EntireX Security is the standard security solution provided with EntireX. It provides centralized security for EntireX Broker under z/OS, UNIX and Windows. EntireX Security operates with your organization's security repository. This document covers the following topics:
See also Which EntireX Security Solution?
EntireX Security secures distributed application components running with EntireX Broker. EntireX Security software is installed at specific points where communication between client and server application components is protected, using definitions located in the security repository of your organization: for example SAF-based security (RACF, CA ACF2 or CA Top Secret) under z/OS, and for UNIX and Windows either the local security system of the machine or an LDAP repository.
The basic functionality of EntireX Security covers
authentication of user
authorization of client and server, and Command and Information Services
See Functionality of EntireX Security.
EntireX Security provides comprehensive security for EntireX Broker:
user authentication
user authorization
supplied in object code only
The major advantages of EntireX Security:
Comprehensive Security
EntireX Security provides comprehensive security for EntireX Broker, that is user authentication and user authorization
Protection of Application Systems
EntireX Security protects client and server application systems.
No User Exits to Write/Debug
EntireX Security is fully supported (that is, object code only). There are no user exits to write and debug. In most installations
EntireX Security operates without altering runtime applications.
One User=One Definition
EntireX Security allows your organization to control the use of all applications, including distributed components, from a
central point, enabling flexible control with a "one user = one definition" approach.
Standard Security Definitions
EntireX Security enables security definitions, based on class/name/service (client and server), to be validated. All definitions
are managed using existing security procedures and software.
Protected Investment in SAF-based Security Repositories
On z/OS security definitions are accessed using industry standard SAF interface. Your investment in SAF-based security repositories
is therefore protected. This includes not only the security systems RACF, CA ACF2 and CA Top Secret, but also the infrastructure
to administer security profiles.
This section covers the following topics:
Authentication verifies whether the identity specified by the user
application is the actual identity. Authentication is performed for application
components executing on different platforms against the security repository
where the broker kernel resides. See EntireX Security: Standard Security Solution.
It is the responsibility
of the application to supply the ACI user ID and password on the first command.
See USER-ID and PASSWORD under Broker ACI Fields.
Note:
There is an uppercase translation when the USER-ID field is
propagated to the CLIENT-UID field under EntireX Security when the broker kernel is
running under z/OS.
Authorization determines whether client and server application
components are allowed to execute with EntireX Broker. The
class, server and service associated with the user's command form the basis for
the check. Separate authorization checks are performed, depending on the role
of the application as either client or server. The checks differentiate between
the client's SEND command and a server's REGISTER command. Therefore your
security administrator should allow only the level of access required for the
user to operate in the intended role. The authorization checks are performed on
the same platform as the broker kernel resides (see EntireX Security: Standard Security Solution)
regardless of location of
the individual application components.
This authorization functionality is available only with EntireX Broker running under z/OS. Under UNIX and Windows, limited functionality is available through authorization rules. See also Authorization Rules.
Authorization determines whether a user is permitted to issue commands
to the EntireX Broker Command and
Information Services. See Broker Command and Information Services.
The following resource definitions, derived
from the user's intended activities, form the basis for the check. The level of
authorization needed for accessing these services is identical to that of a
"client". These services are automatically started by broker kernel without
performing a check for REGISTER:
| Resource Definition | Using |
|---|---|
SAG.ETBCIS.CMD
|
ETBCMD |
SAG.ETBCIS.INFO
|
ETBINFO to retrieve general information. Specify INFO
for the full information service: all clients, servers and conversations are listed.
|
SAG.ETBCIS.SAGCCV5
|
For RPC CIS command services. |
SAG.ETBCIS.SAGCIV5
|
For RPC CIS information services. |
SAG.ETBCIS.SECURITY-CMD |
For security related requests: (1) reset user [ACEE]; (2) change security trace level. |
SAG.ETBCIS.USER-INFO |
ETBINFO to retrieve information specific to the
user issuing the command. USER-INFO is an information service limited to
user-specific information: only the user's own resources are listed.
|
In addition, a separate authorization check is made when a user attempts to perform third party actions affecting other users:
To shutdown a service, users must have the required authorization to register this class, server and service themselves.
