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peap network

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PEAP, or Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol, is a protocol used in wireless networking and Point-to-Point (PPP) connections. It is primarily employed for securing the authentication phase of the connection. PEAP operates at the link layer of the OSI model, and it is commonly used in conjunction with IEEE 802.1X, a standard for port-based network access control.

Here's a technical breakdown of how PEAP works:

  1. Initiation of the PEAP Session:
    • PEAP begins with the client initiating a connection request to the access point (AP) or the authentication server.
    • The AP responds by requesting an identity from the client. This identity is often a username or a unique identifier associated with the user.
  2. Server Authentication:
    • After receiving the identity, the authentication server responds with its digital certificate. This certificate is used to verify the authenticity of the server.
    • The client verifies the server's certificate by checking its digital signature and ensuring it is signed by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).
    • This step helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by ensuring that the client is connecting to a legitimate server.
  3. Creation of the Secure Tunnel:
    • Once the server is authenticated, PEAP establishes a secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) tunnel between the client and the server.
    • The TLS tunnel ensures that the subsequent authentication process and user data exchange are encrypted and secure.
  4. Inner Authentication Protocol:
    • Within the secured tunnel, an inner authentication protocol is used for actual user authentication. This inner protocol can vary and is negotiated during the TLS handshake. Common inner protocols include EAP-MSCHAPv2 or EAP-GTC.
    • EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) is a framework that allows various authentication protocols to be used within the PEAP-secured tunnel.
  5. User Authentication:
    • The client sends its credentials (such as a username and password) securely within the TLS-protected tunnel.
    • The authentication server validates the user credentials using the specified inner authentication protocol.
  6. Session Establishment:
    • If the user authentication is successful, a secure session is established between the client and the server.
    • This session can be used for subsequent data exchange, and the user is granted access to the network.

PEAP provides a method for securing the authentication process in wireless and wired networks. It leverages TLS to create a secure tunnel, protecting user credentials from eavesdropping and ensuring the legitimacy of the authentication server. The use of inner authentication protocols allows for flexibility in supporting various authentication methods.