a server hosting the website. The server may authenticate the user my comparing the user ID and PIN received from the user device to a stored PIN corresponding to that user ID. Authentication may also be performed by confirming the identity of a device through the use of public key cryptography and through the use of digital signatures.

0031The term “authentication data” or “authentication information” may include any data or information suitable to authenticate a user or device. Examples of authentication data may include a password or passphrase, a secret key (e.g., a private key), a digital signature, an indication that the device is storing certain information, etc.

0032The term “provisioning” generally refers to a process for requesting and receiving data. For example, a user device (e.g., a computer or a mobile device) may request data from a provisioning server to be stored on the user device. The provisioning server may send data to the user device may be based on certain criteria or rules. The provisioning server may send the data to the user device based on identifying the user device. The data provisioned to the user device from the provisioning server may generally be referred to as “provisioning data.” The provisioning data may be communicated using a channel established based on a public key identifying the user device.

0033An “identification factor” may include any data or information determined from identification data and/or authentication data. Typically, though not necessarily, the identification factor may be generated by hashing a combination of identification data and authentication data.

0034An “encryption key” may include any data value or other information suitable to cryptographically encrypt data. A “decryption key” may include any data value or other information suitable to decrypt encrypted data. In some cases, the same key used to encrypt data may be operable to decrypt the data. Such a key may be known as a symmetric encryption key.

0035A “session key” may include any key used to encrypt or decrypt data to be securely communicated. In some cases, a session key may be generated from a shared secret known both to a sending entity and a receiving entity. For example, the session key may be derived using a key derivation function and the shared secret.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0036Some embodiments of the invention relate to authentication systems and methods, provisioning systems and methods, and integrated authentication and provisioning systems.

I. Authentication

0037User devices (e.g., computers and mobile phones) may be used to access sensitive data and receive sensitive data. Such sensitive data may require an authentication process to ensure that unauthorized users do not access it. Authorization generally refers to a process of establishing confidence in the identity of a user. Certain electronic authentication systems may require a user to input authentication information (e.g., a password, a personal identification number (PIN), or other similar information) for authentication of the user. For example, a user may request access to a website by entering a user ID and a PIN into their user device, which communicates the user ID and PIN to a server hosting the website. The server may authenticate the user my comparing the user ID and PIN received from the user device to a stored PIN corresponding to that user ID. As such, the user device may only access the data if the user is authenticated. However, such authentication systems require the authentication information to be input at user device and stored at the server. Such systems may be vulnerable to a data breach, where an unauthorized party gains access to the stored authentication information at either the user device or the server.

0038In addition, such systems may be vulnerable to eavesdropping on the communications (e.g., by conducting a man-in-the-middle attack). Thus, an attacker may attempt to intercept identification data used to infer the identity of a user device or a server computer, or authentication data, such as a password or response to a challenge, transmitted by the user. If determined, this data could be used for illicit purposes. Further complicating matters is the prior state of the user device. In some cases, the user device may not previously store a digital certificate for a provisioning server—in other words, the user device may not trust a priori the provisioning server. Conducting secure and authenticated provisioning in such circumstances may pose a challenge.

0039Certain authentication systems may perform authentication without transmitting passwords, PINs, or similar authentication information to a server over a network in order to address the issues discussed above. For example, instead of the user device transmitting a user-input authentication information (e.g., password, PIN, or biometric data) to an online server, the user may authenticate with the user device by inputting the authentication information and the user device may authenticate with the server using public key cryptography.

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>100</b> for registration and authentication of a user device <b>120</b> with an authentication server <b>140</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. The user device <b>120</b> may comprise a computing device operated by or associated with a user <b>180</b>. For example, the user devices <b>120</b> may be a mobile device, a payment devices (e.g., smart cards), a wearable device, a personal computer, etc. The authentication server <b>140</b> may be a server computer, or cluster of server computers, coupled to one or more databases. An authorization process may be performed, for example, when the user <b>180</b> of the user device <b>120</b> requests data or attempts to access a website maintained by a webserver (not shown) that requires authentication by the authentication server <b>140</b>. In order to authenticate with the authentication server <b>140</b>, the user device <b>120</b> must first perform registration with the authentication server <b>140</b>.

0041In performing registration, at <b>101</b>, the authentication server <b>140</b> may send a registration request to the user device <b>120</b> (e.g., over a network). The registration request may include parameters specifying authentication criteria for authentication of the user <b>180</b>. The registration request may also include a challenge. The registration request may be passed from the authentication server <b>140</b> through the webserver to the user device <b>120</b>.

0042In response to receiving the registration request, the user device <b>120</b> may prompt the user <b>180</b> to authenticate themselves. The user device <b>120</b> may require authentication of the user <b>180</b> based on the authentication criteria of the registration request. At <b>102</b>, the user <b>180</b> may input authentication information into the user device <b>120</b>. For example, the user <b>180</b> may input authentication information including at least one of a user identifier, a password, passcode, a PIN, a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or other biometric data. In response to receiving the authentication information input by the user <b>180</b>, the user device <b>120</b> may generate a user device authentication key pair (“UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>126</b>. The user device authentication key pair <b>126</b> includes a user device authentication public key (“UD Auth. Pub. Key”) <b>128</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key. The user device authentication key pair <b>126</b> may be uniquely identified with the user <b>180</b> and the authentication information input by the user <b>180</b>. The user device <b>120</b> may store the user device authentication key pair <b>126</b> (e.g., in a memory circuit).

0043Prior to registration, the user device <b>120</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>122</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key corresponding to the user device attestation public key. For example, the user device attestation key pair <b>122</b> may be installed by an original equipment manufacturer during manufacture of the user device <b>120</b>. The user device <b>120</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate (“UD Atts. Cert.”) <b>124</b>. The user device attestation certificate <b>124</b> may include a user device attestation public key. The user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b> may be used to verify data that is signed using the user device attestation private key. The user device attestation certificate <b>124</b> may be signed by a trusted certificate authority (“CA”). The user device attestation certificate <b>124</b> may be verified using a CA public key of the CA corresponding to a CA private key of the CA used to signed the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b>. For example, the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b> may be installed by the original equipment manufacturer during manufacture of the user device <b>120</b>.

0044The user device <b>120</b> may sign the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> using the user device attestation private key. That is, the user device <b>120</b> may generate a signed user device authentication public key including a signature. The user device <b>120</b> may generate a registration response including the signed user device authentication public key <b>128</b> and the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b>. The registration response may also include the user device authentication public key <b>128</b>, the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b>, and a signature. The user device <b>120</b> may generate the signature by signing over the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> and the challenge of the registration request. At <b>103</b>, the user device <b>120</b> may send the registration response to the authentication server <b>140</b> (e.g., over a network). The registration response from the user device <b>120</b> may be passed through the webserver (not shown) to the authentication server <b>140</b>.

0045Prior to registration. the authentication server <b>140</b> may store the CA public key (e.g., in a memory circuit). The authentication server <b>140</b> may verify the user device attestation certificate using the CA public key. Then authentication server <b>140</b> may then verify the user device authentication public key <b>128</b>, which was signed by the user device <b>120</b> using the user device attestation private key, using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>124</b>. The authentication server <b>140</b> may store the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> (e.g., in a memory circuit). Thus, the user device <b>120</b> has registered the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> with the authentication server <b>140</b> such that it may be used for authentication of the user device <b>120</b>.

0046After registration, the user <b>180</b> of the user device <b>120</b> may perform an authentication process to request the data or to access the website discussed above with respect to registration. At <b>104</b>, the authentication server <b>140</b> may send an authentication request to the user device <b>120</b> (e.g., over a network). The authentication request may be passed through the webserver. The authentication request may include an authentication challenge. In response to receiving the authentication request, the user device <b>120</b> may prompt the user <b>180</b> to authenticate themselves. At <b>105</b>, the user <b>180</b> may input the authentication information used during registration into the user device <b>120</b>. In response to receiving the authentication information input by the user <b>180</b>, the user device <b>120</b> may identify the user device authentication key pair <b>126</b> generated during registration by matching the authentication information input by the user <b>180</b>. The user device <b>120</b> may sign the authentication challenge using the user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key <b>128</b>, which has been registered with the authentication server <b>140</b>, to obtain a signed authentication challenge. The signed authentication challenge includes a signature of the authentication challenge that may be verified using the user device authentication public key.

0047The user device <b>120</b> may generate an authentication response including the signed authentication challenge. At <b>106</b>, the user device <b>120</b> may send the authentication response to the authentication server <b>140</b> (e.g., over a network). The authentication response may be passed through a webserver. The authentication server <b>140</b> may verify the signed challenge of the authentication response using the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> stored at the authentication server <b>140</b> during registration. The authentication server <b>140</b> may send an indication to the webserver that the signature of the user device <b>120</b> has been verified and the webserver may provide the data or the website requested by the user device <b>120</b> to the user device <b>120</b>.

0048Thus, the user <b>180</b> authenticates with the user device <b>120</b> by inputting the authentication information (e.g., a PIN or biometric data) to the user device <b>120</b> and the user device <b>120</b> authenticates with the authentication server <b>140</b> by signing an authentication challenge using the user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key <b>128</b> registered with the authentication server <b>140</b>.

