An OAuth service for issuing certificates to science gateways for TeraGrid users

Abstract

In this paper, we present a TeraGrid OAuth service, integrated with the TeraGrid User Portal and TeraGrid MyProxy service, that provides certificates to science gateways. The OAuth service eliminates the need for TeraGrid users to disclose their TeraGrid passwords to science gateways when accessing their individual TeraGrid accounts via gateway interfaces. Instead, TeraGrid users authenticate at the TeraGrid User Portal to approve issuance of a certificate by MyProxy to the science gateway they are using. We present the design and implementation of the TeraGrid OAuth service, describe the underlying network protocol, and discuss design decisions and security considerations we made while developing the service in consultation with TeraGrid working groups and staff.