Password Change/Reset in Windows Desktop Login

Beginning with version 2.79.0, Windows Desktop Login (WDL) detects when the user changes their password and automatically re-caches the BI credentials without needing the user to unlock or re-login while offline. Previously, login credentials were automatically re-cached whenever the user logins or locks and unlocks via WDL.

The details of the new solution are:

• Local Account: If the user changes their password and their account is a local only account, Windows produces an Event Log message specifying that the password changed. Specifically, Windows trigger event #4723 if the user changes their own password, and #4724 if an Admin changes another user’s password. WDL listens for both of these password change events and re-caches the WDL credentials whenever it receives either event.
• Domain or hybrid Azure AD/Domain: In a domain or a hybrid Azure AD/Domain environment, the domain controller receives the password changed event(s) instead of the client. However, event #4693 indicates that the DPAPI master key was recovered. This event is triggered on the client at least once whenever the user changes their password on a domain. WDL listens for this event and re-caches the WDL credentials whenever it receives it. Additionally, event #4693 is not enabled by default, so you’ll need to enable domain clients to receive this message.

  Apply the following settings for the Group Policy under the OU for your Beyond Identity users/clients.

  1. On the Domain Controller, open the Group Policy Editor.
  2. Edit the Default Group Policy or the applicable OU policy. Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Advanced Audit Policy Configuration > System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object > Detailed Tracking.

     

  3. Open the Audit DPAPI Activity properties, select the Success and Failure options, and click OK to save the configuration.
  4. Close the Group Policy Editor and ensure that the new Group Policy is pushed out to all the clients.
• Azure AD Only: Currently, WDL cannot detect that a user changed their password in an Azure AD Only environment. So, in an Azure AD Only environment the user must login again or lock/unlock while still online.

Overview

Microsoft's Data Protection API (DPAPI) provides services to safely encrypt and decrypt data using the current user account. Microsoft Windows uses this mechanism throughout. Beyond Identity WDL uses DPAPI to protect various pieces of user's data, including the credential that is used to verify a login via Beyond Identity. Under the covers, DPAPI utilizes the user's password as part of the encryption process when protecting data. This is how DPAPI can ensure that only the currently logged-in user can access any data protected with DPAPI.

WDL uses a virtual smart card to allow users to log in using their Beyond Identity credentials. Virtual smart cards emulate the functionality of physical smart cards, but they use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip available on devices. Virtual smart cards don't require a separate physical smart card and reader. Instead, you create virtual smart cards in the TPM, where the keys used for authentication are stored in cryptographically-secured hardware.

When a user is a member of a domain or a hybrid Azure AD/domain environment, they still need to be able to login if they are:

1. offline, or
2. if they are not connected to a VPN that gives them access to the domain

Windows solves this problem by caching the user's login credentials using DPAPI. So, when the user is offline and enters their correct password during login, Windows can decrypt the cached credential and verify the user even though they are offline or can't reach the domain. WDL uses an identical caching mechanism to ensure the user can log in using Beyond Identity offline.

Windows has a limited number of slots that are used for caching the number of previous login credentials. However, since WDL uses a virtual smart card, its cached credential uses a different slot than the normal password.

Issue

One complication of this mechanism is that the cached credentials must be re-cached whenever the user changes their password. Windows ensures that the login credentials are re-cached whenever the user changes their password but makes no assurances for additional authentication methods like the virtual smart card that WDL uses. As such, WDL must re-cache the smart card login credential to ensure that offline access via WDL will continue to work whenever the user changes their password.