What is OAuth really all about - OAuth tutorial - Java Brains

Summary

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that allows services to access each other on behalf of users without compromising user credentials. Using a valet key analogy, the script illustrates how OAuth provides limited access to third-party services, ensuring security and privacy. The process involves a flow where services obtain permission from users to access specific data. OAuth tokens, often in the form of JWT (JSON Web Tokens), verify the permissions granted. This approach helps businesses, like a photo printing service, integrate with platforms such as Google Drive, while maintaining user trust and data security.

Takeaways

• 😀 OAuth is primarily used for authorization, not authentication.
• 😀 The original intention of OAuth was to enable services to authorize other services, not individuals.
• 😀 An example of OAuth's use is a photo printing service accessing Google Drive to print images without requiring the user to share their Google password.
• 😀 Directly asking users for their Google credentials (username and password) would be insecure and untrustworthy.
• 😀 OAuth allows services to request permission to access specific data (like photos) on behalf of the user without needing to share login credentials.
• 😀 A valet key analogy is commonly used to explain OAuth: a valet key provides limited access to a car, just like OAuth provides limited access to a service's data.
• 😀 OAuth is a 'delegated access' mechanism where services can interact on a user's behalf once granted permission.
• 😀 OAuth follows an open standard, allowing multiple services to communicate with each other securely across the internet.
• 😀 The OAuth flow involves a service requesting access, the user approving or denying permissions, and the service receiving an authorization token for future access.
• 😀 Authorization tokens (such as JWTs) contain specific permissions and can be securely verified, ensuring that the service has proper authorization to access the data.
• 😀 OAuth solves the problem of service-to-service authorization, not user authentication, as the user is already authenticated to both services involved.

Q & A

What is OAuth primarily used for?

OAuth is primarily used for authorization, allowing one service to access another service's resources on behalf of a user without revealing their credentials.

What was the original intended use of OAuth?

Originally, OAuth was created for services to authorize other services, not for user authentication. It was designed to let one service access another service's resources on behalf of a user.

What is the main difference between authentication and authorization in OAuth?

Authentication verifies the identity of a user, while authorization controls what actions the user can perform. OAuth is focused on authorization, not authentication.

Can OAuth be used for authenticating users? Why or why not?

No, OAuth is not used for authentication. It is used for authorization because it allows services to access user data without requiring the user to share their credentials directly.

What analogy is used to explain how OAuth works?

The valet key analogy is used. Just like a valet key allows a valet to park a car without giving full access to the car's interior or other areas, OAuth gives a service limited access to a user's data without revealing full credentials.

How does the valet key analogy relate to OAuth?

In the valet key analogy, the valet key grants limited access to the car, just as an OAuth token grants limited access to a user's data on a third-party service without giving full access to everything.

What is the role of the authorization token in OAuth?

The authorization token in OAuth grants the service limited access to a user's data, functioning like a valet key that allows specific actions (e.g., accessing certain files or data) but not full access to everything.

What is a JWT and why is it used in OAuth?

JWT (JSON Web Token) is a secure token format used in OAuth. It contains information about the allowed permissions and is designed to be secure and verifiable, ensuring that it hasn't been tampered with.

What happens when a user grants access to a service using OAuth?

When a user grants access, OAuth asks the user to approve the permissions a service is requesting (e.g., accessing files or data). Once granted, the service receives an authorization token to access only the specified resources.

Why would a service need to use OAuth when interacting with another service?

A service uses OAuth to interact with another service to access a user's data or resources securely, without needing the user's credentials. OAuth enables delegated access, ensuring only the requested permissions are granted.