PingFederate Server

Configuring back-channel authentication for inbound messages

You can add and edit configuration settings for back-channel authentication for inbound messages.

Steps

On the Back-Channel Authentication tab, in the Received from your partner section, click Configure.

+ On the Inbound Authentication Type tab, choose one or more authentication methods.

HTTP Basic

When selected, the administrative console prompts you to enter the credentials on the Basic SOAP Authentication (Inbound) tab.

If you are configuring more than one connection that uses the artifact or HTTP profile, you must ensure that the username is unique for each connection. You must communicate these credentials to your partner out-of-band.
SSL Client Certificate

When selected, the administrative console prompts you to specify the trust model and the related certificate settings on subsequent windows. See the next step.

Digital Signature (Browser SSO profile only)

You select a signing certificate on the Signature Verification Settings tab.This option leverages on the digital signature of the message.

Require SSL

When selected, incoming HTTP transmissions must use a secure channel. This option is selected by default.You can clear the check box if you do not require a secure channel and client certificate authentication.

For SAML 2.0, use these options in any combination or independently. For SAML 1.x, you must enable HTTP Basic authentication, client certificate authentication, or both. You can also add digital signing to ensure message integrity.

+ If you chose SSL Client Certificate in the previous step, select a trust model on the Certificate Verification Method tab.

Anchored

The partner certificate must be signed by a trusted certificate authority (CA). Optionally, you can also restrict the issuer to a specific Trusted CA to mitigate potential man-in-the-middle attacks and to provide a means to isolate certificates used by different connections. The CA’s certificate must be imported into the PingFederate Trusted CA store on the Trusted CAswindow..

Unanchored

The partner certificate is self-signed or you want to trust a specified certificate.

When anchored certificates are used between partners, certificates can be changed without sending the update to your partner. If the certificate is unanchored, any changes must be promulgated.

For more information, see Digital signing policy coordination.
Trust model Subsequent steps

Anchored

On the Subject DN tab:

  1. Enter the Subject DN of the certificate.

  2. Optionally, select the Restrict Issuer check box and enter the Issuer DN of the certificate.

    Consider enabling this option to mitigate potential man-in-the-middle attacks and to provide a means to isolate certificates used by different connections.

Unanchored

On the SSL Verification Certificate tab, select the client certification from your partner.

If you have not yet imported the client certificate from your partner, click Manage Certificates to do so. For more information, see Managing certificates from partners.

  1. On the Summary tab, review your configuration and perform one of the following tasks:

    Choose from:

    • Amend your configuration by clicking the corresponding tab title, then follow the configuration wizard to complete the task.

    • Keep your changes by clicking Done and continue with the rest of the configuration.

      When editing an existing configuration, you can also click Save as soon as the administrative console offers the opportunity to do so.

    • Discard your changes by clicking Cancel.