Abstract: A distributed system in which time-dependent credentials are supplied by controllers that operate according to different local times. Errors that might arise from the controllers generating inconsistent credentials because of time skew are avoided by identifying credentials generated during transition intervals in which different ones of the controllers may generate different credentials at the same absolute time. During a transition interval, controllers and other devices may use credentials differentially based on the nature of the authentication function. Each controller may periodically renew its credentials based on self-scheduled renewals or based on requests from other devices, such that renewal times are offset by random delays to avoid excessive network traffic. Controllers may determine which credential is valid for any given time, based on a cryptographically secure key associated with that time and information identifying the entity that is associated with that credential.

Abstract: A distributed system in which time-dependent credentials are supplied by controllers that operate according to different local times. Errors that might arise from the controllers generating inconsistent credentials because of time skew are avoided by identifying credentials generated during transition intervals in which different ones of the controllers may generate different credentials at the same absolute time. During a transition interval, controllers and other devices may use credentials differentially based on the nature of the authentication function. Each controller may periodically renew its credentials based on self-scheduled renewals or based on requests from other devices, such that renewal times are offset by random delays to avoid excessive network traffic. Controllers may determine which credential is valid for any given time, based on a cryptographically secure key associated with that time and information identifying the entity that is associated with that credential.

Abstract: Translation of role-based authoring models for managing RBAC “roles” to resource authorization policy (RAP), such as ACL-based applications, is provided. A generic RBAC system is defined from which mappings to other authorization enforcement mechanism make possible the translation of RBAC “roles” to resource authorization policies applied to resources managed by a resource manager, e.g., a file system resource manager. An implementation is described that uses Windows Authorization Manager as a storage mechanism and object model to manage object types and relationships translated from an RBAC system.

Abstract: A distributed security system is provided. The distributed security system uses a security policy that is written in a policy language that is transport and security protocol independent as well as independent of cryptographic technologies. This security policy can be expressed using the language to create different security components allowing for greater scalability and flexibility. By abstracting underlying protocols and technologies, multiple environments and platforms can be supported.

Abstract: A client system and a server system use a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) authentication mode preference header to negotiate an HTTP authentication mode. The client system sends an HTTP request to the server system. In response to the HTTP request, the server system sends an HTTP response to the client system. The HTTP response includes an HTTP authentication mode preference header. The HTTP authentication mode preference header indicates whether a preferred HTTP authentication mode is connection-based HTTP authentication or request-based HTTP authentication. In subsequent HTTP requests to the server system, the client system uses the HTTP authentication mode indicated by the HTTP authentication mode preference header.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to a computer provides for loose security within a local network while retaining strong security against external access to the network. In one embodiment, a user has access to trusted nodes in a secured group within an unmanaged network, without being required to choose, enter and remember a login password. To establish such a secure blank password or one-click logon account for the user on a computer, a strong random password is generated and stored, and the account is designated as a blank password account. If the device is part of a secured network group, the strong random password is replicated to the other trusted nodes. When a user with a blank password account wishes to log in to a computer, the stored strong random password is retrieved and the user is authenticated.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for licensing protected content to application sets. Embodiments of the invention permit a local machine to increase its participation in authorizing access to protected content. For example, an operating system within an appropriate computing environment is permitted to determine if an application is authorized to access protected content. Thus, the application is relieved from having to store a publishing license. Further, authorization decisions are partially distributed, easing the resource burden on a protection server. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can facilitate more robust and efficient authorization decisions when access to protected content is requested.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to providing file access in a multi-protocol environment. In aspects, a file server is operable to receive requests formatted according to two or more file access protocols. If a request is formatted according to a first file access protocol, the file server applies access rights associated with the file to an account associated with a requester to determine whether to grant access. If the request is formatted according to the second file access protocol, the file server may first attempt to find an account for the requester. If an account is not found, the file server may then grant access based on access rights associated with the file as applied to information in the request without consulting an account on the file server.

Abstract: A client can communicate with a middle tier, which can then, in turn, communicate with a back end tier to access information and resources on behalf of the client within the context of a system that can scale well. Each individual back end can establish a policy that defines which computing device can delegate to that back end. That policy can be enforced by a domain controller within the same administrative domain as the particular back end. When a middle tier requests to delegate to a back end, the domain controller to which that request was directed can either apply the policy, or, if the domain controller is in a different domain than the targeted back end, it can direct the middle tier to a domain controller in a different domain and can sign relevant information that the middle tier can utilize when communicating with that different domain controller.

