Transferable Refresh Token for Long-Running Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Token-based authorization systems face challenges in supporting long-running operations due to token expiration, as refresh tokens cannot be used by services other than the original client, leading to issues in distributed computing environments where operations exceed access token validity times.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a transferable refresh token that includes the service identifier, allowing the application to request and pass this token to the authorization server for continuous access and refresh, enabling long-running operations to maintain authentication and authorization without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a standard refresh token is used in token-based authorization systems, then the original client application can obtain new access tokens after expiration, but services other than the original client cannot refresh the token, which prevents long-running operations from maintaining authentication
Solution Approach 1:
The refresh token is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it maintains the original client's ability to refresh tokens while simultaneously enabling long-running services to obtain and refresh access tokens. The token structure includes service identifiers and authorization server endpoints that allow any authorized service to use the same refresh token mechanism, making the token universally applicable across different clients and services.
Solution Approach 2:
The refresh token mechanism dynamically adapts to different scenarios by including flexible parameters such as service identifiers, client identifiers, and customizable expiration times. This allows the token to be used in various contexts - whether for original client applications or for long-running background services - without requiring a completely different authentication mechanism.
2Reliability
If access tokens have limited life-time for security reasons, then security is improved, but long-running operations exceed token validity times and cannot continue without user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a refresh token mechanism before the access token expires. The long-running service is pre-configured with the refresh token and authorization server endpoint, enabling it to proactively refresh its access token before expiration occurs, thus maintaining continuous operation without interruption or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The long-running service performs self-service by automatically refreshing its own access tokens using the refresh token mechanism. The service independently communicates with the authorization server to obtain new access tokens when needed, without requiring external user intervention or manual token renewal, thus maintaining operational continuity autonomously.
3Reliability
If refresh tokens are bound to specific client applications, then authorization security is maintained, but distributed services cannot share or transfer tokens for long-running operations
Solution Approach 1:
The refresh token mechanism is segmented into distinct components: the token itself, service identifiers, client identifiers, and authorization server endpoints. This segmentation allows the system to maintain security by binding tokens to specific services while enabling flexible token management and transfer between authorized services without requiring complex custom implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for a token-based authorization in a data processing environment comprising a user system, an application server and an authorization server may be provided. The method comprises accessing the application via the user agent, sending an access token and a refresh token from the authorization server to the application, triggering an execution of the service providing the long-running operation by the application. The triggering comprises requesting and receiving a transferable refresh token, starting an execution of the service providing the long-running operation by passing the transferable refresh token together with the identifier from the application to the service providing the long-running operation, passing the transferable refresh token from the long-running service to the authorization server, receiving an access and refresh token, and continuing the long running service.