aRustyDev Authentication & Authorization Implementation Patterns
Build secure, scalable authentication and authorization systems using industry-standard patterns and modern best practices.
When to Use This Skill
- Implementing user authentication systems
- Securing REST or GraphQL APIs
- Adding OAuth2/social login
- Implementing role-based access control (RBAC)
- Designing session management
- Migrating authentication systems
- Debugging auth issues
- Implementing SSO or multi-tenancy
Core Concepts
1. Authentication vs Authorization
Authentication (AuthN): Who are you?
- Verifying identity (username/password, OAuth, biometrics)
- Issuing credentials (sessions, tokens)
- Managing login/logout
Authorization (AuthZ): What can you do?
- Permission checking
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Resource ownership validation
- Policy enforcement
2. Authentication Strategies
Session-Based:
- Server stores session state
- Session ID in cookie
- Traditional, simple, stateful
Token-Based (JWT):
- Stateless, self-contained
- Scales horizontally
- Can store claims
OAuth2/OpenID Connect:
- Delegate authentication
- Social login (Google, GitHub)
- Enterprise SSO
JWT Authentication
Pattern 1: JWT Implementation
// JWT structure: header.payload.signature
import jwt from 'jsonwebtoken';
import { Request, Response, NextFunction } from 'express';
interface JWTPayload {
userId: string;
email: string;
role: string;
iat: number;
exp: number;
}
// Generate JWT
function generateTokens(userId: string, email: string, role: string) {
const accessToken = jwt.sign(
{ userId, email, role },
process.env.JWT_SECRET!,
{ expiresIn: '15m' } // Short-lived
);
const refreshToken = jwt.sign(
{ userId },
process.env.JWT_REFRESH_SECRET!,
{ expiresIn: '7d' } // Long-lived
);
return { accessToken, refreshToken };
}
// Verify JWT
function verifyToken(token: string): JWTPayload {
try {
return jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET!) as JWTPayload;
} catch (error) {
if (error instanceof jwt.TokenExpiredError) {
throw new Error('Token expired');
}
if (error instanceof jwt.JsonWebTokenError) {
throw new Error('Invalid token');
}
throw error;
}
}
// Middleware
function authenticate(req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) {
const authHeader = req.headers.authorization;
if (!authHeader?.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'No token provided' });
}
const token = authHeader.substring(7);
try {
const payload = verifyToken(token);
req.user = payload; // Attach user to request
next();
} catch (error) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid token' });
}
}
// Usage
app.get('/api/profile', authenticate, (req, res) => {
res.json({ user: req.user });
});
Pattern 2: Refresh Token Flow
interface StoredRefreshToken {
token: string;
userId: string;
expiresAt: Date;
createdAt: Date;
}
class RefreshTokenService {
// Store refresh token in database
async storeRefreshToken(userId: string, refreshToken: string) {
const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
await db.refreshTokens.create({
token: await hash(refreshToken), // Hash before storing
userId,
expiresAt,
});
}
// Refresh access token
async refreshAccessToken(refreshToken: string) {
// Verify refresh token
let payload;
try {
payload = jwt.verify(
refreshToken,
process.env.JWT_REFRESH_SECRET!
) as { userId: string };
} catch {
throw new Error('Invalid refresh token');
}
// Check if token exists in database
const storedToken = await db.refreshTokens.findOne({
where: {
token: await hash(refreshToken),
userId: payload.userId,
expiresAt: { $gt: new Date() },
},
});
if (!storedToken) {
throw new Error('Refresh token not found or expired');
}
// Get user
const user = await db.users.findById(payload.userId);
if (!user) {
throw new Error('User not found');
}
// Generate new access token
const accessToken = jwt.sign(
{ userId: user.id, email: user.email, role: user.role },
process.env.JWT_SECRET!,
{ expiresIn: '15m' }
);
return { accessToken };
}
// Revoke refresh token (logout)
async revokeRefreshToken(refreshToken: string) {
await db.refreshTokens.deleteOne({
token: await hash(refreshToken),
});
}
// Revoke all user tokens (logout all devices)
async revokeAllUserTokens(userId: string) {
await db.refreshTokens.deleteMany({ userId });
}
}
// API endpoints
app.post('/api/auth/refresh', async (req, res) => {
const { refreshToken } = req.body;
try {
const { accessToken } = await refreshTokenService
.refreshAccessToken(refreshToken);
res.json({ accessToken });
} catch (error) {
res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid refresh token' });
}
});
app.post('/api/auth/logout', authenticate, async (req, res) => {
const { refreshToken } = req.body;
await refreshTokenService.revokeRefreshToken(refreshToken);
res.json({ message: 'Logged out successfully' });
});
Session-Based Authentication
Pattern 1: Express Session
import session from 'express-session';
import RedisStore from 'connect-redis';
