Time-based one-time password

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Time-based one-time password (TOTP) is a computer algorithm that generates a one-time password (OTP) using the current time as a source of uniqueness. As an extension of the HMAC-based one-time password algorithm (HOTP), it has been adopted as Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard RFC   6238. [1]

Contents

TOTP is the cornerstone of Initiative for Open Authentication (OATH), and is used in a number of two-factor authentication [1] (2FA) systems.

History

Through the collaboration of several OATH members, a TOTP draft was developed in order to create an industry-backed standard. It complements the event-based one-time standard HOTP, and it offers end user organizations and enterprises more choice in selecting technologies that best fit their application requirements and security guidelines. In 2008, OATH submitted a draft version of the specification to the IETF. This version incorporates all the feedback and commentary that the authors received from the technical community based on the prior versions submitted to the IETF. [2] In May 2011, TOTP officially became RFC 6238. [1]

Algorithm

To establish TOTP authentication, the authenticatee and authenticator must pre-establish both the HOTP parameters and the following TOTP parameters:

Both the authenticator and the authenticatee compute the TOTP value, then the authenticator checks whether the TOTP value supplied by the authenticatee matches the locally generated TOTP value. Some authenticators allow values that should have been generated before or after the current time in order to account for slight clock skews, network latency and user delays.

TOTP uses the HOTP algorithm, replacing the counter with a non-decreasing value based on the current time:

    TOTP value(K) = HOTP value(K, CT),

calculating counter value

where

Unix time is not strictly increasing. When a leap second is inserted into UTC, Unix time repeats one second. But a single leap second does not cause the integer part of Unix time to decrease, and CT is non-decreasing as well so long as TX is a multiple of one second.[ original research? ]

Security

Unlike passwords, TOTP codes are single-use, so a compromised credential is only valid for a limited time. However, users must enter TOTP codes into an authentication page, which creates the potential for phishing attacks. Due to the short window in which TOTP codes are valid, attackers must proxy the credentials in real time. [3]

TOTP credentials are also based on a shared secret known to both the client and the server, creating multiple locations from which a secret can be stolen. [4] An attacker with access to this shared secret could generate new, valid TOTP codes at will. This can be a particular problem if the attacker breaches a large authentication database. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossary of cryptographic keys</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">One-time password</span> Password that can only be used once

A one-time password (OTP), also known as a one-time PIN, one-time authorization code (OTAC) or dynamic password, is a password that is valid for only one login session or transaction, on a computer system or other digital device. OTPs avoid several shortcomings that are associated with traditional (static) password-based authentication; a number of implementations also incorporate two-factor authentication by ensuring that the one-time password requires access to something a person has as well as something a person knows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digest access authentication</span> Method of negotiating credentials between web server and browser

Digest access authentication is one of the agreed-upon methods a web server can use to negotiate credentials, such as username or password, with a user's web browser. This can be used to confirm the identity of a user before sending sensitive information, such as online banking transaction history. It applies a hash function to the username and password before sending them over the network. In contrast, basic access authentication uses the easily reversible Base64 encoding instead of hashing, making it non-secure unless used in conjunction with TLS.

HMAC-based one-time password (HOTP) is a one-time password (OTP) algorithm based on HMAC. It is a cornerstone of the Initiative for Open Authentication (OATH).

OTPW is a one-time password system developed for authentication in Unix-like operating systems by Markus Kuhn. A user's real password is not directly transmitted across the network. Rather, a series of one-time passwords is created from a short set of characters and a set of one-time tokens. As each single-use password can only be used once, passwords intercepted by a password sniffer or key logger are not useful to an attacker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Authenticator</span> Two-step verification app

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LinOTP is Linux-based software to manage authentication devices for two-factor authentication with one time passwords. It is implemented as a web service based on the python framework Pylons. Thus it requires a web server to run in.

multiOTP Authentication system

multiOTP is an open source PHP class, a command line tool, and a web interface that can be used to provide an operating-system-independent, strong authentication system. multiOTP is OATH-certified since version 4.1.0 and is developed under the LGPL license. Starting with version 4.3.2.5, multiOTP open source is also available as a virtual appliance—as a standard OVA file, a customized OVA file with open-vm-tools, and also as a virtual machine downloadable file that can run on Microsoft's Hyper-V, a common native hypervisor in Windows computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YubiKey</span> Hardware authentication device

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Nitrokey is an open-source USB key used to enable the secure encryption and signing of data. The secret keys are always stored inside the Nitrokey which protects against malware and attackers. A user-chosen PIN and a tamper-proof smart card protect the Nitrokey in case of loss and theft. The hardware and software of Nitrokey are open-source. The free software and open hardware enables independent parties to verify the security of the device. Nitrokey is supported on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD.

The following is a general comparison of OTP applications that are used to generate one-time passwords for two-factor authentication (2FA) systems using the time-based one-time password (TOTP) or the HMAC-based one-time password (HOTP) algorithms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OnlyKey</span> Hardware security token

OnlyKey is a multi-function hardware security key combining features of a password manager, two-factor authentication (2FA) token, file encryption token, and secure storage device. The device incorporates hardware storage for password and username combinations, also acting as a portable password manager.

References

  1. 1 2 3 m'Raihi, David; Rydell, Johan; Pei, Mingliang; Machani, Salah (May 2011). "RFC 6238 – TOTP: Time-Based One-Time Password Algorithm". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ Alexander, Madison. "OATH Submits TOTP: Time-Based One Time Password Specification to IETF". Open Authentication. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. ↑ Umawing, Jovi (21 January 2019). "Has two-factor authentication been defeated? A spotlight on 2FA's latest challenge". Malwarebytes Labs. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Time-Based One-Time Passwords (TOTP)". www.transmitsecurity.com. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Zetter, Kim. "RSA Agrees to Replace Security Tokens After Admitting Compromise". WIRED. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
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