Two-factor OATH authentication with Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator generates verification code as a dynamic component to a static password to increase account security.

Fudo Enterprise allows configuring default settings for the OATH authentication so they are automatically added to the user definition, when administrator selects OATH as an active authentication method.

Note

When configuring two-factor OATH authentication in Fudo Enterprise you can also consider using alternative applications such as Microsoft Authenticator.

Protocols Supporting OATH Authentication Method

When logging in, OATH authentication can be performed either in Challenge-Response mode or by concatenating the dynamic code generated by Google Authenticator to the end of the static password defined in the authentication method, such as password481418. Please note that not all protocols support this authentication method.

OATH Availability Across Protocols
Platform or Protocol Challenge-Response Mode Password + Dynamic Code
Logging into Access Gateway available available
Logging into Admin Panel available available
VNC available available
SSH available available
RDP available available
Telnet 3270 not available available
Telnet 5250 not available available
Telnet not available available
MS SQL(TDS) not available not available
HTTP/S not available not available
TCP not available not available
MySQL not available not available
X11 not available not available
Modbus not available not available

Configuring the OATH Authentication Method

In order to configure default settings for the OATH authentication method, follow the instruction:

  1. Select Settings > Authentication > Global tab.
  2. Go to OATH section and select token type: TOTP (time-base) or HOTP (counter-base).
  3. Fill out the Issuer field.
  4. Fill out the Token length field.
  5. Input Time step if selected Token type was TOTP (time-base).
  6. Click Save next to the OATH section name.
../../_images/5-5-oath-auth-settings.png

In order to configure OATH as an active authentication method for a user, follow the steps:

  1. Select Management > Users.
  2. Find and click the user for whom you want to add the OATH authentication method.
  3. Scroll down to the Authentication section.
  4. Choose OATH type from the Add authentication method drop-down list.
  5. Choose the Static password or External authentication as a first factor.

If Password is chosen:

  • Enter password’s static part.
  • Fields Token type, Token length and Time step will be filled out automatically as default settings claim. Their value is editable.
  • Enter a secret that will be used by Google Authenticator. Note, that the secret must be a Base32 encoded value. Alternatively, click Generate to generate it automatically or QRCode to show the QR code.

If External authentication is chosen:

  • Select External authentication source.
  • Fields Token type, Token length and Time step will be filled out automatically as default settings claim. Their value is editable.
  • Enter a secret that will be used by Google Authenticator. Note, that the secret must be a Base32 encoded value. Alternatively, click Generate to generate it automatically or QRCode to show the QR code.

Note

The Initialized option serves for the user’s initialization via the QR code. When their static password as a First factor setting is filled or External authentication source if configured, the QR code is displayed during their first connection. After successful first authentication the Initialized option becomes checked and takes uneditable state.

  1. Click Save.
  2. Launch Google Authenticator and add new service.
Manual entry QR Code
  • Select Enter a provided key.
../../_images/google_authenticator_add_account.png
  • Enter account name.
../../_images/google_authenticator_account_name.png
  • Enter the secret defined in OATH authentication method.

Note

Click . on the user edit form in the Authentication section to reveal the secret.

../../_images/google_authenticator_account_secret.png
  • Select Counter based.
../../_images/google_authenticator_account_type.png
  • Select ADD.
../../_images/google_authenticator_account_add.png
  • Click . on the user configuration form, next to the Secret field in the Authentication section.
  • Select Scan a barcode in Google Authenticator.
../../_images/google_authenticator_add_account_scan_qr.png
  1. When logging in, the password string consists of a static password defined in the authentication method and dynamic part generated by the Google Authenticator, e.g. password481418.
../../_images/google_authenticator_token.png

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