import { createClient } from 'redis';
// Setup Redis for session storage
const redisClient = createClient({
url: process.env.REDIS_URL,
});
await redisClient.connect();
app.use(
session({
store: new RedisStore({ client: redisClient }),
secret: process.env.SESSION_SECRET!,
resave: false,
saveUninitialized: false,
cookie: {
secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production', // HTTPS only
httpOnly: true, // No JavaScript access
maxAge: 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000, // 24 hours
sameSite: 'strict', // CSRF protection
},
})
);
// Login
app.post('/api/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
const { email, password } = req.body;
const user = await db.users.findOne({ email });
if (!user || !(await verifyPassword(password, user.passwordHash))) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid credentials' });
}
// Store user in session
req.session.userId = user.id;
req.session.role = user.role;
res.json({ user: { id: user.id, email: user.email, role: user.role } });
});
// Session middleware
function requireAuth(req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) {
if (!req.session.userId) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Not authenticated' });
}
next();
}
// Protected route
app.get('/api/profile', requireAuth, async (req, res) => {
const user = await db.users.findById(req.session.userId);
res.json({ user });
});
// Logout
app.post('/api/auth/logout', (req, res) => {
req.session.destroy((err) => {
if (err) {
return res.status(500).json({ error: 'Logout failed' });
}
res.clearCookie('connect.sid');
res.json({ message: 'Logged out successfully' });
});
});
OAuth2 / Social Login
Pattern 1: OAuth2 with Passport.js
import passport from 'passport';
import { Strategy as GoogleStrategy } from 'passport-google-oauth20';
import { Strategy as GitHubStrategy } from 'passport-github2';
// Google OAuth
passport.use(
new GoogleStrategy(
{
clientID: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID!,
clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET!,
callbackURL: '/api/auth/google/callback',
},
async (accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) => {
try {
// Find or create user
let user = await db.users.findOne({
googleId: profile.id,
});
if (!user) {
user = await db.users.create({
googleId: profile.id,
email: profile.emails?.[0]?.value,
name: profile.displayName,
avatar: profile.photos?.[0]?.value,
});
}
return done(null, user);
} catch (error) {
return done(error, undefined);
}
}
)
);
// Routes
app.get('/api/auth/google', passport.authenticate('google', {
scope: ['profile', 'email'],
}));
app.get(
'/api/auth/google/callback',
passport.authenticate('google', { session: false }),
(req, res) => {
// Generate JWT
const tokens = generateTokens(req.user.id, req.user.email, req.user.role);
// Redirect to frontend with token
res.redirect(`${process.env.FRONTEND_URL}/auth/callback?token=${tokens.accessToken}`);
}
);
Authorization Patterns
Pattern 1: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
enum Role {
USER = 'user',
MODERATOR = 'moderator',
ADMIN = 'admin',
}
const roleHierarchy: Record<Role, Role[]> = {
[Role.ADMIN]: [Role.ADMIN, Role.MODERATOR, Role.USER],
[Role.MODERATOR]: [Role.MODERATOR, Role.USER],
[Role.USER]: [Role.USER],
};
function hasRole(userRole: Role, requiredRole: Role): boolean {
return roleHierarchy[userRole].includes(requiredRole);
}
// Middleware
function requireRole(...roles: Role[]) {
return (req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) => {
if (!req.user) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Not authenticated' });
}
if (!roles.some(role => hasRole(req.user.role, role))) {
return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Insufficient permissions' });
}
next();
};
}
// Usage
app.delete('/api/users/:id',
authenticate,
requireRole(Role.ADMIN),
async (req, res) => {
// Only admins can delete users
await db.users.delete(req.params.id);
res.json({ message: 'User deleted' });
}
);
Pattern 2: Permission-Based Access Control
enum Permission {
READ_USERS = 'read:users',
WRITE_USERS = 'write:users',
DELETE_USERS = 'delete:users',
READ_POSTS = 'read:posts',
WRITE_POSTS = 'write:posts',
}
const rolePermissions: Record<Role, Permission[]> = {
[Role.USER]: [Permission.READ_POSTS, Permission.WRITE_POSTS],
[Role.MODERATOR]: [
Permission.READ_POSTS,
Permission.WRITE_POSTS,
Permission.READ_USERS,
],
[Role.ADMIN]: Object.values(Permission),
};
function hasPermission(userRole: Role, permission: Permission): boolean {
return rolePermissions[userRole]?.includes(permission) ?? false;
}
function requirePermission(...permissions: Permission[]) {
return (req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) => {
if (!req.user) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Not authenticated' });
}
const hasAllPermissions = permissions.every(permission =>
hasPermission(req.user.role, permission)
);
if (!hasAllPermissions) {
return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Insufficient permissions' });