II. Provisioning

0049Provisioning generally refers to a process for requesting and receiving data. For example, a user device (e.g., computers and mobile phones) may request data from a provisioning server to be stored on the user device. The provisioning server may send data to the user device may be based on certain criteria or rules. The data may be communicated using a channel established based on a public key identifying the user device. During provisioning, even if communications are encrypted or otherwise protected, the identity of the user device or a user or the user device may be determined. If determined, the identity could be used for illicit purposes.

0050<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>200</b> for confidentially provisioning data from a provisioning server <b>260</b> to a user device <b>220</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows the steps as being performed by user device <b>220</b> and provisioning server <b>260</b>, some or all steps may be performed by another suitable entity, such as an authentication server. The steps in the message flow diagram <b>200</b> may also be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner.

0051The user device <b>220</b> may comprise a computing device operated by or associated with a user. For example, the user devices <b>120</b> may be a mobile device, a payment devices (e.g., smart cards), a wearable device, a personal computer, etc. The user device <b>220</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> may operate similarly to the user device <b>120</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may be a server computer, cluster of server computers, or a webserver coupled to one or more databases. Provisioning server <b>260</b> may provision data to the user devices <b>220</b>. For example, the provisioning data may include account information, identification information, documents, payment credentials, or other data or information. In some embodiments, the provisioning server <b>260</b> may be implemented using one or more server computers and/or other computing devices.

0052Prior to the message flow <b>200</b>, the user device <b>220</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a certificate authority (CA) root certificate (“CA Cert.”) <b>232</b> including a CA root public key. Prior to the message flow <b>200</b>, the provisioning server <b>260</b> may maintain a provisioning server key pair (“PS Priv. &amp; Pub. Key Pair”) <b>262</b> including a provisioning server public key and a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may also maintain a provisioning server certificate (“PS Cert.”) comprising the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server certificate <b>252</b> may be signed by the CA root public key.

0053In order to encrypt communications between the user device <b>220</b> and the provisioning server <b>260</b>, the user device <b>220</b> may generate a shared secret using a private key of the user device <b>220</b> and a public key of the provisioning server <b>260</b>. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may generate the same shared secret using a private key of the provisioning server and a public key of the user device <b>220</b> corresponding to the private key of the user device <b>220</b>. In some embodiments, the user device <b>220</b> may store a provisioning server certificate (“PS Cert.”) <b>264</b> of the provisioning server <b>260</b>. The provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> may include a provisioning server public key that may be used by the user device <b>220</b> to generate a shared secret for encrypting communications. However, in some embodiments, the user device <b>220</b> may not store the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> and may need to receive it from the provisioning server <b>260</b>.

0054The user device <b>220</b> may generate a user device ephemeral key pair (“UD Eph. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>234</b> including a user device ephemeral public key and a user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key. At <b>201</b>, the user device <b>220</b> sends the user device ephemeral public key to the provisioning server <b>260</b>. The user device ephemeral public key may not be used to identify the user device <b>220</b> because the user device <b>220</b> may only use the user device ephemeral public key for a single communication (e.g., to receive the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b>). The user device <b>220</b> may not store the user device ephemeral key pair after it has performed the communication. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>262</b> include a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may also store the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b>. The provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> may be signed by the CA using the CA private key. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may modify the provisioning server public key such that it may not be used to identify the provisioning server <b>260</b>. For example, the provisioning server <b>260</b> may generate a provisioning server blinding factor (e.g., a cryptographic nonce), and use the provisioning server public key and the provisioning server blinding factor to generate a blinded provisioning server public key. For example, the provisioning server <b>260</b> may generate the blinded provisioning server public key by performing a multiplication operation on the provisioning server public key and the provisioning server blinding factor.

0055The provisioning server <b>260</b> may generate a first shared secret using the user device ephemeral public key, the provisioning server private key, and the provisioning server blinding factor. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may use the first shared secret to generate a first session key for communicating with the user device <b>220</b>. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may encrypt the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> using the first session key to obtain an encrypted provisioning server certificate. In some embodiments, the provisioning server <b>260</b> may also encrypt the provisioning server blinding factor using the first session key to obtain an encrypted provisioning server blinding factor. At <b>202</b>, the provisioning server <b>260</b> sends (e.g., over a network) the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted provisioning server certificate to the user device <b>220</b>. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may also send one or more of an encrypted authentication cryptogram, encrypted meta-data, and the encrypted provisioning server blinding factor to the user device <b>220</b>.

0056The user device <b>220</b> may receive the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted provisioning server certificate from the provisioning server <b>260</b>. The user device <b>220</b> may generate the same first shared secret generated by the provisioning server <b>260</b>, using the blinded provisioning server public key and the user device ephemeral private key. The user device <b>220</b> may generate the first session key using the first shared secret. The user device <b>220</b> may use the first session key to decrypt the encrypted provisioning server certificate to obtain the provisioning server certificate. In some embodiments, the user device <b>220</b> may also receive and decrypt the encrypted provisioning server blinding factor. The user device <b>220</b> may verify the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> using the CA public key of the CA certificate <b>232</b>. In some embodiments, the user device <b>220</b> may verify the blinded provisioning server public key using the provisioning server blinding factor and the provisioning server public key of the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b>. In some embodiments, the user device <b>220</b> may also receive and decrypt the encrypted authentication cryptogram and may also validate the authentication cryptogram. The user device <b>220</b> may store the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> (e.g., in a memory circuit).

0057Thus, the user device <b>220</b> may confidentially obtain the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b> if it did not already have it stored. In some embodiments, where user device <b>220</b> already stores the provisioning server certificate <b>264</b>, the messaging at <b>201</b> and <b>202</b> may be skipped.

0058At <b>203</b>, user device <b>220</b> may encrypt identification data to obtain encrypted identification data. The user device <b>220</b> may send the encrypted identification data to provisioning server <b>260</b> (e.g., over a network). In some embodiments, such as those where messaging <b>201</b> and <b>202</b> were previously performed, the user device <b>220</b> may use the previously established shared secret to perform the encryption and decryption described with reference to messaging <b>203</b> and <b>204</b>. In other embodiments, such as those where messaging <b>201</b> and <b>202</b> were not performed, the encryption and decryption described above with reference to the messaging <b>203</b> may be performed using a second shared secret generated based on the stored provisioning server certificate <b>264</b>. The provisioning server <b>260</b> may encrypt the provisioning data using the shared secret established for the messaging at <b>202</b> or using the second shared secret. At <b>204</b>, the provisioning server <b>260</b> sends the encrypted provisioning data to the user device <b>220</b>. In some embodiments, provisioning server <b>260</b> may also send a blinded provisioning server public key, an authentication cryptogram, meta-data, and/or a new encrypted server certificate (e.g., new server credentials to be used in future communication with provisioning server <b>260</b>) to the user device <b>220</b>.

0059Thus, the message flow of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> enables the user device <b>220</b> to obtain provisioning data from the provisioning server <b>260</b> while maintaining confidentiality of its identity.

0000III. Provisioning with Authentication

0060In some embodiments, an authentication server (e.g., authentication server <b>140</b>) may offer authentication capabilities “as a service” (e.g., using an API or other interface accessible by other entities) to a provisioning server (e.g., provisioning server <b>260</b>). For example, a provisioning server may interface with authentication server in order to authenticate a user device (e.g., user device <b>120</b> or user device <b>220</b>) prior to provisioning data to the user device. The provisioning server may only perform a provisioning process in response to the user being authenticated. In some embodiments, both the authentication server and the provisioning server may be implemented on the same set of computing devices, or may be operated by the same entity.

0061<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>300</b> for authenticating a user device <b>320</b> and provisioning data to the user device <b>320</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. The user device <b>320</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may operate similar to the user devices <b>110</b>, <b>220</b> described above. The authentication server <b>340</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may operate similar to the authentication server <b>140</b> described above. The provisioning server <b>360</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may operate similar to the provisioning server <b>260</b> described above. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the messaging as being performed by the user device <b>320</b>, the authentication server <b>340</b>, and the provisioning server <b>360</b>, some or all of the messaging steps may be performed by another suitable entity. For example, the authentication server <b>340</b> and the provisioning server <b>360</b> may perform certain operations instead of the other or the authentication server <b>340</b> and the provisioning server <b>360</b> may be combined. In addition, the messaging shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner.

0062Prior to the message flow <b>300</b>, the user device <b>320</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>322</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key corresponding to the user device attestation public key. The user device <b>320</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate (“UD Atts. Cert.”) <b>324</b> comprising the user device attestation public key. The user device attestation certificate may be signed by a CA using a private key of the CA. Prior to the messaging flow <b>300</b>, the authentication server <b>340</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a CA certificate including a CA public key corresponding to the CA private key. The CA public key may be used to verify data signed by the CA private key.

0063The user device <b>320</b> may register and authenticate with the authentication server <b>340</b> in a process similar to the registration and authentication process described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. At <b>301</b>, the authentication server <b>340</b> may send a registration request to the user device <b>320</b>. The registration request at <b>301</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be structured similar to the registration response at <b>101</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> described above. In response to receiving the registration request, the user device may authenticate a user of the user device <b>320</b> and generate a user device authentication key pair (“UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>326</b>. The user device authentication key pair <b>326</b> may include a user device authentication public key <b>328</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key <b>328</b>. The user device <b>320</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) the user device authentication key pair <b>326</b>.

