OAuth 2.0: What is OAuth and How Does it Work?

OAuth 2.0 has emerged as the standard protocol for authorization in this complex landscape, establishing trusted connections between diverse platforms. This article provides a primer on OAuth 2.0, explaining the roles, flows, tokens and implementation best practices that enable secure delegated access.

What is OAuth 2.0

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that allows third-party applications to access a user's resources on a server without the need for the user to share their credentials. It provides a secure and standardized way for users to grant access to their data to other applications, without compromising their login credentials.

OAuth 1 vs OAuth 2

OAuth 2.0 has become the standard for authorization, improving on previous versions with better security, flexibility and simplicity.

OAuth 1.0 remains widely used, especially among early social media platforms. It allows delegated API access through short-lived access tokens without exposing user credentials. While OAuth 1.0 is still utilized, most modern implementations now leverage OAuth 2.0 for superior security and convenience in integrating diverse platforms and data sources.

Apidog supports OAuth 1.0 to empower integration with APIs still using this earlier authorization protocol. Although OAuth 2.0 is now standard, many pioneering social media platforms adopted OAuth 1.0 years ago.

Apidog allows developers to connect to OAuth 1.0 resources through proper cryptographic signing per spec. Users can generate authenticated API requests to legacy providers like Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. As well as, Apidog also supports bearer token, basic auth, etc.

With Apidog's OAuth 2.0 support, developers enjoy flexibility in accessing both new and old APIs. Apidog reduces friction for integration regardless of OAuth version in the near future.

Here's a quick overview of the main differences between OAuth 1.0 and OAuth 2.0:

OAuth 1.0:

• Released in 2007.
• Uses cryptographic signatures for authorization. Each request must be signed using a secret key and hash algorithm.
• Supports 3-legged authorization with consumer key, consumer secret, request token, and access token.
• The main grant types are for accessing protected resources on behalf of the resource owner.
• Seen as more complex to sign each API call.

OAuth 2.0:

• Released in 2012 as a simpler alternative.
• Uses access tokens with bearer token authorization. Tokens act as keys to access resources.
• Supports 4-legged authorization with authorization code grant flow for apps.
• Defines specific authorization flows for web apps, mobile apps, etc.
• Includes native support for JWT access tokens.
• Simpler client implementations without per-call signatures.

Google OAuth 2.0

Google uses the OAuth 2.0 protocol to allow users to grant access to their Google account data to third-party applications or services without revealing their Google username and password.

The Main Roles of OAuth 2.0

OAuth 2.0 defines several main roles that are involved in the authorization process. Each role has its own responsibilities and plays a crucial part in ensuring the security and functionality of the OAuth 2.0 protocol. Let's take a closer look at these roles:

1. Resource Owner: The resource owner is an entity that has the ability to grant access to a protected resource. This can be an individual user or a system that controls access to the resource. The resource owner is the one who authorizes the client application to access their protected resources.
2. Client: The client is the application that wants to access the protected resources on behalf of the resource owner. This can be a web application, a mobile application, or even a server-to-server communication. The client initiates the authorization process and interacts with the authorization server to obtain an access token.
3. Authorization Server: The authorization server is responsible for authenticating the resource owner and granting authorization to the client. It issues access tokens to the client after successful authentication and authorization. The authorization server also validates access tokens presented by the client to ensure their validity.
4. Resource Server: The resource server hosts the protected resources that the client wants to access. It verifies the access token presented by the client and grants or denies access to the requested resources based on the token's validity and the permissions associated with it. The resource server is separate from the authorization server but can be implemented as part of the same system.
5. User Agent: The user agent is the software or application that the resource owner uses to interact with the client and the authorization server. It can be a web browser, a mobile app, or any other user interface that allows the resource owner to authenticate and authorize the client.

How Does OAuth 2.0 Work

OAuth 2.0 is a powerful authorization framework that provides a secure and standardized way for users to grant permissions to third-party applications. It offers flexibility, scalability, and widespread adoption, making it an ideal choice for many applications requiring secure access to user resources. However, it is important to understand and implement the necessary security measures to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of user data.

OAuth 2.0 is commonly used in scenarios where users want to grant access to their data to third-party applications, such as social media integration, single sign-on, and API access control. It allows users to easily manage and revoke permissions granted to third-party applications, ensuring the privacy and security of their data.

