Cryptographic key distribution and authentication protocols for secure group communication

Abstract

Authentication protocols have until now focussed on two or three party interaction and neglected n party interactions as in the case of more general group communication. In this discourse, the semantics of group authentication are addressed and a separation into complete and selective group authentication techniques is proposed.

gGSS—API: a group enhanced generic security service

“…An overview of such protocols is given in (Hutchison and Bauknecht, 1996). In particular, these protocols for secure group authentication and key distribution can be distinguished by complete or selective interaction amongst group members and can also be implemented using either public/private key pairs, if these are available, or a trusted third party~ in the form of an authentication server.…”

“…While mechanism independence is achieved, specific mechanisms (Hutchison and Bauknecht, 1996) can be used to achieve secure group contexts in the case where a shared group cryptographic key is established.…”