0064At <b>302</b>, the user device <b>320</b> may send a registration response to the authentication server <b>340</b>. The registration response at <b>302</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be structured similar to the registration response at <b>103</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> described above. For example, the registration response may include an application ID, the user device attestation certificate <b>324</b>, and the user device authentication public key <b>328</b> signed by the user device attestation private key.

0065The authentication server <b>340</b> may verify the user device attestation certificate <b>324</b> using the CA public key of the CA certificate. The authentication server <b>340</b> may also verify the user device authentication public key <b>328</b> using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>324</b>.

0066In some embodiments, prior to <b>303</b>, the user device <b>320</b> may communicate with either the authentication serer <b>340</b> or the provisioning server <b>360</b>. For example, the user device <b>320</b> may send a message to initiate an authentication process. In response to the user device <b>320</b> initiating the authentication process, the provisioning server <b>360</b> may request an authentication request from the authentication server <b>340</b>. The provisioning server <b>360</b> may receive the authentication request from the authentication server <b>340</b>.

0067At <b>303</b>, the provisioning server <b>360</b> may send the authentication request to the user device <b>320</b>. The authentication request at <b>303</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be structured similar to the authentication request at <b>104</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> described above. For instance, the authentication request may include an authentication challenge.

0068The user device <b>320</b> may process the authentication request. Processing the authentication request may include adding additional data to the received authentication challenge, authenticating or verifying a user of user device <b>320</b>, and signing the challenge using the user device authentication private key stored at the user device <b>320</b> as described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. At <b>304</b>, the user device <b>320</b> sends an authentication response including the signed challenge data, and possibly other data, to the provisioning server <b>360</b>.

0069The provisioning server <b>360</b> may send the authentication response from the user device <b>320</b> to the authentication server <b>340</b>. The authentication server <b>340</b> may verify the signed authentication challenge using the user device authentication public key <b>328</b> stored at the authentication server <b>340</b>. In some embodiments, the authentication server <b>340</b> may also verify that the signed authentication challenge matches the authentication challenge of the authentication request. Thus, the user device <b>320</b> may register with the authentication server <b>340</b> and be authenticated by the authentication server <b>340</b>.

0070At <b>305</b>, the authentication server <b>340</b> may send an indication that the signed authentication challenge has been verified to the provisioning server <b>360</b>. The provisioning server <b>360</b> may provide provisioning data to the user device <b>320</b> based on whether the signed authentication challenge is verified. For instance, if the provisioning server <b>360</b> does not receive an indication from the authentication server <b>340</b> that the signature of the signed authentication challenge is valid, then the provisioning server <b>360</b> may not provide provisioning data to the user device <b>320</b>.

0071If the provisioning server <b>360</b> receives, from the authentication server <b>340</b>, an indication that the signature of the signed authentication challenge is valid, then the provisioning server <b>360</b> and the user device <b>320</b> may perform a provisioning process similar to the provisioning process described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. For instance, at <b>306</b>, the user device <b>320</b> may send the identification data to provisioning server <b>360</b>. In response to receiving the identification information, at <b>307</b>, the provisioning server <b>360</b> may send provisioning data to the user device <b>307</b>. The messaging at <b>306</b> and <b>307</b> for provisioning may be encrypted using a user device ephemeral key pair (“UD Eph. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>334</b> similar to the encryption process described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. As such, the provisioning server <b>360</b> may provision data to the user device <b>320</b> based on authentication of the user device <b>320</b> with the authentication server <b>340</b>.

IV. Confidential Authentication and Provisioning

0072The authentication and provisioning process described above with respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> enables a provisioning server to provision data to a user device based on authentication of that user device with the authentication server. While the provisioning process described above may provide confidentiality to the user device through the use of an ephemeral key pairs and blinded public keys, the authentication process does not provide such confidentiality. In authentication, the user device may still be tracked based on the transmission of its signature (e.g., in signed data) or its public key. The systems and methods described below address this issue.

0073A. Authentication Using a Stored Provisioning Server Certificate

0074<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>400</b> including an authentication response and provisioning data that are confidential and secure, in accordance with some embodiments. The message flow <b>400</b> shows messaging between the user device <b>420</b> that is pre-loaded with a provisioning server certificate, an authentication server <b>440</b>, and a provisioning server <b>460</b>. The user device <b>420</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may operate similar to the user device <b>320</b> described above. The authentication server <b>440</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may operate similar to the authentication server <b>340</b> described above. The provisioning server <b>460</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may operate similar to the provisioning server <b>360</b> described above. The messaging of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner. The authentication server <b>440</b> and the provisioning server <b>460</b> may perform certain operations instead of the other or the authentication server <b>440</b> and the provisioning server <b>460</b> may be combined

0075Prior to the message flow <b>400</b>, the user device <b>420</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>422</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key. The user device <b>420</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate <b>424</b> comprising the user device attestation public key. In addition, the user device <b>420</b> may store a provisioning server certificate (“PS Cert.”) <b>464</b> that includes a provisioning server public key and is signed by a certificate authority (“CA”) using a private key of the CA. The user device <b>420</b> may also pre-generate and store a user device ephemeral key pair (“UD Eph. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>434</b> including a user device ephemeral public key and a user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key.

0076Prior to message flow <b>400</b>, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>462</b> including a provisioning server public key and a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may also store the provisioning server certificate <b>464</b>. The provisioning server certificate <b>464</b> may include the provisioning server public key and it may be signed by the CA using a CA private key.

0077The user device <b>420</b> may register with the authentication server <b>440</b> in a process similar to the registration process described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. At <b>401</b>, the authentication server <b>440</b> may send a registration request to the user device <b>420</b>. The registration request at <b>401</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be structured similar to the registration responses described above. In response to receiving the registration request, the user device <b>420</b> may authenticate a user of the user device <b>420</b> and generate a user device authentication key pair (“UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>426</b>. The user device authentication key pair <b>426</b> may include a user device authentication public key <b>428</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key <b>428</b>. The user device <b>420</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) the user device authentication key pair <b>426</b>.

0078At <b>402</b>, the user device <b>420</b> may send a registration response to the authentication server <b>440</b>. The registration response at <b>402</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be structured similar to the registration responses described above. For example, the registration response may include the user device attestation certificate <b>424</b> and the user device authentication public key <b>428</b> signed by the user device attestation private key.

0079The authentication server <b>440</b> may store a CA certificate and may verify the user device attestation certificate <b>424</b> using the CA public key of the CA certificate. The authentication server <b>440</b> may also verify the user device authentication public key <b>428</b> using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>424</b>. In some embodiments, the authentication server <b>440</b> may store the provisioning server certificate <b>464</b> and the authentication server <b>440</b> may send the provisioning server certificate <b>464</b> to the user device <b>420</b> in response to verifying the user device authentication public key <b>428</b>. In other embodiments, the user device <b>420</b> may obtain the provisioning server certificate <b>464</b> prior to registration.

0080After registration, the user device <b>420</b> may initiate authentication. For example, the user device <b>420</b> may send a message to the provisioning server <b>460</b> to initiate an authentication process. In response to the user device <b>420</b> initiating the authentication process, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may request an authentication request from the authentication server <b>440</b>. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may receive the authentication request from the authentication server <b>440</b>.

0081At <b>403</b>, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may send the authentication request to the user device <b>420</b>. The authentication request at <b>403</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be structured similar to the authentication requests described above. For instance, the authentication request may include an authentication challenge.

0082The user device <b>420</b> may processes the authentication request. Processing the authentication request may include adding additional data to the received authentication challenge, authenticating or verifying a user of user device <b>320</b>, and signing the challenge using the user device authentication private key stored at the user device <b>420</b>.

0083In contrast to the authentication processes described above with respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 3</figref>, in this embodiment, the user device <b>420</b> may confidentially transmit an encrypted authentication response. The user device <b>420</b> may generate the user device ephemeral key pair <b>434</b> if it was not pre-generated. The user device <b>420</b> may generate a shared secret using the user device ephemeral private key and the provisioning server public key of the stored provisioning server certificate <b>464</b>. The user device may generate a session key based on the shared secret and encrypt the authentication response using the session key to obtain an encrypted authentication response.

0084At <b>404</b>, the user device <b>420</b> may send the user device ephemeral public key and the encrypted authentication response including the signed challenge data to the provisioning server <b>460</b>. As such, the authentication response at <b>403</b> maintains confidentiality because the user device ephemeral key pair <b>434</b> may not be used to identify or track the user device <b>420</b> since it may only be used to encrypt a limited number of messages (e.g., the authentication response only or the authentication response and the provisioning data). In addition, the authentication response is secured because it is encrypted using the shared secret.

0085The provisioning server <b>460</b> may receive the user device ephemeral public key and the encrypted authentication response from the user device <b>420</b>. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may generate the same shared secret generated by the user device <b>420</b> using the provisioning server private key and the user device ephemeral public key. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may generate the session key using the shared secret and use the session key to decrypt the encrypted authentication response to obtain the authentication response. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may send the authentication response to the authentication server <b>440</b>.

0086The authentication server <b>440</b> may verify the signed authentication challenge of the authentication response using the stored user device authentication public key <b>428</b>. For example, the signed challenge data may be decrypted using the user device authentication public key <b>428</b> to obtain a decrypted challenge, which may be compared to the authentication challenge included in the authentication request. The signed authentication challenge may be verified based on whether the decrypted challenge matches an expected value. At <b>406</b>, the authentication server <b>440</b> may send an indication that the signed authentication challenge has been verified to the provisioning server <b>460</b>.

