Client Credentials Flow Template

Client Credentials Flow Template

OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials Grant for server-to-server authentication using client_id and client_secret.

When to Use

• Service accounts
• Background processes
• System-to-system integrations
• When no specific user context is needed
• External Client Apps (ECAs) with client credentials enabled

Prerequisites

1. Connected App or External Client App configured
2. Client Credentials flow enabled
3. Execution user assigned via Permission Set (for ECAs)

Mermaid Template

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': {
  'actorBkg': '#ddd6fe',
  'actorTextColor': '#1f2937',
  'actorBorder': '#6d28d9',
  'signalColor': '#334155',
  'signalTextColor': '#1f2937',
  'noteBkgColor': '#f8fafc',
  'noteTextColor': '#1f2937',
  'noteBorderColor': '#334155'
}}}%%
sequenceDiagram
    autonumber

    box rgba(221,214,254,0.3) CLIENT APPLICATION
        participant C as 🖥️ Service<br/>(Backend Server)
    end

    box rgba(167,243,208,0.3) SALESFORCE
        participant SF as ☁️ Salesforce<br/>Authorization Server
    end

    Note over C,SF: Client Credentials Flow (RFC 6749 Section 4.4)

    C->>C: 1. Retrieve Client Credentials
    Note over C: client_id = CONSUMER_KEY<br/>client_secret = CONSUMER_SECRET

    C->>SF: 2. POST /services/oauth2/token
    Note over C,SF: grant_type=client_credentials<br/>client_id=CONSUMER_KEY<br/>client_secret=CONSUMER_SECRET

    SF->>SF: 3. Validate Client Credentials
    Note over SF: Verify client_id exists<br/>Verify client_secret matches

    SF->>SF: 4. Determine Execution User
    Note over SF: For ECA: Use assigned<br/>Permission Set user<br/><br/>For Connected App: Use<br/>"Run As" user

    SF->>SF: 5. Generate Access Token
    Note over SF: Token runs in context<br/>of execution user

    SF->>C: 6. Return Access Token
    Note over SF,C: {<br/>  "access_token": "...",<br/>  "instance_url": "https://...",<br/>  "token_type": "Bearer",<br/>  "issued_at": "..."<br/>}

    Note over C: ⚠️ No refresh_token returned<br/>⚠️ No user context (runs as service user)

    C->>SF: 7. Make API Calls
    Note over C,SF: Authorization: Bearer ACCESS_TOKEN

    SF->>SF: 8. Execute as Service User
    Note over SF: All operations run with<br/>execution user's permissions

    SF->>C: 9. API Response

ASCII Fallback Template

┌───────────────────────┐     ┌────────────────────┐
│    Service/Backend    │     │     Salesforce     │
│   (client_id/secret)  │     │   (Auth Server)    │
└───────────┬───────────┘     └─────────┬──────────┘
            │                           │
            │  1. POST /token           │
            │     grant_type=           │
            │       client_credentials  │
            │     client_id=KEY         │
            │     client_secret=SECRET  │
            │──────────────────────────>│
            │                           │
            │           2. Validate     │
            │              credentials  │
            │                           │
            │           3. Determine    │
            │              execution    │
            │              user         │
            │                           │
            │           4. Generate     │
            │              access token │
            │                           │
            │  5. Access Token          │
            │     (NO refresh token!)   │
            │     (NO user context!)    │
            │<──────────────────────────│
            │                           │
            │  6. API Request           │
            │     (Bearer token)        │
            │──────────────────────────>│
            │                           │
            │  7. API Response          │
            │     (runs as svc user)    │
            │<──────────────────────────│

Token Request

curl -X POST https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token \
  -d "grant_type=client_credentials" \
  -d "client_id=YOUR_CONSUMER_KEY" \
  -d "client_secret=YOUR_CONSUMER_SECRET"

Response Example

{
  "access_token": "00D5g000001ABC...!ARcAQNlBrLGj...",
  "instance_url": "https://mycompany.my.salesforce.com",
  "token_type": "Bearer",
  "issued_at": "1702123456789"
}

Code Examples

Python

import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token',
    data={
        'grant_type': 'client_credentials',
        'client_id': 'YOUR_CONSUMER_KEY',
        'client_secret': 'YOUR_CONSUMER_SECRET'
    }
)

token_data = response.json()
access_token = token_data['access_token']
instance_url = token_data['instance_url']

# Make API call
headers = {'Authorization': f'Bearer {access_token}'}
api_response = requests.get(
    f'{instance_url}/services/data/v59.0/sobjects/Account',
    headers=headers
)

Node.js

const axios = require('axios');

const response = await axios.post(
  'https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token',
  new URLSearchParams({
    grant_type: 'client_credentials',
    client_id: 'YOUR_CONSUMER_KEY',
    client_secret: 'YOUR_CONSUMER_SECRET'
  })
);

const { access_token, instance_url } = response.data;

// Make API call
const apiResponse = await axios.get(
  `${instance_url}/services/data/v59.0/sobjects/Account`,
  { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}` } }
);

Connected App vs External Client App

Key Characteristics

Enabling Client Credentials

For Connected App

1. Setup → App Manager → Edit Connected App
2. Enable OAuth Settings
3. Enable "Client Credentials Flow"
4. Set "Run As" user

For External Client App

1. Setup → External Client Apps → New
2. Configure OAuth Settings
3. Enable isClientCredentialsEnabled
4. Assign Permission Set with user

Security Considerations

1. Protect client_secret - Never expose in client-side code
2. Use dedicated service user with minimal permissions
3. Rotate secrets regularly (especially for Connected Apps)
4. Monitor API usage - Set up event monitoring
5. Restrict IP ranges if possible

Limitations

• No refresh tokens (must re-authenticate)
• No user context (cannot impersonate users)
• Limited to service user's permissions
• Cannot use for user-specific operations

Customization Points

Replace these placeholders:

• CONSUMER_KEY → Your Connected App's Consumer Key
• CONSUMER_SECRET → Your Connected App's Consumer Secret
• login.salesforce.com → Or test.salesforce.com for sandbox