Abstract: A file system is configured for use with files protected by digital rights management (DRM) content controls and to interact both with applications that are, and are not, DRM aware. The file system may be configured for use by two applications, in a manner that may provide the second application with protected files if the first application was previously allowed access. In one example, a user context cache of DRM-protected files is created. The files in the cache may have been decrypted in response to a request(s) from the first application. Subsequent requests from the second application may be received for files within the user context cache of DRM-protected files. At least one of the files within the user context cache of DRM-protected files may be provided to the second application if the second application has a joint user context with the first application.

Abstract: An exemplary group ticket for a Kerberos protocol includes a service ticket encrypted with a dynamic group key and a plurality of enveloped pairs where each pair includes a name associated with a member of a group and an encrypted the dynamic group key for decryption by a key possessed by the member of the group where decryption of an encrypted dynamic group key allows for decryption of the service ticket. Other exemplary methods, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: File system interaction with digital rights management (DRM) is facilitated by enabling one or more file system components to be DRM-aware. These one or more file system components may be part of a computer operating system. An exemplary system implementation includes: one or more processors; and one or more media in operative communication therewith, the media storing one or more file system components that are configured to provide content having DRM controls to a requesting program in either a raw form or a decrypted form in dependence on whether the DRM controls comprise simple DRM content controls or complex DRM content controls. In another exemplary system implementation, the one or more file system components are configured to provide files with simple DRM content controls to requesting applications in a decrypted form and to provide files with complex DRM content controls to requesting applications in an unaltered form.

Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to a domain identification system, comprising a principal that has a key and a mnemonically meaningless identifier, the mnemonically meaningless identifier is used to identify the component in a networked environment. The mnemonically meaningless identifier can be bound to the public key by a binding. The component may be part of a neighborhood of components, and each member component knows the members' binding.

Abstract: A scope hierarchy corresponding to a resource to which a type of access is requested is identified, the scope hierarchy including multiple scope levels each of which has an associated access control list. An access control list associated with a lower scope level can further restrict access permitted to the resource by an access control list associated with a higher scope level. Based at least in part on one or more of the access control lists associated with the multiple scope levels, a determination is made as to whether the requested type of access to the resource is permitted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate security for data items residing within (or associated with) a hierarchical database or storage structure. A database security system is provided having a hierarchical data structure associated with one or more data items. The system includes a security component that applies a security policy to the data items from a global location or region associated with a database. Various components and processes are employed to enable explicit and/or inherited security properties to be received by and propagated to the data items depending on the type of data structure encountered or processed.

Abstract: Computer-executable instructions that are directed to the performance of consequential actions and automatically elevate to execute at a higher privilege level to do so can perform such consequential actions only after user notification. Doing so can enable monitoring processes to avoid presenting duplicative user notification upon detection of such auto-elevation. In addition, prior to presenting user notification, input from the execution environment can be ignored and access to DLLs for performing consequential actions can be avoided. A static analyzer can identify non-conforming computer-executable instructions. A wrapper can be utilized to provide compliance by otherwise unknown or non-conforming computer-executable instructions.

Abstract: A credential security support provider (Cred SSP) is provided that enables any application to securely delegate a user's credentials from the client, via client side Security Support Provider (SSP) software, to a target server, via server side SSP software in a networked computing environment. The Cred SSP of the invention provides a secure solution that is based in part upon a set of policies, including a default policy that is secure against a broad range of attacks, which are used to control and restrict the delegation of user credentials from a client to a server. The policies can be for any type of user credentials and the different policies are designed to mitigate a broad range of attacks so that appropriate delegation can occur for given delegation circumstances, network conditions, trust levels, etc. Additionally, only a trusted subsystem, e.g.

Abstract: Improved intrusion detection and/or tracking methods and systems are provided for use across various computing devices and networks. Certain methods, for example, form a substantially unique audit identifier during each authentication/logon process. One method includes identifying one or more substantially unique parameters that are associated with the authentication/logon process and encrypting them to form at least one audit identifier that can then be generated and logged by each device involved in the authentication/logon process. The resulting audit log file can then be audited along with similar audit log files from other devices to track a user across multiple platforms.

Abstract: Abstracting access control policy from access check mechanisms allows for richer expression of policy, using a declarative model with semantics, than what is permitted by the access check mechanisms. Further, abstracting access control policy allows for uniform expression of policy across multiple access check mechanisms. Proof-like reasons for any access query are provided, such as who has access to what resource, built from the policy statements themselves, independent of the access check mechanism that provide access. Access is audited and policy-based reasons for access are provided based on the access control policy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that control attempts made by an application to access data. In one embodiment, the application is associated with a security token that includes an application ID. In operation, the system receives a request, initiated by the application, for access to the data. The system is configured to evaluate the request for access based in part on comparison of the security token and a listing of approved application IDs associated with the data.