Policy Server Guides › Policy Server Configuration Guide › Authentication Schemes › X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms Authentication Schemes

X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms Authentication Schemes

The X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms authentication scheme combines HTML Forms authentication and X.509 Client Certificate authentication. This authentication scheme provides an extra layer of security for critical resources. In order for a user to authenticate successfully, the following two events must occur:

• The user’s X.509 client certificate must be verified.

  AND

• The user must provide the credentials requested by an HTML form.

For X.509 Client Certificate authentication, SiteMinder processes authentication using the following steps:

1. The Policy Server instructs the SiteMinder Web Agent to redirect the user to an FCC on an SSL-enabled web server.
2. The Web Agent presents the form.
3. The FCC passes the certificate and form back to the Policy Server.
4. The Policy Server verifies that the user in the certificate mapping exists.
5. The Policy Server verifies the user’s HTML form credentials.
6. SiteMinder verifies that the certificate credentials and the HTML Forms credentials represent the same user.

More information:

HTML Forms Authentication Schemes

X.509 Client Certificate Authentication Schemes

X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms Scheme Prerequisites

Ensure the following prerequisites are met before configuring a X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms authentication scheme:

• An X.509 Server Certificate is installed on the SSL Web server.

  Note: If the Policy Server is operating in FIPs mode, ensure the certificate was generated using only FIPS-approved algorithms.

• The network supports an SSL connection to the client browser (HTTPS protocol).
• X.509 client certificates are installed on client browsers.
• Trust is established between client certificates and server certificates.
• The certificate is issued by a valid and trusted Certification Authority (CA).
• The issuing CA’s public key validates the issuer’s digital signature.
• Client and server certificates have not expired.
• The user’s public key validates the user’s digital signature.
• Form credentials information exists in a user directory.
• A directory connection exists between the Policy Server and the user directory.
• (Sun Java Systems) If you are using a Sun Java Systems web server, increase the value of the StackSize parameter in the magnus.conf file to a value greater than 131072. Failing to change the value causes the web server to dump its core and restart each time SiteMinder makes an authentication request using forms.

Note: For Apache Web servers where Certificates are required or optional, the SSL Verify Depth 10 line in the httpd.conf file must be uncommented.

The certificate and forms data are collected and passed to the Policy Server together.

More information:

User Directories

Agent API Support

The X.509 Client Certificate and HTML Forms uses the Sm_AuthApi_Cred_SSLRequired and the Sm_AuthApi_Cred_FormRequired bits.