}
next();
};
}
// Usage
app.get('/api/users',
authenticate,
requirePermission(Permission.READ_USERS),
async (req, res) => {
const users = await db.users.findAll();
res.json({ users });
}
);
Pattern 3: Resource Ownership
// Check if user owns resource
async function requireOwnership(
resourceType: 'post' | 'comment',
resourceIdParam: string = 'id'
) {
return async (req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) => {
if (!req.user) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Not authenticated' });
}
const resourceId = req.params[resourceIdParam];
// Admins can access anything
if (req.user.role === Role.ADMIN) {
return next();
}
// Check ownership
let resource;
if (resourceType === 'post') {
resource = await db.posts.findById(resourceId);
} else if (resourceType === 'comment') {
resource = await db.comments.findById(resourceId);
}
if (!resource) {
return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Resource not found' });
}
if (resource.userId !== req.user.userId) {
return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Not authorized' });
}
next();
};
}
// Usage
app.put('/api/posts/:id',
authenticate,
requireOwnership('post'),
async (req, res) => {
// User can only update their own posts
const post = await db.posts.update(req.params.id, req.body);
res.json({ post });
}
);
Security Best Practices
Pattern 1: Password Security
import bcrypt from 'bcrypt';
import { z } from 'zod';
// Password validation schema
const passwordSchema = z.string()
.min(12, 'Password must be at least 12 characters')
.regex(/[A-Z]/, 'Password must contain uppercase letter')
.regex(/[a-z]/, 'Password must contain lowercase letter')
.regex(/[0-9]/, 'Password must contain number')
.regex(/[^A-Za-z0-9]/, 'Password must contain special character');
// Hash password
async function hashPassword(password: string): Promise<string> {
const saltRounds = 12; // 2^12 iterations
return bcrypt.hash(password, saltRounds);
}
// Verify password
async function verifyPassword(
password: string,
hash: string
): Promise<boolean> {
return bcrypt.compare(password, hash);
}
// Registration with password validation
app.post('/api/auth/register', async (req, res) => {
try {
const { email, password } = req.body;
// Validate password
passwordSchema.parse(password);
// Check if user exists
const existingUser = await db.users.findOne({ email });
if (existingUser) {
return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Email already registered' });
}
// Hash password
const passwordHash = await hashPassword(password);
// Create user
const user = await db.users.create({
email,
passwordHash,
});
// Generate tokens
const tokens = generateTokens(user.id, user.email, user.role);
res.status(201).json({
user: { id: user.id, email: user.email },
...tokens,
});
} catch (error) {
if (error instanceof z.ZodError) {
return res.status(400).json({ error: error.errors[0].message });
}
res.status(500).json({ error: 'Registration failed' });
}
});
Pattern 2: Rate Limiting
import rateLimit from 'express-rate-limit';
import RedisStore from 'rate-limit-redis';
// Login rate limiter
const loginLimiter = rateLimit({
store: new RedisStore({ client: redisClient }),
windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
max: 5, // 5 attempts
message: 'Too many login attempts, please try again later',
standardHeaders: true,
legacyHeaders: false,
});
// API rate limiter
const apiLimiter = rateLimit({
windowMs: 60 * 1000, // 1 minute
max: 100, // 100 requests per minute
standardHeaders: true,
});
// Apply to routes
app.post('/api/auth/login', loginLimiter, async (req, res) => {
// Login logic
});
app.use('/api/', apiLimiter);
Best Practices
- Never Store Plain Passwords: Always hash with bcrypt/argon2
- Use HTTPS: Encrypt data in transit
- Short-Lived Access Tokens: 15-30 minutes max
- Secure Cookies: httpOnly, secure, sameSite flags
- Validate All Input: Email format, password strength
- Rate Limit Auth Endpoints: Prevent brute force attacks
- Implement CSRF Protection: For session-based auth
- Rotate Secrets Regularly: JWT secrets, session secrets
- Log Security Events: Login attempts, failed auth
- Use MFA When Possible: Extra security layer
Common Pitfalls
- Weak Passwords: Enforce strong password policies
- JWT in localStorage: Vulnerable to XSS, use httpOnly cookies
- No Token Expiration: Tokens should expire
- Client-Side Auth Checks Only: Always validate server-side
- Insecure Password Reset: Use secure tokens with expiration
- No Rate Limiting: Vulnerable to brute force
- Trusting Client Data: Always validate on server
Resources
- references/jwt-best-practices.md: JWT implementation guide
- references/oauth2-flows.md: OAuth2 flow diagrams and examples
- references/session-security.md: Secure session management
- assets/auth-security-checklist.md: Security review checklist
- assets/password-policy-template.md: Password requirements template
- scripts/token-validator.ts: JWT validation utility