A system that remotely authenticates a command is presented. During operation, an authentication system receives the command from an intermediary system, wherein the command is to be executed on a target system. Next, the authentication system authenticates the intermediary system. If the intermediary system is successfully authenticated, the authentication system authenticates the command using a private key for the authentication system to produce an authenticated command. Next, the authentication system sends the authenticated command to the intermediary system, thereby enabling the intermediary system to send the authenticated command to the target system so that the target system can use a public key for the authentication system to verify and execute the command.