A7: 2021 | JWT Tokens (1) | Cycubix Docs

Concept

This lesson teaches about using JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for authentication and the common pitfalls you need to be aware of when using JWT.

Goals

Teach how to securely implement the usage of tokens and validation of those tokens.

Introduction

Many application use JSON Web Tokens (JWT) to allow the client to indicate is identity for further exchange after authentication.

From https://jwt.io/introduction

JSON Web Token (JWT) is an open standard (RFC 7519) that defines a compact
and self-contained way for securely transmitting
information between parties as a JSON object. This information can be
verified and trusted because it is digitally signed. JWTs can be signed using
a secret (with the HMAC algorithm) or a public/private key pair using RSA.

JSON Web Token is used to carry information related to the identity and
characteristics (claims) of a client. This "container" is signed by the server
in order to avoid that a client tamper it in order to change, for example,
the identity or any characteristics (example: change the role from simple
user to admin or change the client login). This token is created during
authentication (is provided in case of successful authentication) and is
verified by the server before any processing. It is used by an application
to allow a client to present a token representing his "identity card" (container
with all user information about him) to server and allow the server to verify
the validity and integrity of the token in a secure way, all of this in a stateless
and portable approach (portable in the way that client and server technologies can
be different including also the transport channel even if HTTP is the most often used)