OAuth, short for “Open Authorization,” is an industry-standard protocol used for authorization, allowing third-party services to securely access a user’s data without exposing their credentials. It facilitates delegated access, granting applications limited access to user accounts on various websites and APIs.
Intro to oAuth
At its core, OAuth operates on the principle of authorization delegation, enabling users to grant access to their resources stored on one site to another site, without sharing their credentials. This process involves several key entities:
- Resource Owner: The entity that owns the data and authorizes access to it, typically the user.
- Client: The application requesting access to the protected resources on behalf of the resource owner.
- Authorization Server: The server that authenticates the resource owner and issues access tokens.
- Resource Server: The server hosting the protected resources that the client wants to access.
OAuth employs a series of authorization grants to obtain access tokens, which the client then presents to the resource server to gain access to the protected resources. These grants include authorization code, implicit, password, and client credentials.
List of oAuth Providers
OAuth Name | Company | OAuth Protocol | Technologies/Languages | Links | OpenID Connect |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
42 School | 42 School | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Amazon Cognito | Amazon | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Apple | Apple | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | Yes |
Atlassian | Atlassian | Unknown | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Auth0 | Auth0 | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | How to start with Auth0 | Yes |
Authentik | Authentik | Unknown | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
Azure Active Directory | Microsoft | Unknown | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
Azure Active Directory B2C | Microsoft | Unknown | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
Battle.net | Blizzard Entertainment | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Box | Box | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
BoxyHQ SAML | BoxyHQ | Unknown | SAML, OAuth | Unknown | No |
Bungie | Bungie | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Coinbase | Coinbase | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Discord | Discord | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Dropbox | Dropbox | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
DuendeIdentityServer6 | Duende | Unknown | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
EVE Online | CCP Games | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Meta (formerly Facebook) | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | Yes | |
FACEIT | FACEIT | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Foursquare | Foursquare | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Freshbooks | Freshbooks | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
FusionAuth | FusionAuth | Unknown | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
GitHub | GitHub | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
GitLab | GitLab | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | Yes |
2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | How to tutorial | Yes | ||
HubSpot | HubSpot | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
IdentityServer4 | IdentityServer | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | No |
Meta (formerly Facebook) | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No | |
Kakao | Kakao | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Keycloak | Red Hat | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | Yes |
LINE | LINE Corporation | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Microsoft (owned by Meta) | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | Yes | |
Mail.ru | Mail.ru Group | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Mailchimp | Mailchimp | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Medium | A Medium Corporation | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Naver | Naver Corporation | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Netlify | Netlify | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Okta | Okta | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | Unknown | Yes |
OneLogin | OneLogin | 2.0 | OAuth, OpenID Connect | How to start with MFA one login | No |
Osso | Osso | Unknown | SAML, OAuth | Unknown | No |
osu! | ppy Pty Ltd | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Patreon | Patreon | 2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
2.0 | OAuth, REST API | Unknown | No |
Role of OAuth Providers
OAuth providers play a pivotal role in the authentication and authorization process, serving as the intermediaries between clients and resource servers. They handle user authentication, token issuance, and token validation, ensuring secure and seamless access to protected resources.
Key Functions of OAuth Providers
- Authentication: OAuth providers authenticate users, verifying their identities before granting access to protected resources. This authentication process typically involves username-password credentials or more advanced methods like multi-factor authentication.
- Token Management: OAuth providers issue access tokens to clients after successful authentication. These tokens serve as credentials that the client presents to the resource server to access the user’s data.
- Authorization: OAuth providers enforce authorization policies, determining the scope of access granted to clients based on user consent and application permissions. They ensure that clients only access the resources explicitly authorized by the resource owner.
Evolution of OAuth
As technology evolves, so does OAuth. Over the years, OAuth has undergone several iterations and enhancements to address emerging security challenges and accommodate evolving use cases. Let’s explore the evolution of OAuth and its impact on modern authentication practices.
OAuth 1.0a
OAuth 1.0a, the first iteration of the OAuth protocol, introduced the concept of token-based authentication, allowing applications to access protected resources on behalf of users. It relied on cryptographic signatures to ensure the integrity and authenticity of requests, providing a secure mechanism for delegated access.
OAuth 2.0
OAuth 2.0, the successor to OAuth 1.0a, introduced significant improvements and simplifications to the protocol. It standardized the token-based authentication process, emphasizing flexibility, scalability, and interoperability. OAuth 2.0 introduced several key concepts, including authorization codes, access tokens, and refresh tokens, streamlining the authentication and authorization workflow.
OpenID Connect
OpenID Connect (OIDC) builds upon OAuth 2.0 to provide authentication capabilities in addition to authorization. It introduces identity tokens and user information endpoints, enabling clients to verify the identity of users and obtain additional information about them. OIDC enhances the security and usability of OAuth by adding identity layer functionality.
OAuth in Practice
In practice, OAuth is widely adopted across various industries and applications, powering authentication and authorization for a myriad of use cases. From social media platforms and e-commerce websites to enterprise applications and IoT devices, OAuth plays a crucial role in securing access to resources and protecting user data.
Future of OAuth
As technology continues to advance, the future of OAuth holds promise for further innovation and evolution. Emerging trends such as decentralized identity, zero-trust security, and federated authentication are shaping the landscape of authentication and authorization. OAuth is poised to adapt to these changes, providing a robust foundation for secure and seamless access control.
In conclusion, OAuth providers play a critical role in modern authentication and authorization workflows, ensuring secure access to resources while maintaining user privacy and control. Understanding the functions and significance of OAuth providers is essential for developers, security professionals, and organizations seeking to implement robust access control mechanisms.
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