0087The provisioning server <b>460</b> may provide provisioning data the user device <b>420</b> based on whether the signed authentication challenge is verified. For instance, if the provisioning server <b>460</b> does not receive an indication from the authentication server <b>440</b> that the signature of the signed authentication challenge is valid, then the provisioning server <b>460</b> may not provide provisioning data to the user device <b>420</b>. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may encrypt the provisioning data. In some embodiments, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may encrypt the provisioning data using the shared secret. In other embodiments, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may generate a second shared secret for encrypting the provisioning data. For example, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may blind the provisioning server key pair <b>462</b> using a provisioning server blinding factor (e.g., a cryptographic nonce) to obtain a blinded provisioning server public key and a blinded provisioning server private key. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may then derive the second shared secret using the blinded provisioning server private key and the user device ephemeral public key. The provisioning server <b>460</b> may encrypt the provisioning data using the second shared secret to obtain encrypted provisioning data. At <b>405</b>, the provisioning server <b>460</b> may send the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted provisioning data to the user device <b>420</b>.

0088The user device <b>420</b> may decrypt the encrypted provisioning data to obtain provisioning data and the user device <b>430</b> may store the provisioning data (e.g., in a memory circuit). For example, in embodiments where the user device <b>420</b> receives the encrypted payment credential and the blinded provisioning server public key, the user device <b>420</b> may generate the second shared secret using the user device ephemeral private key and the blinded provisioning server public key. The user device <b>420</b> may use the second shared secret to decrypt the encrypted provisioning data.

0089As such, the user device <b>420</b> may send an authentication response that is confidential and secure since the authentication response is encrypted and the public key sent to the provisioning server <b>460</b> for decryption is an ephemeral key. The provisioning data is also secure since it is encrypted as described above.

0090B. Authentication Including Transfer of a Provisioning Server Certificate

0091The authentication process as described above with respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> uses a provisioning server certificate that is stored on the user device prior to authentication. However, in some cases, the user device may not store the provisioning server certificate prior to the authentication process. In such cases, the provisioning server certificate may need to be transferred to the user device as part of the provisioning process, rather than being assumed to have been previously loaded onto user device.

0092<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> shows a message flow <b>500</b> including authentication of a user device <b>520</b> that may not store a provisioning server certificate <b>564</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. Compared to the message flow <b>400</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the message flow <b>500</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> includes an encrypted authentication response. The message flow <b>500</b> shows messaging between the user device <b>520</b>, an authentication server <b>540</b>, and a provisioning server <b>560</b>. The user device <b>520</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may operate similar to the user devices described above. The authentication server <b>540</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may operate similar to the authentication servers described above. The provisioning server <b>560</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may operate similar to the provisioning servers described above. The messaging of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner. The authentication server <b>540</b> and the provisioning server <b>560</b> may perform certain operations instead of the other or the authentication server <b>540</b> and the provisioning server <b>560</b> may be combined.

0093Prior to message flow <b>500</b>, the user device <b>520</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>522</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key. The user device <b>520</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate <b>524</b> comprising the user device attestation public key. In addition, the user device <b>520</b> may store a CA certificate (“CA Cert.”) <b>532</b> that includes a CA public key. The user device <b>520</b> may also pre-generate and store a user device ephemeral key pair (“UD Eph. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>534</b> including a user device ephemeral public key and a user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key.

0094Prior to message flow <b>500</b>, the provisioning server <b>560</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) a provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>562</b> including a provisioning server public key and a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may also store the provisioning server certificate <b>564</b>. The provisioning server certificate <b>564</b> may include the provisioning server public key and it may be signed by the CA using a CA private key.

0095The user device <b>520</b> may register with the authentication server <b>540</b> in a process similar to the registration process described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. At <b>501</b>, the authentication server <b>540</b> may send a registration request to the user device <b>520</b>. The registration request at <b>501</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may be structured similar to the registration responses described above. In response to receiving the registration request, the user device <b>520</b> may authenticate a user of the user device <b>520</b> and generate a user device authentication key pair (“UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>526</b>. The user device authentication key pair <b>526</b> may include a user device authentication public key <b>528</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key <b>528</b>. The user device <b>520</b> may store (e.g., in a memory circuit) the user device authentication key pair <b>526</b>.

0096At <b>502</b>, the user device <b>520</b> may send a registration response to the authentication server <b>540</b>. The registration response at <b>502</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> may be structured similar to the registration responses described above. For example, the registration response may include the user device attestation certificate <b>524</b> and the user device authentication public key <b>528</b> signed by the user device attestation private key.

0097The authentication server <b>540</b> may store a CA certificate and may verify the user device attestation certificate <b>524</b> using the CA public key of the CA certificate. The authentication server <b>540</b> may also verify the user device authentication public key <b>528</b> using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>524</b>.

0098After registration, the user device <b>520</b> may initiate authentication. For instance, at <b>503</b>, the user device <b>520</b> may send the user device ephemeral public key to provisioning server <b>560</b>. The user device <b>520</b> may generate the user device ephemeral key pair <b>534</b> if it was not pre-generated.

0099The provisioning server <b>560</b> may request and receive an authentication request including an authentication challenge from the authentication server <b>540</b>. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may generate a provisioning server blinding factor (e.g., a cryptographic nonce) and use the provisioning server blinding factor to generate a blinded provisioning server public key and a blinded provisioning server private key based on the provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>564</b>. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may generate a shared secret using the user device ephemeral public key and the blinded provisioning server private key. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may encrypt the authentication request using the shared secret to obtain an encrypted authentication request. At <b>504</b>, the provisioning server <b>560</b> may send the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted authentication request to the user device <b>520</b>. The provisioning server may also encrypt and send, to the user device <b>520</b>, the provisioning server certificate <b>564</b>, the provisioning server blinding factor, an authentication cryptogram, meta-data, and the encrypted data.

0100The user device <b>520</b> may receive the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted authentication request from the provisioning server. The user device <b>520</b> may generate the shared secret using the blinded provisioning server public key and the user device ephemeral private key. The user device <b>520</b> may decrypt the encrypted authentication request using the shared secret to obtain the authentication request. In some embodiments, the user device <b>520</b> may also receive and decrypt, using the shared secret, the provisioning server certificate <b>564</b>, an authentication cryptogram, and the provisioning server blinding factor. The user device <b>520</b> may verify the provisioning server certificate <b>564</b> using the CA certificate <b>532</b>. The user device <b>520</b> may verify the blinded provisioning server public key using the provisioning server certificate and a provisioning server public key obtained from the provisioning server certificate <b>564</b>. The user device <b>520</b> may also validate the authentication cryptogram.

0101As such, the authentication request at <b>504</b> maintains confidentiality because the blinded provisioning server public key may not be used to identify or track the provisioning server <b>560</b> since the provisioning server blinding factor was applied to the provisioning server public key. In addition, the authentication request is secured because it is encrypted using the shared secret.

0102The user device <b>520</b> may receive the blinded provisioning server certificate and the encrypted authentication request. The user device <b>520</b> may generate the shared secret using the blinded provisioning server public key and the user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key. The user device <b>520</b> may use the shared secret to decrypt the encrypted authentication request to obtain the authentication request. The user device <b>520</b> may processes the authentication request. Processing the authentication request may include adding additional data to the authentication challenge included in the authentication request, verifying a user of the user device <b>520</b>, and signing the authentication challenge using the user device authentication private key stored by the user device <b>520</b>.

0103The user device <b>520</b> may generate an authentication response including the signed authentication challenge. At <b>505</b>, the user device <b>520</b> sends an encrypted authentication response to provisioning server <b>560</b>. In some embodiments, the user device <b>520</b> may use the shared secret to encrypt the authentication response. In other embodiments, the user device <b>520</b> may generate a second shared secret for encrypting the authentication response using a second user device key pair (e.g., another ephemeral key pair). In such embodiments, the user device <b>520</b> may send the second user device ephemeral public key to the provisioning server <b>560</b>.

0104The provisioning server <b>560</b> may receive the encrypted authentication response. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may decrypt the encrypted authentication response using the shared secret to obtain the authentication response. In some embodiments, where the user device <b>520</b> sends the second user device ephemeral public key, the provisioning server may generate the second shared secret using the provisioning server private key and the second user device ephemeral public key. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may send the authentication response to the authentication server <b>540</b>.

0105The authentication server <b>540</b> may verify the signed authentication challenge of the authentication response using the stored user device authentication public key <b>528</b>. For example, the authentication server <b>540</b> may decrypt the signed authentication challenge and it may be compared to the authentication challenge of the authentication request. The signed authentication challenge may be verified based on whether the decrypted challenge matches an expected value. At <b>507</b>, the authentication server <b>540</b> may send an indication that the signed authentication challenge has been verified to the provisioning server <b>460</b>.