To shutdown a server, users must have the required authorization to register all the services registered by that server.
This authorization is required in addition to the requesting user's
ability to use SAG.ETBCIS.CMD in general.
This authorization functionality is available only with EntireX Broker running under z/OS. Under UNIX and Windows, limited functionality is available through authorization rules. See also Authorization Rules.
The diagram shows the location of the security components of the kernel and stubs of EntireX Broker. Each step in the table below represents a specific step in the data flow sequence.This table describes the functionality of the security components of the kernel / stubs of broker: authorization and authentication.
Note:
This diagram depicts the operation of the broker stub for Natural and
other third-generation programming languages. It is not intended to show the mechanism used by the
Java ACI and EntireX Adapter with regard to EntireX Security. See Using Security with Java-based EntireX Applications under Writing Advanced Applications - EntireX Java ACI.
Broker stub calls security module SECUEXIT, if present.
Security module SECUEXIT encrypts the password.
Broker stub communicates the call to the broker kernel.
Broker kernel calls
security module USRSEC, which provides the functionality, based on
the EntireX Security Configuration Options for Broker:
re-authentication if a user acquires a new physical user ID
re-authentication if the value of a user's ACI security token changes.
All functionality is available on z/OS only.
Security module USRSEC references local security system
where the broker is located:
z/OS
Security module USRSEC calls SAF (RACF, CA ACF2 or CA Top Secret).
UNIX
Security module USRSEC calls the UNIX security system or LDAP.
Windows
Security module USRSEC calls the Windows security system or
LDAP.
The result of the security check is communicated back to
security module USRSEC.
Security module USRSEC passes call to Broker kernel.
Broker kernel communicates the call to Broker stub of the partner application.
The Broker stub calls
SECUEXIT.
Security module SECUEXIT returns call to Broker stub.
For installation see Installing/Setting up EntireX Security under z/OS | UNIX | Windows | BS2000.
See also EntireX Glossary.
Authentication verifies whether the identity specified by the user ID in the ACI control block is the actual identity. Authentication is performed by checking the user's ID and password against a security system, except where Trusted user ID automatically acquires the identity of the logged-on user or batch job, obviating the requirement for a password in the ACI control block. See Trusted User ID. Trusted user ID is applicable only where the application component and the broker kernel reside under z/OS.
Authentication is not performed with every call. It is performed when a user is first presented to the kernel of EntireX Broker. The broker kernel recognizes the identity of the user on subsequent occasions by combination of user ID and physical user ID (or user ID and token where supplied). Broker kernel also verifies the correctness of the ACI security token on all subsequent commands and, if this is not as expected, the application must provide the correct user ID and password again (unless configured otherwise).
An application identifying itself by combination of user ID and token can change its physical user ID without needing to provide the user ID and password again provided it maintains the value of ACI security token in the broker control block. This functionality is recommended for multithreading applications or applications executing within a Web server. Caution should be exercised to ensure the user ID and token combination is unique.
Authorization is performed when:
a client issues a
request to a service in the case of the first SEND command in a conversation,
or of each SEND command if CONV-ID=NONE
a server registers a service to the broker
an application connects to broker through TCP/IP, an optional authorization check is performed based on the address
Full authorization functionality is available only under z/OS.
It is the location of the broker kernel that determines the point at which the authentication and authorization checks are performed. Authentication and Authorization are performed in the kernel.
See List of Components per Platform for where EntireX Broker kernel is supported.
In EntireX Broker, a module that implements the ACI (Advanced Communication Interface) is commonly referred to as "broker stub" or simply "stub". Stubs are installed on the client side or server side.
See List of Components per Platform for where broker stubs are supported.