Catalog
technology#Security#Integration#Authentication

JSON Web Token (JWT)

JSON Web Token (JWT) are a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties as a JSON object.

JSON Web Token (JWT) enable secure information transmission between different systems.
Established
Medium

Classification

  • Medium
  • Technical
  • Technical
  • Intermediate

Technical context

OAuth 2.0 Systems.RESTful APIs.Frontend Web Applications.

Principles & goals

JWTs should be securely generated and stored.Use short expiration times for tokens.Avoid storing sensitive data in JWTs.
Build
Team, Domain

Use cases & scenarios

Compromises

  • Abuse by unauthorized individuals.
  • Security vulnerabilities due to weak keys.
  • Misconfigured tokens can lead to security issues.
  • Keep the key secret and secure.
  • Ensure that tokens are short-lived.
  • Use libraries for JWT generation.

I/O & resources

  • Secret key material for token creation.
  • User data for authentication.
  • Primary application structures for JWT management.
  • JWT for authentication.
  • Token status after validation.
  • Access rights based on the token.

Description

JSON Web Token (JWT) enable secure information transmission between different systems. They are particularly useful for authentication and authorization in web applications.

✔

  • Compact form of transmission.
  • Secure authentication.
  • Easy integration into modern web stacks.

✖

  • Tokens cannot be revoked.
  • Security depends on the secrecy of the key.
  • Larger JWTs can increase the size of requests.

  • Adoption Rate

    Rate at which JWT is implemented in existing applications.

  • Number of Security Incidents

    Number of security incidents related to JWT.

  • Average Token Lifetime

    Average lifetime of JWT before expiration.

Use in a Modern Web Application

JWTs are used in a React application for authentication.

Integration with an API

JWT is used to authenticate API calls in a backend application.

Use in Microservices

JWT is used to ensure that the services communicate properly with each other.

1

Create a secret key.

2

Implement token generation logic.

3

Validate the received tokens.

⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks

  • Outdated authentication methods.
  • Poor token management practices.
  • Insufficient documentation.
Complex implementations can take more time.Typical misconfigurations lead to security issues.Increased training needs for the team.
  • Insufficient security of the secret key.
  • Persistently storing tokens in the frontend.
  • Lack of token validation.
  • Complexity can lead to faulty implementations.
  • Excessive use leads to security issues.
  • Neglecting proper training of the team.
Knowledge in web development.Understanding of authentication protocols.Ability to securely manage keys.
Required security and authentication protocols.Integration with existing systems.Expectations for user experience.
  • • Must be securely managed in application.
  • • Requires support from all involved systems.
  • • Dependence on infrastructure for key distribution.