0106The provisioning server <b>560</b> may provide provisioning data the user device <b>520</b> based on whether the signed authentication challenge is verified. For instance, if the provisioning server <b>560</b> does not receive an indication from the authentication server <b>540</b> that the signature of the signed authentication challenge is valid, then the provisioning server <b>560</b> may not provide provisioning data to the user device <b>520</b>. The provisioning server <b>560</b> may encrypt the provisioning data. In some embodiments, the provisioning server <b>560</b> may encrypt the provisioning data using the shared secret to obtain encrypted provisioning data. In other embodiments, the provisioning server <b>560</b> may encrypt the provisioning data using the second shared secret. At <b>506</b>, the provisioning server <b>560</b> may send the encrypted provisioning data to the user device <b>520</b>.

0107As such, the authentication request at <b>504</b> maintains confidentiality because the blinded provisioning server public key may not be used to identify or track the provisioning server <b>560</b> since the provisioning server blinding factor was applied to the provisioning server public key. In addition, the authentication request, the authentication response, and the provisioning data are secured because they encrypted.

V. Improved Confidential Registration, Authentication, and Provisioning

0108Certain registration and authentication processes may be vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. For example, a malicious device may masquerade as a legitimate user device while performing the registration or authentication. This may allow the malicious device to obtain in clear-text an authentication request sent by a provisioning server. Although the malicious device may not be able to sign an authentication challenge using the legitimate user device's private key, it may be possible (e.g., using malware installed on the legitimate user device), to obtain the user device's signature of the authentication challenge. The malicious device may then use the signed authentication challenge to respond to the provisioning server. In this manner, the malicious device may be able to obtain provisioning data for which it is unauthorized.

0109Some embodiments address this issue by encrypting communication between a user device and a provisioning server using a user device authentication key that is registered with an authentication server. This precludes entities that do not have the user device authentication private key of the user device from receiving a clear-text authentication request or authentication challenge, thereby preventing the man-in-the-middle attack described above.

0110<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>600</b> for securely provisioning data to a user device using a registered user device authentication public key, in accordance with some embodiments. The message flow <b>600</b> shows messaging between the user device <b>620</b>, an authentication server <b>640</b>, and a provisioning server <b>660</b>. The user device <b>620</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may operate similar to the user devices described above. The authentication server <b>640</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may operate similar to the authentication servers described above. The provisioning server <b>660</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may operate similar to the provisioning servers described above. The messaging of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner. In addition, although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows the messaging as being performed by the user device <b>620</b>, the authentication server <b>640</b>, and the provisioning server <b>660</b>, it should be noted some or all steps may be performed by another suitable entity. The authentication server <b>640</b> and the provisioning server <b>660</b> may perform certain operations instead of the other or the authentication server <b>640</b> and the provisioning server <b>660</b> may be combined.

0111Prior to message flow <b>600</b>, the user device <b>620</b> may store a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>622</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key corresponding to the user device attestation public key. The user device <b>620</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate comprising the user device attestation public key. The user device <b>620</b> may also store a certificate authority certificate (“CA Cert.”) <b>632</b> including a CA public key.

0112Prior to message flow <b>600</b>, the provisioning server <b>660</b> may store a provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>662</b> including a provisioning server public key and a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may also store a provisioning server certificate (“PS Cert.”) that includes the provisioning server public key and is signed by the certificate authority.

0113Prior to the message flow <b>600</b>, the authentication server <b>640</b> may store an authentication server certificate (“AS Cert.”) <b>646</b>, including an authentication server public key, that is signed by a CA. the authentication server <b>640</b> may also store an authentication server key pair (“AS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair) <b>642</b> including the authentication server public key and an authentication server private key corresponding to the authentication server public key.

0114As discussed above, the registration processes registers an authentication public key of a user device with an authentication server. In addition, the registration process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may establish a shared secret between the user device <b>620</b> and the authentication server <b>640</b>, and registration may be conducted using a session key determined from the shared secret.

0115The user device <b>620</b> may generate a user device ephemeral key pair including a user device ephemeral public key and a user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key. At <b>601</b>, user device <b>620</b> may sends the user device ephemeral public key to authentication server <b>640</b>.

0116The authentication server <b>640</b> may generate an authentication server blinding factor (e.g., a cryptographic nonce) and combine the blinding factor with the authentication server key pair to generate a blinded authentication server public key and a blinded authentication server private key. Authentication server <b>640</b> may generate a shared secret using the user device ephemeral public key and the blinded authentication server private key. The authentication server <b>640</b> may use the shared secret to generate a session key. The authentication server <b>640</b> may encrypt the authentication server certificate <b>644</b>, the authentication server blinding factor, and a registration request using the shared secret to obtain, respectively, an encrypted authentication server certificate, an encrypted authentication server blinding factor, and an encrypted registration response. At <b>602</b>, the authentication server <b>640</b> may send the blinded authentication server public key and the encrypted registration request to the user device <b>620</b>. The authentication server <b>640</b> may also send an encrypted authentication cryptogram, encrypted meta-data, the encrypted authentication server certificate, and the encrypted authentication server blinding to user device <b>620</b>.

0117The user device <b>620</b> may generate the same shared secret as generated by authentication server <b>640</b> using the blinded authentication server public key and the user device ephemeral private key. The user device <b>620</b> may generate a session key using the shared secret. The user device <b>620</b> may use the shared secret to decrypt the encrypted registration request to obtain the registration request. The user device <b>620</b> may also use the shared secret to decrypt the encrypted authentication server certificate <b>644</b> and the encrypted authentication server blinding factor. The user device <b>620</b> may verify the authentication server certificate <b>644</b> using the CA certificate <b>632</b>. The user device <b>620</b> may verify the blinded authentication server public key using the authentication server blinding factor an authentication server public key obtained from the authentication server certificate <b>644</b>. The user device <b>620</b> may also validate the authentication cryptogram.

0118The user device <b>620</b> may require authentication of a user of the user device <b>720</b> based on the registration request. To authenticate, the user may input authentication information into the user device <b>720</b>. For example, the user may input authentication information including at least one of a user identifier, a password, passcode, a PIN, a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or other biometric data. In response to authenticating the user, the user device <b>620</b> may generate a user device authentication key pair (UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>626</b> including a user device authentication public key <b>628</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key. The user device <b>720</b> may associate the input authentication information with the user device authentication key pair. The user device <b>620</b> may sign the user device authentication public key <b>628</b> using the user device attestation private key to obtain a signed user device authentication public key. The user device <b>620</b> may generate a registration response including the signed user device authentication public key and the user device attestation certificate. The user device <b>620</b> may encrypt the registration response using the shared secret.

0119At <b>603</b>, the user device <b>620</b> may send the encrypted registration response to authentication server <b>640</b>. In some embodiments, the authentication response can be encrypted using the shared secret. In other embodiments, the user device <b>620</b> may generate a second registration shared secret for encrypting the registration response.

0120The authentication server <b>640</b> may decrypt the encrypted registration response using the shared secret to obtain the registration response. The authentication server <b>640</b> may verify the user device attestation certificate <b>624</b> using a CA public key. The authentication server <b>640</b> may also verify the user device authentication public key <b>628</b> using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>624</b>.

0121As such, the user device <b>620</b> may confidentially register with the authentication server <b>640</b> using the user device ephemeral public key since it may not be used to identify or track the user device <b>620</b>. In addition, the registration request and the registration response are secured because they are encrypted using the shared secret.

0122In an authentication process, the user device <b>620</b> may generate a user device blinding factor, which may be a cryptographic nonce. The user device <b>620</b> may blinds the user device authentication key pair <b>626</b> using the user device blinding factor to determine a blinded user device authentication public key and a blinded user device authentication private key. At <b>604</b>, the user device <b>620</b> may send the blinded user device authentication public key to the provisioning server <b>660</b>.

0123The provisioning server <b>660</b> may generate a provisioning server blinding factor, such as a cryptographic nonce. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may blind the provisioning server key pair <b>662</b> using the provisioning server blinding factor to obtain a blinded provisioning server public key and a blinded provisioning server private key. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may generate an authentication shared secret using the blinded user device authentication public key and the blinded provisioning server private key. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may obtains an authentication request for the user device <b>620</b> from the authentication server <b>640</b>. The authentication request may include an authentication challenge. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may encrypt the provisioning server certificate <b>664</b>, the provisioning server blinding factor, and the authentication request using the authentication shared secret to obtain, respectively, an encrypted provisioning server certificate, an encrypted provisioning server blinding factor, and an encrypted authentication request. At <b>605</b>, the provisioning server <b>660</b> may send the blinded provisioning server public key and the encrypted authentication request to the user device <b>620</b>. The provisioning server <b>660</b> may also send the encrypted provisioning server certificate and the encrypted provisioning server blinding factor to the user device <b>620</b>.

0124The user device <b>620</b> may generate the authentication shared secret using the blinded provisioning server public key and the blinded user device authentication private key. The user device <b>620</b> may decrypt the encrypted authentication request, the encrypted provisioning server certificate, and the encrypted provisioning server blinding factor using the authentication shared secret to obtain, respectively, the authentication request, the provisioning server certificate, and the provisioning server blinding factor. The user device <b>620</b> may verify the provisioning server certificate using the CA certificate <b>632</b>, and may verify the blinded provisioning server public key using the provisioning server blinding factor and a provisioning server public key obtained from the provisioning server certificate <b>664</b>.

