Authentication

Authentication Skill

When to use this skill

Use when implementing login/signup, session management, OAuth integrations, role-based access control, or any security-sensitive auth feature.

Auth Principles

1. Never roll your own crypto

• Use established libraries for hashing, tokens, encryption
• Don't invent custom auth protocols
• Follow OWASP guidelines

2. Defense in depth

• Auth at the API gateway / middleware (not per-endpoint)
• Validate tokens on every request
• Never trust the client

3. Least privilege

• Users get minimum permissions needed
• Tokens scope to specific actions
• Admin access is audited

Authentication Patterns

Pattern 1: Session-Based Auth

Client → POST /login (credentials) → Server creates session
Client → requests with session cookie → Server validates session
Client → POST /logout → Server destroys session

Best for: Traditional web apps, server-rendered pages

Rules:

• Store sessions server-side (database or Redis), not in cookies
• Use HTTP-only, Secure, SameSite cookies
• Set session expiry (24h default, configurable)
• Regenerate session ID after login (prevent session fixation)
• Invalidate session on logout and password change

Pattern 2: JWT (JSON Web Token)

Client → POST /login (credentials) → Server returns access + refresh tokens
Client → requests with Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
Client → POST /refresh (refresh_token) → Server returns new access token

Best for: APIs, SPAs, mobile apps, microservices

Rules:

• Access tokens: short-lived (15-30 minutes)
• Refresh tokens: longer-lived (7-30 days), stored securely
• Never store JWTs in localStorage (use HTTP-only cookies or memory)
• Include minimal claims (user ID, role — never sensitive data)
• Validate signature, expiry, and issuer on every request
• Support token revocation (blacklist or short-lived + rotation)

Pattern 3: OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect

Client → Redirect to provider → User authenticates → Redirect back with code
Server → Exchange code for tokens → Create local session/JWT

Best for: "Login with Google/GitHub/etc.", third-party integrations

Rules:

• Use Authorization Code Flow with PKCE (not Implicit Flow)
• Validate state parameter to prevent CSRF
• Validate ID token claims (issuer, audience, expiry)
• Store provider tokens securely if you need to call their APIs

Password Handling

Rules

• Hash passwords with bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 — never MD5/SHA
• Salt automatically (bcrypt does this) — never reuse salts
• Minimum password length: 8 characters — prefer 12+
• Check against breached password lists (Have I Been Pwned API)
• Never log passwords — not even hashed ones
• Never send passwords in URLs — always POST body
• Never store plaintext passwords — anywhere, ever

Password reset flow

1. User requests reset → generate random token (not the password hash)
2. Send token via email → link expires in 1 hour
3. User clicks link → verify token, show new password form
4. User sets new password → invalidate token, invalidate all sessions
5. Confirm via email → notify user of password change

Authorization (Access Control)

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

User → has Role(s) → Role has Permission(s) → Permission grants Action on Resource

Authorization rules

• Check permissions on every request — middleware, not ad-hoc
• Deny by default — if no permission is found, deny access
• Resource-level checks — user can edit their data, not all data
• Audit sensitive actions — log who did what, when

Authorization checklist per endpoint

1. Is the user authenticated? (401 if not)
2. Does their role include this permission? (403 if not)
3. Do they own/have access to this specific resource? (404 if not)

Return 404 (not 403) for resources the user shouldn't know exist.

Security Hardening

Rate limiting

• Login: 5 attempts per minute per IP/account
• Password reset: 3 requests per hour per email
• API: per-key limits based on plan

Account lockout

• Lock after 10 failed login attempts
• Require email verification to unlock
• Notify user of suspicious activity

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

• Offer TOTP (authenticator app) as second factor
• Support recovery codes for lost authenticator
• Enforce MFA for admin/sensitive roles

Session security

• Regenerate session ID after privilege changes
• Invalidate all sessions on password change
• Show active sessions to users (allow revocation)
• Set reasonable idle timeout (30 min for sensitive apps)

Token Storage Guide

PR Checklist for Auth Changes

• Uses established auth library (no custom crypto)
• Passwords hashed with bcrypt/scrypt/Argon2
• Tokens are properly scoped and expire
• Access control checked at middleware level
• No sensitive data in logs, URLs, or error messages
• Rate limiting on auth endpoints
• Session invalidation on logout/password change
• Tests cover: valid login, invalid credentials, expired token, insufficient permissions
• Security review flagged for this PR

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