OAuth 2.0 Example

The main goal of OAuth 2.0 is to provide a secure and efficient way for users to grant permissions to third-party applications to access their resources, such as social media accounts, cloud storage, or other web services. It eliminates the need for users to share their passwords with third-party applications, reducing the risk of credential theft and unauthorized access.

OAuth 2.0 introduces the concept of access tokens, which are issued by the authorization server after the user grants permission to the client application. These access tokens are then used by the client application to authenticate and authorize requests to the resource server on behalf of the user. This allows the client application to access the user's resources without directly handling their credentials. There is a detailed guide on how to use Postman OAuth 2.0.

How to Perform OAuth 2.0 Authorization in Postman

OAuth 2.0, provides a standardized way for users to securely access APIs. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how to use Postman OAuth2 to get a token and an example involving Business Central OAuth2.

Apidog BlogKim Haewon

The Authorization Flow in OAuth 2.0

The authorization flow in OAuth 2.0 involves several steps. First, the client application redirects the user to the authorization server, where they are prompted to log in and grant permission to the client application. Once the user grants permission, the authorization server issues an access token to the client application. The client application can then use this access token to make authenticated requests to the resource server on behalf of the user.

OAuth 2.0 defines several roles in its authorization flow. The main roles include the resource owner (the user who owns the resources), the client application (the third-party application requesting access to the resources), the authorization server (responsible for authenticating the user and issuing access tokens), and the resource server (the server hosting the user's resources).

One of the key advantages of OAuth 2.0 is its flexibility and wide adoption. It has become the de facto standard for authorization in many web and mobile applications, with support from major platforms and service providers. OAuth 2.0 allows users to have fine-grained control over the permissions granted to third-party applications and provides a secure way to manage access to resources.

When implementing OAuth 2.0, there are several security considerations to take into account. These include protecting the client credentials, securing the communication channels between the client, authorization server, and resource server, and ensuring the proper validation and expiration of access tokens. Additionally, developers should be aware of potential vulnerabilities, such as cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks and token leakage.

The Process of OAuth 2.0 Authorization

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that allows users to grant access to their resources on one website to another website without sharing their credentials. It provides a secure and standardized way for users to authorize third-party applications to access their data on various platforms, such as social media sites or cloud storage services.

The OAuth 2.0 authorization flow consists of several steps:

1. User initiates the process: The user starts the authorization process by clicking on a button or link provided by the third-party application. This could be a "Sign in with Google" or "Connect with Facebook" button.
2. Redirect to the authorization server: The user is redirected to the authorization server, which is responsible for authenticating the user and obtaining their consent to grant access to the requested resources.
3. User grants authorization: The authorization server presents the user with a consent screen, explaining what data the third-party application is requesting access to. The user can then choose to grant or deny access.
4. Authorization code is issued: If the user grants authorization, the authorization server generates an authorization code and redirects the user back to the third-party application's callback URL, along with the authorization code.
5. Access token request: The third-party application uses the authorization code to request an access token from the authorization server. The access token is a credential that allows the application to access the user's resources on behalf of the user.
6. Access token is issued: If the authorization code is valid, the authorization server issues an access token to the third-party application. The access token is typically a long-lived token that can be used to make API requests on behalf of the user.
7. Access resources: The third-party application can now use the access token to access the user's resources on the resource server. The resource server verifies the access token and grants access to the requested resources if the token is valid.
8. Refresh token (optional): In some cases, the authorization server may also issue a refresh token along with the access token. The refresh token can be used to obtain a new access token when the current one expires, without requiring the user to go through the authorization process again.

The OAuth 2.0 authorization flow provides a secure and user-friendly way for third-party applications to access user data without directly handling their credentials. It allows users to have control over which applications can access their data and provides a standardized approach for integrating with various platforms. However, it is important for developers to implement OAuth 2.0 correctly and follow best practices to ensure the security and privacy of user data.

Security Considerations for OAuth 2.0

OAuth 2.0 allows third-party applications to access user resources without credentials, but security is vital. Sensitive information like access tokens, refresh tokens, and client secrets must be securely stored and transmitted over HTTPS. Proper access controls should restrict access. Additionally, token expiration and revocation help prevent unauthorized access.

Strong authentication via protocols like OpenID Connect reduces risk by requiring client apps authenticate with credentials. The authorization server itself must be secured through measures like secure coding, auditing and monitoring. While convenient for APIs, OAuth 2.0 introduces risks that must be mitigated through token management, authentication, authorization server security, and other best practices. Addressing these considerations enhances overall security.