0125The user device may processes the authentication request. Processing the authentication request may include adding additional data to the received challenge, authenticating a user of user device <b>620</b> (e.g., by requiring the authentication information input at registration to be input by the user), and signing the authentication challenge in the authentication request using the user device authentication private key stored at the user device <b>620</b>. The user device may generate an authentication response including the signed authentication challenge. The user device <b>620</b> may encrypt the user device blinding factor and the authentication response using the authentication shared secret to obtain an encrypted user device blinding factor and an encrypted authentication response, respectively. At <b>606</b>, the user device <b>620</b> may send the encrypted authentication response to provisioning server <b>660</b>. The user device <b>620</b> may also send the encrypted user device blinding factor to the provisioning server <b>660</b>.

0126The provisioning server <b>660</b> may use the authentication shared secret to decrypt the encrypted authentication response and the encrypted user device blinding factor to obtain the authentication response and the user device blinding factor, respectively. The provisioning server may send the authentication response to the authentication server <b>640</b>. The authentication server <b>640</b> may verify the signed challenge using the user device authentication public key <b>628</b> stored at the authentication server <b>640</b> during registration of the user device <b>620</b>. For example, the signed challenge may be verified by decrypted, using the user device authentication public key <b>628</b>, and it may be compared to the authentication challenge of the authentication request. If the signed authentication challenge matches an expected value, then the authentication server may authenticate the user device <b>620</b>. At <b>608</b>, the authentication server <b>640</b> may send an indication to the provisioning server <b>660</b> that the signed challenge has been verified.

0127The provisioning server <b>660</b> may verify the blinded user device authentication public key by re-generating the blinded user device authentication public key using the user device blinding factor and the user device authentication public key <b>628</b> stored at the authentication server <b>640</b>. If the re-generated key matches the blinded user device authentication public key received at <b>604</b>, then the blinded user device public key is authenticated.

0128If the signed challenge and the blinded user device authentication public key are authenticated, the provisioning server <b>660</b> may encrypt provisioning data for the user device <b>620</b> using the authentication shared secret. At <b>607</b>, the provisioning server <b>660</b> may send the encrypted provisioning data to the user device <b>620</b>.

0129As such, the user device authentication public key <b>626</b> registered with the authentication server <b>640</b> during registration may be used to generate a shared secret for encryption during authentication. This provides advantages over generating an ephemeral key pair for encrypting authentication since generating and using a key pair is computationally intense and requires the use of a large amount of computing resources. Thus, encrypting the authentication request and authentication response using the registered user device authentication public key <b>626</b> may use less computing resources compared to a process that generates and uses an ephemeral key pair.

0130Some embodiments of the invention can leverage the registration process described in method to convey additional information to user device. For example, embodiments can allow an authentication server to transfer an authentication server certificate including an authentication server public key to the user device during a registration process. This can allow the authentication process to be encrypted using a shared secret generated based on the authentication server's public key. Using such a shared secret reduces the amount of computation resources used to perform encryption of communications compared to encrypting communications using an ephemeral key pair generated specifically for that communication.

0131<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows a message flow diagram <b>700</b> for secure authentication of a user device <b>720</b> using a registered user device authentication public key, in accordance with some embodiments. The message flow <b>700</b> shows messaging between the user device <b>720</b>, an authentication server <b>740</b>, and a provisioning server <b>760</b>. The user device <b>720</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may operate similar to the user devices described above. The authentication server <b>740</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may operate similar to the authentication servers described above. The provisioning server <b>760</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may operate similar to the provisioning servers described above. The messaging of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may be performed in a different order or in another suitable manner. In addition, although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows the messaging as being performed by the user device <b>720</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b>, and the provisioning server <b>760</b>, it should be noted some or all steps may be performed by another suitable entity. The authentication server <b>740</b> and the provisioning server <b>760</b> may perform certain operations instead of the other or the authentication server <b>740</b> and the provisioning server <b>760</b> may be combined.

0132Prior to message flow <b>700</b>, the user device <b>720</b> may store a user device attestation key pair (“UD Atts. Pub &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>722</b> including a user device attestation public key and a user device attestation private key corresponding to the user device attestation public key. The user device <b>720</b> may also store a user device attestation certificate (“UD Atts. Cert.”) <b>724</b> comprising the user device attestation public key. The user device <b>620</b> may also store a certificate authority certificate (“CA Cert.”) <b>632</b> including a CA public key.

0133Prior to message flow <b>700</b>, the provisioning server <b>760</b> may store a provisioning server key pair (“PS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>762</b> including a provisioning server public key and a provisioning server private key corresponding to the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server <b>760</b> may also store a provisioning server certificate (“PS Cert.”) <b>764</b> that includes the provisioning server public key. The provisioning server certificate <b>764</b> may be signed by the certificate authority.

0134Prior to the message flow <b>700</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may store an authentication server certificate (“AS Cert.”) <b>746</b>, including an authentication server public key, that is signed by a CA. the authentication server <b>640</b> may also store an authentication server key pair (“AS Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair) <b>642</b> including the authentication server public key and an authentication server private key corresponding to the authentication server public key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may also store the provisioning server certificate <b>764</b>.

0135The registration processes of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may register an authentication public key of the user device <b>720</b> with the authentication server <b>740</b>. In addition, the registration process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may establish a registration shared secret between the user device <b>720</b> and the authentication server <b>740</b>, and registration may be conducted using a registration session key determined from the registration shared secret.

0136The user device <b>720</b> may generate a user device ephemeral key pair including a user device ephemeral public key and a user device ephemeral private key corresponding to the user device ephemeral public key. At <b>701</b>, user device <b>720</b> may send the user device ephemeral public key to authentication server <b>740</b>.

0137The authentication server <b>740</b> may generate an authentication server blinding factor (e.g., a cryptographic nonce) and combine the blinding factor with the authentication server key pair to generate a blinded authentication server public key and a blinded authentication server private key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may generate a registration shared secret using the user device ephemeral public key and the blinded authentication server private key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may use the registration shared secret to generate a registration session key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may encrypt the authentication server certificate <b>744</b>, the authentication server blinding factor, and a registration request using the registration shared secret to obtain, respectively, an encrypted authentication server certificate, an encrypted authentication server blinding factor, and an encrypted registration response. At <b>702</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may send the blinded authentication server public key, the encrypted authentication server certificate, and the encrypted registration request to the user device <b>720</b>. The authentication server <b>740</b> may also send an encrypted authentication cryptogram, encrypted meta-data, and the encrypted authentication server blinding factor to user device <b>720</b>.

0138The user device <b>720</b> may generate the same registration shared secret as generated by authentication server <b>720</b> using the blinded authentication server public key and the user device ephemeral private key. The user device <b>720</b> may generate the registration session key using the registration shared secret. The user device <b>720</b> may use the registration shared secret to decrypt the encrypted registration request to obtain the registration request. The user device <b>720</b> may also use the registration shared secret to decrypt the encrypted authentication server certificate <b>744</b> and the encrypted authentication server blinding factor to obtain the authentication server certificate <b>744</b> and the authentication server blinding factor, respectively. The user device <b>720</b> may verify the authentication server certificate <b>744</b> using the CA certificate <b>732</b>. The user device <b>720</b> may verify the blinded authentication server public key using the authentication server blinding factor an authentication server public key obtained from the authentication server certificate <b>744</b>.

0139The user device <b>720</b> may require authentication of a user of the user device <b>720</b> based on the registration request. To authenticate, the user may input authentication information into the user device <b>720</b>. For example, the user may input authentication information including at least one of a user identifier, a password, passcode, a PIN, a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or other biometric data. In response to authenticating the user, the user device <b>720</b> may generate a user device authentication key pair (UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>726</b> including a user device authentication public key <b>728</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key. The user device <b>720</b> may associate the input authentication information with the user device authentication key pair. The user device <b>720</b> may generate a user device authentication key pair (“UD Auth. Pub. &amp; Priv. Key Pair”) <b>726</b> including a user device authentication public key <b>728</b> and a user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key. The user device <b>720</b> may sign the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> using the user device attestation private key to obtain a signed user device authentication public key. The user device <b>720</b> may generate a registration response including the signed user device authentication public key, the user device attestation certificate, and an identifier. The identifier associated with the user device authentication public key. The user device <b>720</b> may encrypt the registration response using the registration shared secret.

0140At <b>703</b>, the user device <b>720</b> may send the encrypted registration response to authentication server <b>740</b>. In some embodiments, the registration response can be encrypted using the registration shared secret. In other embodiments, the user device <b>720</b> may generate a second registration shared secret for encrypting the registration response.

0141The authentication server <b>740</b> may decrypt the encrypted registration response using the registrations shared secret to obtain the registration response. The authentication server <b>740</b> may verify the user device attestation certificate <b>724</b> using a CA public key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may also verify the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> using the user device attestation public key of the user device attestation certificate <b>724</b>. The authentication server <b>740</b> may associate the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> with the identifier included in the registration response. The authentication server <b>740</b> may store the user device authentication public key <b>728</b>. In response to verifying the user device authentication public key <b>728</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may encrypt the provisioning server certificate <b>764</b> using the shared secret to obtain an encrypted provisioning server certificate. At <b>704</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may send the encrypted provisioning server certificate to the user device <b>720</b>. The user device <b>720</b> may decrypt the encrypted provisioning server certificate to obtain the provisioning server certificate <b>764</b>. The user device <b>720</b> may store the provisioning server certificate <b>764</b>.

