Mailing List Archive

RE: [EXTERNAL] [users@httpd] Feasible to use both password TLS cert access on same directory?
Hi Tom

The TLS Client cert verifies that the client device has use of the private key corresponding the client cert. When verified you have mutual authentication between the client device and the server device.

User name / password authenticates that hopefully a human knows the credentials.

These two techniques can be used separately or together.

Whenever, User name / password is used a TLS server connection is needed to protect the credentials in transit.

When both password and client cert are used it could be called two factor authentication.

Any of the above combinations are supported by httpd.

John Orendt
John.p.orendt@medtronic.com

From: Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 3, 2021 3:46 PM
To: users@httpd.apache.org
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [users@httpd] Feasible to use both password TLS cert access on same directory?

I have a website that has been using private website user TLS certs successfully for over 10 years.

Now I am investigating providing user name and password access to it as well. (I have that implemented on another site and it has worked satisfactorily for a couple of years.)

My question is: can I provide both access methods to the same directory?

I know it would be not as secure as a TLS cert and it would reduce the overall security of the directory, but is it feasible?

Thanks.

-Tom
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Re: RE: [EXTERNAL] [users@httpd] Feasible to use both password TLS cert access on same directory? [ In reply to ]
On Fri, Sep 3, 2021 at 16:21 Orendt, John
<john.p.orendt@medtronic.com.invalid> wrote:

> Hi Tom
>
...
>
These two techniques can be used separately or together.
>
When both password and client cert are used it could be called two factor
> authentication.
>
> Any of the above combinations are supported by httpd.
>
Thanks, John. But can I allow EITHER method to be used to access the SAME
directory? Do I have to provide a different path to the same landing point?
I definitely do NOT want two-factor authentication.

Answering my own question, I think the easy way out is to duplicate the TLS
cert "directory" into, say, "directory2" and provide password access to it.
That way the user with a cert selects one menu item ('Cert acccess') and
the user with only a password selects 'Password access'.

But if anyone can show the Apache code for doing that without the
duplication of the cert-protected directory that would be great.

Thanks again, John.

-Tom
Re: RE: [EXTERNAL] [users@httpd] Feasible to use both password TLS cert access on same directory? [ In reply to ]
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe what you're looking for is
basically in the FAQ:
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/ssl/ssl_howto.html#intranet

That's a slightly more complex idea, however it looks to me like the
combination of settings is there to be played with.

-Rob
Re: RE: [EXTERNAL] [users@httpd] Feasible to use both password TLS cert access on same directory? [ In reply to ]
On Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 08:44 Rob <rob-apache@mintsoft.net.invalid> wrote:

> Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe what you're looking for is basically
> in the FAQ:
> http://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/ssl/ssl_howto.html#intranet
>
Thanks, Ron. I agree think seems to have the right settings combination if
I back out the intranet stuff.

I'll try it and see what happens.

-Tom