Token Validation Resource for OAuth Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authorization and authentication protocols, such as OAuth, are vulnerable to token leakage, privilege escalation threats, and insufficient limitations on obtaining tokens for sensitive resources, compromising security while aiming for usability.
Innovation Solution
A token validation resource and authorization server are implemented to validate access tokens and network addresses, distinguishing legitimate from fake or malicious URLs, and proactively scanning computing resources to identify and mitigate security threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If OAuth protocols are implemented to enable delegated access without repeated password entry, then usability is improved, but security vulnerabilities increase due to token leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
A validator resource is introduced as an intermediary between the authorization server and the target resource. The validator receives access tokens, validates their authenticity with the authorization server, and verifies that token destination matches the requested URL. This intermediary layer enables continued use of OAuth for usability while adding security validation to prevent token leakage and misuse.
2Ease of operation
If whitelisted URLs are used to enable browser redirects in OAuth flow, then ease of access is improved, but attackers can take control by generating fictitious whitelisted URLs
Solution Approach 1:
The validator resource performs preliminary validation of the requested URL before the access token is asserted to the target resource. It checks whether the requested URL matches the token's destination URL and whether the URL is legitimate. This preliminary action prevents attackers from using fictitious whitelisted URLs to intercept tokens, while still allowing legitimate URL redirects to function.
3Ease of operation
If access tokens are passed to target websites for user authentication, then user convenience is improved, but token interception and impersonation risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The validator resource establishes a feedback loop by validating access tokens before they are used to access target resources. It communicates with the authorization server to verify token authenticity and checks whether the token destination matches the requested URL. This feedback mechanism enables user convenience through token-based authentication while preventing token interception and impersonation by malicious entities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for securely validating access tokens. Techniques include receiving, at a token validation resource, a token provided from a network application, the token having an associated destination network address; wherein the token was dynamically created, and the token was provided to the network application; performing a validation process for the token, the validation process being based on at least the destination network address associated with the token; and determining, based on an outcome of the validation process, whether to permit the network application to assert the token to a destination network resource associated with the destination network address.