0142As such, the user device <b>720</b> may confidentially register with the authentication server <b>740</b> and receive the provisioning server certificate. The user device <b>720</b> may use the provisioning server public key of the provisioning server certificate <b>764</b> and the user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key, which was registered with the authentication server, to generate an authentication shared secret for encrypting the authentication process.

0143At <b>705</b>, the user device <b>720</b> may send the identifier to the authentication server <b>740</b> via the provisioning server <b>760</b>. The authentication server <b>740</b> may identify the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> associated with the identifier. The authentication server <b>740</b> may generate an authentication shared secret using the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> stored at the authentication server <b>740</b> and the authentication server private key corresponding to the authentication server public key. The authentication server <b>740</b> may generate an authentication request for the user device <b>720</b>. The authentication request may include an authentication challenge. The authentication server <b>740</b> may encrypt the authentication request using the authentication shared secret to obtain an encrypted authentication request. At <b>706</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may send the encrypted authentication request to the user device <b>720</b>.

0144The user device <b>720</b> may generate the authentication shared secret using the authentication server public key of the authentication server certificate <b>744</b> and the user device authentication private key corresponding to the user device authentication public key registered with the authentication server <b>740</b>. The user device <b>720</b> may decrypt the encrypted authentication request using the authentication shared secret to obtain the authentication request including the authentication challenge. The user device may processes the authentication request. Processing the authentication request may include adding additional data to the received authentication challenge, verifying a user of user device <b>720</b> (e.g., by requiring the authentication information input at registration to be input by the user), and signing the authentication challenge in the authentication request using the user device authentication private key stored at the user device <b>720</b>. The user device <b>720</b> may generate an authentication response including the signed authentication challenge. The user device <b>720</b> may encrypt the authentication response using the authentication shared secret to obtain an encrypted authentication response. At <b>707</b>, the user device <b>720</b> may send the encrypted authentication response to the authentication server <b>740</b> via the provisioning server <b>760</b>.

0145The authentication server <b>740</b> may use the authentication shared secret to decrypt the encrypted authentication response to obtain the authentication response. The authentication server <b>740</b> may verify the signed challenge using the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> stored at the authentication server <b>740</b> during registration of the user device <b>720</b>. For example, the signed challenge may be verified by decrypted, using the user device authentication public key <b>728</b>, and it may be compared to the authentication challenge of the authentication request. If the signed authentication challenge matches an expected value, then the authentication server may authenticate the user device <b>720</b>. At <b>708</b>, the authentication server <b>740</b> may send an indication to the provisioning server <b>760</b> that the signed challenge has been verified.

0146If the signed challenge is authenticated, at <b>709</b>, the provisioning server <b>760</b> may send provisioning data to the user device <b>720</b>. The provisioning sever may encrypt the provisioning data using the authentication shared secret.

0147As such, the user device authentication public key <b>728</b> that was registered with the authentication server <b>740</b> during registration may be used to generate an authentication shared secret for encryption of the authentication process. This provides advantages over generating an ephemeral key pair for encrypting authentication messages since generating and using a key pair is computationally intense and requires the use of a large amount of computing resources. Thus, encrypting the authentication request and authentication response using the registered user device authentication public key <b>726</b> may use less computing resources compared to a process that generates and uses an ephemeral key pair.

VI. Secure Communication Methods

0148Embodiments of the invention may utilize any suitable method for secure communication. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, methods in accordance with Opacity specifications can be used to facilitate secure communication between a user device, an authentication server, a provisioning server, and/or any other suitable entity. Table 1, below, includes definitions of terms.

0000<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0" pgwide="1"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="2"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="84pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="238pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry namest="1" nameend="2" rowsep="1">TABLE 1</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>ICC</entry><entry>Mobile phone, Integrated Circuit chip or server</entry></row><row><entry>IFD</entry><entry>Interface device or client</entry></row><row><entry>enc_c</entry><entry>Encrypted data generated on client (IFD/Mobile)</entry></row><row><entry>enc_s</entry><entry>Encrypted data generated on server (ICC)</entry></row><row><entry>SD_c</entry><entry>Client sensitive Data (payload)</entry></row><row><entry>SD_s</entry><entry>Server sensitive Data (payload)</entry></row><row><entry>sID_s</entry><entry>Server (ICC) identifier for the session. Based on Q_bs x_coordinate</entry></row><row><entry>sID_c</entry><entry>Client (IFD or mobile device) identifier. Truncated value of Q_ec's x_coordinate</entry></row><row><entry>C_s</entry><entry>Certificate Chain authenticating the Server (ICC)</entry></row><row><entry>C_s_{n}</entry><entry>Certificate Chain authenticating the Server (ICC) - nth version</entry></row><row><entry>C_c</entry><entry>Certificate Chain authenticating the client (ICC)</entry></row><row><entry>d_bc</entry><entry>Client blinding factor</entry></row><row><entry>d_bs</entry><entry>Server Blinding factor</entry></row><row><entry>seed</entry><entry>Counter or time, etc. verifiable at ICC or server and proving that blinding factor</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>is fresh. d_bc = PRNG (seed)</entry></row><row><entry>Q_bc</entry><entry>Blinded Client public key</entry></row><row><entry>Q_bs</entry><entry>Blinded server public key</entry></row><row><entry>d_c, Q_c = [d_c]P</entry><entry>Client authentication public key, matched with the corresponding private key:</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>d_c</entry></row><row><entry>d_s, Q_s = [d_s]P</entry><entry>Server (ICC) authentication public key, matched with the corresponding private</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>key: d_s</entry></row><row><entry>d_s_{n}, Q_s_{n}</entry><entry>Server (ICC) authentication public and private key, nth version.</entry></row><row><entry>d_ec, Q_ec = [d_ec]P</entry><entry>client ephemeral public key, matched with the ephemeral private key: d_ec</entry></row><row><entry>sk_1c, sk_c, sk_1s, sk_s</entry><entry>AES Secure Messaging Session Keys</entry></row><row><entry>Z, Z_1</entry><entry>Intermediate Shared secrets (x-coordinate of EC-DH shared resulting point)</entry></row><row><entry>AEAD, AEAD-1 (sk, data,</entry><entry>Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AES session key SK, data will</entry></row><row><entry>associated data)</entry><entry>be encrypted or decrypted. Associated data will remain as is, but controlled for</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>integrity.</entry></row><row><entry>KDF</entry><entry>Key Derivation Function 800-56C based on AES C_MAC. Applied on</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>concatenated input</entry></row><row><entry>PRNG</entry><entry>Pseudo random number generator</entry></row><row><entry>zero_key</entry><entry>AES key where all bytes have a zero value (see 800-56C)</entry></row><row><entry>PubK (C)</entry><entry>Extract the public key from Cert C</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0149A. Methods Assuming a Pre-Loaded Server Certificate

0150A method for secure communication using a client computer that is pre-loaded with a server computer certificate is described below. The client computer may maintain data prior to the communication. For example, the client computer can maintain a number (n) server authentication public keys (Q_s_{n}) and server computer certificate chains (C_s_{n}). The client computer can also maintain client sensitive data (SD_c), which may include data usable by a server computer to authenticate the client computer. In addition, the client computer can maintain a client computer certificate chain (C_c) and a client authentication key pair including a client authentication public key (Q_c) and a corresponding client authentication private key (d_c). Furthermore, the client computer can maintain a seed value (seed) that is typically verifiable by the server computer.

0151The server computer may also maintain data prior to the communication. For example, the server computer can maintain a number (n) server computer certificate chains (C_s_{n}), each including a server authentication public key (Q_s_{n}) and the server computer maintaining a corresponding server authentication private key (d_s_{n}). The server computer can also maintain a next server authentication key pair including a next server authentication public key (Q_s_{n+1}) and a next server authentication private key (d_s_{n+1}). The server computer can also maintain an initialization value (IV) and server sensitive data (SD_s), which may include data usable by a client computer to authenticate the server computer.

0152At step 1, the client computer generates a client blinding factor (d_bc) using a PRNG function with the seed value as an input.

0153At step 2, the client computer generates a blinded client authentication public key (Q_bc) using the client blinding factor, an initialization value (d_iv), and the client authentication public key.

0154At step 3, the client computer generates a first shared secret (Z_1) using the client authentication public key, the client blinding factor, and the server authentication public key corresponding to the server computer for which communication is intended (Q_s_{n}).

0155At step 4, a client session identifier is generated using the blinded client authentication public key.

0156At step 5, a first client session key is derived using the first shared secret, a server identifier (ID_s), and the client session identifier.

0157At step 6, the first client session key is used to encrypt (AEAD) the client sensitive data, the client certificate chain, either the client blinding factor or the seed, some client padding data (PAD_c), and the blinded client authentication public key. The result is encrypted client data (enc_c).

0158At step 7, the first shared secret and the first client session key are zeroized (i.e., erased).

0159At step 8, the blinded client authentication public key ad the client encrypted data are sent to the server computer.

0160At step 9, the server computer validates that the blinded client authentication public key belongs to the correct elliptic curve domain.

0161At step 10, the server computer generates the same first shared secret, but using the server authentication private key, the initialization value, and the blinded client authentication public key.

0162At step 11, the server computer determines the client session identifier from the blinded client authentication public key.

0163At step 12, the server computer derives the first client session key using the first shard secret, the server identifier, and the client session identifier.

