EAP-FAST

What is Expansion of EAP-FAST?

EAP-FAST stands for Extensible Authentication Protocol - Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling.

What is EAP-FAST?

EAP-FAST is an authentication protocol used in wireless networks to provide secure authentication. It is an extension of EAP that allows for secure, fast, and flexible authentication using a secure tunnel, without requiring the use of certificates.

Why is EAP-FAST useful?

  • Faster Authentication: EAP-FAST is designed to speed up the authentication process compared to traditional EAP methods.

  • Certificate-Free: Unlike EAP-TLS, EAP-FAST does not require server certificates, reducing the complexity of certificate management.

  • Security: It provides secure authentication using a tunnel that protects against attacks, such as man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

  • Flexibility: EAP-FAST can be used in environments where server certificates may be difficult to manage or impractical.

How it works?

  • Initial Authentication: EAP-FAST starts by authenticating the client and the server to establish a secure tunnel.

  • Secure Tunnel Creation: Once the server is authenticated, the client and server establish a secure tunnel using protected keying material.

  • Authentication Process: The client then sends authentication information, which is securely transmitted within the tunnel.

  • Completion: The server verifies the client’s credentials and allows or denies access accordingly.

Where is EAP-FAST used?

  • Enterprise Networks: EAP-FAST is primarily used in enterprise environments, especially for wireless network authentication.

  • Wi-Fi Security: It is widely used for securing Wi-Fi networks, providing fast and secure user authentication.

  • RADIUS Servers: EAP-FAST can be configured to work with RADIUS servers for managing network access.

Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?

  • EAP-FAST operates at the Application Layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model.

  • It uses a secure tunneling mechanism to protect authentication data while interacting with the network at higher layers.

IS EAP-FAST windows specific?

  • No, EAP-FAST is not Windows-specific.

  • It is supported on various platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices.

IS EAP-FAST Linux Specific?

  • No, EAP-FAST is not Linux-specific.

  • It can be configured on any platform that supports EAP methods and RADIUS servers.

Which Transport Protocol is used by EAP-FAST?

  • EAP-FAST uses RADIUS as its transport protocol.

  • RADIUS typically operates over UDP as its transport protocol.

Which Port is used by EAP-FAST?

  • EAP-FAST typically operates over UDP port 1812 for authentication and UDP port 1813 for accounting, as it is based on RADIUS.

Is EAP-FAST using Client server model?

  • Yes, EAP-FAST uses a client-server model.

  • The client (e.g., user device) communicates with the server (e.g., RADIUS server) for authentication during the connection process.

Whether EAP-FAST protocol uses certificates?

  • No, EAP-FAST does not require certificates for authentication.

  • It uses a protected access credential (PAC) to authenticate users, reducing the need for complex certificate management.

How many frame exchanges are seen during connection for EAP-FAST protocol?

  • EAP-FAST typically involves two or more frame exchanges:

    • One for establishing the secure tunnel.

    • Another for sending and verifying credentials.

Whether EAP-FAST Protocol uses client certificates?

  • No, EAP-FAST does not require client certificates for authentication.

  • The client uses a protected access credential (PAC) instead.

Whether EAP-FAST Protocol uses Server Certificates?

  • No, EAP-FAST does not require server certificates.

  • The server uses a PAC to authenticate itself, eliminating the need for complex certificate management.

IS EAP-FAST Protocol depends on TCP?

  • No, EAP-FAST does not rely on TCP.

  • It uses UDP for communication as part of the RADIUS protocol.

IS EAP-FAST Protocol depends on UDP?

  • Yes, EAP-FAST depends on UDP as its transport protocol for communication via RADIUS.

What are the roles involved when testing EAP-FAST Protocol?

  • Client Device: The client initiates the authentication request and provides its credentials.

  • RADIUS Server: The server processes the authentication request, verifies the credentials, and grants access.

  • Administrator: The administrator configures and manages the RADIUS server and network access policies.

Does EAP-FAST Protocol work with free radius server on Linux?

  • Yes, EAP-FAST can be configured to work with FreeRADIUS server on Linux.

  • FreeRADIUS supports EAP-FAST with proper configuration.

Does EAP-FAST Protocol work with Internal radius server of hostapd?

  • Yes, EAP-FAST can work with the internal RADIUS server of hostapd for wireless network authentication.

  • Hostapd provides EAP support, including EAP-FAST.

What is the RFC version used for EAP-FAST Protocol?

  • The RFC for EAP-FAST is RFC 4851.

During Connection Procedure which EPoL Packets are encrypted?

  • During the connection procedure, EAP-FAST uses encryption to secure the tunnel and protect the authentication data.

  • The encryption protects all EAP packets exchanged during the authentication process.

Can you Explain different stages of Connection Procedure for EAP-FAST Protocol?

  • PAC Exchange: The client and server exchange a PAC (Protected Access Credential) to establish trust.

  • Tunnel Establishment: A secure tunnel is established using the PAC to protect the subsequent exchanges.

  • Authentication: The client’s credentials are transmitted securely through the established tunnel for verification.

What is the final output of Connection Procedure?

  • The final output of the connection procedure is the successful authentication of the client and the establishment of a secure connection to the network.

What is the format of the key generated after the connection procedure?

  • The key generated after the connection procedure is typically a PMK (Pairwise Master Key), used to encrypt data between the client and the access point.

Where the use of PMK generated by the Connection Procedure?

  • The PMK is used in the pairwise encryption of data exchanged between the client and the access point to ensure confidentiality and integrity of the data.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links