0164At step 13, the server computer decrypts (AEAD-1) the encrypted client data using the first client session key to obtain the client sensitive data, the client certificate chain, the client blinding factor or seed, and the client padding data.

0165At step 14, the server computer zeroizes the first client session key and the first shard secret.

0166At step 15, if the client blinding factor was not included in the encrypted client data decrypted at step 13, the server computer derives it from the seed using a PRNG function.

0167At step 16, the server computer extracts the client authentication public key from the client certificate. The client certificate is also validated.

0168At step 17, the blinded client authentication public key received from the client computer is compared to a combination of the client blinding factor and the client authentication public key. If they match, the server computer can authenticate the client computer.

0169At step 18, the server computer generates a server blinding factor (d_bs).

0170At step 19, a second shared secret (Z) is generated using the second blinding factor, the next server authentication private key, and the blinded client authentication public key.

0171At step 20, a blinded server authentication public key (Q_bs) is generated using the server authentication public key and the server blinding factor.

0172At step 21, a server session identifier (sID_s) is generated using the blinded server authentication public key.

0173At step 22, a server session key (sk_s) and a second client session key (sk_c) are generated using the second shared secret, the server session identifier, and the client session identifier.

0174At step 23, the server blinding factor, the next server certificate chain, the server sensitive data, and a server pad (PAD_s) are encrypted using the server session key to generate encrypted server data (enc_s).

0175At step 24, the server session key and the second shared secret are zeroized.

0176At step 25, the blinded server authentication public key and the encrypted server data are sent to the client computer.

0177At step 26, the client computer validates that the blinded server authentication public key belongs to the correct EC domain.

0178At step 27, the client computer determines the second shared secret using a combination of the client authentication private key and the client blinding factor, and the blinded server authentication public key.

0179At step 28, the client computer determines the server session identifier using the blinded server computer public key.

0180At step 29, the client computer derives the server session key and the second client session key using the second shared secret, the server session identifier, and the client session identifier.

0181At step 30, the client computer zeroizes the second session key and the client blinding factor.

0182At step 31, the client computer decrypts (AEAD-1) the encrypted server data using the server session key to obtain the server blinding factor, the next server certificate chain, the server sensitive data, and the server pad.

0183At step 32, the client computer extracts the next server authentication public key from the next server certificate chain.

0184At step 33, the client computer validates that the next server certificate chain belongs to the correct elliptic curve domain.

0185At step 34, the client computer validates that the combination of the next server authentication public key and the server blinding factor equals the blinded server authentication public key.

0186At step 35, the client computer and sever computer can end communication or continue secure messaging using the second client session key and/or the server session key.

0187B. Methods Including Transfer of a Server Certificate

0188Another method for secure communication is described below. The method uses a client computer that may not be pre-loaded with a server computer certificate. The client computer may maintain data prior to the communication. For example, the client computer can maintain a client computer certificate chain (C_c) and a client authentication key pair including a client authentication public key (Q_c) and a corresponding client authentication private key (d_c).

0189The server computer may also maintain data prior to the communication. For example, the server computer can maintain a server computer certificate chain (C_s), including a server authentication public key (Q_s) and the server computer maintaining a corresponding server authentication private key (d_s). The server computer can also maintain server sensitive data (SD_s), which may include data usable by a client computer to authenticate the server computer.

0190At step 1, the client computer generates a client blinding factor (d_bc).

0191At step 2, the client computer combines the blinding factor with the client authentication public key to determine a blinded client authentication public key (Q_bc).

0192At step 3, the client computer determines a client session identifier (sID_c) using the blinded client authentication public key.

0193At step 4, the client computer sends the blinded client authentication public key to the server computer.

0194At step 5, the server computer ensures that the blinded client authentication public key belongs to the correct elliptic curve (EC) domain.

0195At step 6, the server computer generates a server blinding factor (d_bs).

0196At step 7, the server computer generates a shared secret (Z) using a combination of the server authentication private key and the server blinding factor, and the blinded client authentication public key.

0197At step 8, the server computer combines the server authentication public key and the server blinding factor to determine a blinded server authentication public key (Q_bs).

0198At step 9, the server computer determines a client session identifier (sID_c) using the blinded client authentication public key.

0199At step 10, the server computer determines a server session identifier (sID_s) using the blinded server authentication public key.

0200At step 11, the server computer generates a server session key and a client session key using the shared secret, the client session identifier, and the server session identifier.

0201At step 12, the server computer encrypts the server blinding factor, the server certificate chain, the server sensitive data, and a server pad (PAD_s) using the server session key to determine server encrypted data (enc_s).

0202At step 13, the server session key and the shared secret are zeroized.

0203At step 14, the blinded server authentication public key and the server encrypted data are sent to the client computer.

0204At step 15, the client computer validates that the blinded server authentication public key belongs to the correct EC domain.

0205At step 16, the client computer determines the shared secret using a combination of the client authentication private key and the client blinding factor, and the blinded server authentication public key.

0206At step 17, the client computer determines the server session identifier using the blinded server authentication public key.

0207At step 18, the client computer determines the server session key and the client session key using the shared secret, the server session identifier, and the client session identifier.

0208At step 19, the client computer zeroizes the shared secret and the client blinding factor.

0209At step 20, the client computer decrypts the server encrypted data using the server session key to obtain the server blinding factor, the server certificate chain, the server sensitive data, and the server pad.

0210At step 21, the client computer extracts the server authentication public key from the server certificate chain.

0211At step 22, the client computer validates that the server authentication public key belongs to the correct EC domain.

0212At step 23, the client computer verifies the server certificate chain.

0213At step 24, the client computer ensures that the combination of the server blinding factor and the server authentication public key is equal to the blinded server authentication public key received from the server computer.

0214At step 25, the server blinding factor is zeroized.

0215At step 26, if at step 24 the check is successful, the server computer is authenticated at the client computer.

0216At step 27, client encrypted data (enc_c) is generated by encrypting the client blinding factor, the client certificate chain, the client sensitive data, and a client pad (PAD_c) using the client session key.

0217At step 28, the client computer sends the client encrypted data to the server computer.

0218At step 29, the server computer decrypts the client encrypted data using the client session key to obtain the client blinding factor, the client certificate chain, the client sensitive data, and the client pad.

0219At step 30, the server computer extracts the client authentication public key from the client certificate chain and validates the client certificate chain.

0220At step 31, the server computer ensures that the combination of the client blinding factor and the client authentication public key matches the blinded client authentication public key received from the client computer. If they match, at step 33 the client computer is authenticated by the server computer.

0221At step 32, the client blinding factor is zeroized.

0222At step 34, the client computer and sever computer can end communication or continue secure messaging using the second client session key and/or the server session key.

0223The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Many variations of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention may, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead may be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents.

0224It should be understood that any of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in the form of control logic using hardware (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit or field programmable gate array) and/or using computer software with a generally programmable processor in a modular or integrated manner. As used herein, a processor includes a single-core processor, multi-core processor on a same integrated chip, or multiple processing units on a single circuit board or networked. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know and appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement embodiments of the present invention using hardware and a combination of hardware and software.

0225Any of the software components or functions described in this application may be implemented as software code to be executed by a processor using any suitable computer language such as, for example, Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, or scripting language such as Perl or Python using, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructions or commands on a computer readable medium for storage and/or transmission. A suitable non-transitory computer readable medium can include random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard-drive or a floppy disk, or an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or DVD (digital versatile disk), flash memory, and the like. The computer readable medium may be any combination of such storage or transmission devices.

0226Storage media and computer-readable media for containing code, or portions of code, can include any appropriate media known or used in the art, including storage media and communication media, such as but not limited to volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage and/or transmission of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data, including RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, data signals, data transmissions, or any other medium which can be used to store or transmit the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the various embodiments.

0227Such programs may also be encoded and transmitted using carrier signals adapted for transmission via wired, optical, and/or wireless networks conforming to a variety of protocols, including the Internet. As such, a computer readable medium according to an embodiment of the present invention may be created using a data signal encoded with such programs. Computer readable media encoded with the program code may be packaged with a compatible device or provided separately from other devices (e.g., via Internet download). Any such computer readable medium may reside on or within a single computer product (e.g. a hard drive, a CD, or an entire computer system), and may be present on or within different computer products within a system or network. A computer system may include a monitor, printer, or other suitable display for providing any of the results mentioned herein to a user.

0228Any of the methods described herein may be totally or partially performed with a computer system including one or more processors, which can be configured to perform the steps. Thus, embodiments can be directed to computer systems configured to perform the steps of any of the methods described herein, potentially with different components performing a respective steps or a respective group of steps. Although presented as numbered steps, steps of methods herein can be performed at a same time or in a different order. Additionally, portions of these steps may be used with portions of other steps from other methods. Also, all or portions of a step may be optional. Additionally, any of the steps of any of the methods can be performed with modules, units, circuits, or other means for performing these steps.

0229The specific details of particular embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the invention. However, other embodiments of the invention may be directed to specific embodiments relating to each individual aspect, or specific combinations of these individual aspects.

0230The above description of example embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above.

0231A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more” unless specifically indicated to the contrary. The use of “or” is intended to mean an “inclusive or,” and not an “exclusive or” unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

0232All patents, patent applications, publications, and descriptions mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. None is admitted to be prior art.