Hello Seekers! In this blog, We will get an overview of PASETO – a secured alternative for JWT and how it solves the security issues of the widely used token based authentication, JWT.
Token Based Authentication
It is an authentication mechanism where the client will first make a request to the server for login, with a username and password. Server checks if the credentials are correct and sends back a response with a signed token. Servers uses a secret key stored on the server to create this signed token. This authentication mechanism is more popular in web and mobile application development.
JSON web token (JWT) is the most popular token-based authentication. However, many security threats have been exposed in recent years, causing people to migrate to other types of tokens.
Platform Agnostic Security Token or PASETO is one such token which is being accepted as the best secured alternative for JWT.
PASETO vs JWT
JWT is a base64 string divided into three parts with dots. First part is the header while the second part is the payload data and the last part holds the digital signature. JWT uses weak signing algorithms and a poor implementation can make the whole system vulnerable. Also, it is easy to extract the signing algorithm from JWT’s header.
PASETO successfully addresses all these issues. PASETO provides a strong cipher suite with each version. This resolves the JWT’s weak algorithm issues. Moreover, users just need to choose a version of PASETO and the library will take care of the encryption. On top of that, PASETO also makes token forgery a lot more difficult and users will not be able retrieve any algorithm related data from the token headers.
PASETO Structure
Now, let’s take a look at the structure of the PASETO token. Each token has four parts, separated by dots. First part will hold the token version and the second part holds the purpose of the token. It can be either local or public.
If the token’s purpose is local, it means that PASETO is using a symmetric-key digital signature algorithm to sign the token while it is an asymmetric-key algorithm in public’s case. Now, the third part of the token is the encrypted payload. Finally, the fourth part of the token is the token footer. It is an optional part of the token which we can use to share unencrypted base64 encoded public data.
If we decrypt the encrypted payload part of the token, we will find three sub parts in the payload. First is the payload body which stores data and expiration time. Second sub part is the nonce value. The nonce value is useful in authentication and encryption processes. Final sub part of the payload is the authentication tag, used for authenticating the message.
Everything in the PASETO token is authenticated with the AEAD algorithm. Hence, it is not possible to tamper with the token without the server’s secret key. This token implementation is not just safer but is also easier than the JWT.
PASETO is more secure than JWT and offers a simpler implementation. As a result, many developer communities started accepting it as a better alternative to JWT. Now that you too know the advantages of using PASETO over JWT, what are you going to use for your next project ? Choose wisely. Have a great day.
FAQs
Paseto, which stands for Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens, is a specification for secure stateless tokens. It provides a modern and better alternative to JWT, addressing some of its inherent vulnerabilities and emphasizing secure defaults and ease of implementation.
What is more secure than JWT? ›
Secure: Opaque tokens do not contain any user information, making them more secure than JWT tokens. Flexible: Opaque tokens can be customized to store additional user information in the authorization server, which can be retrieved by the resource server when needed.
Is JWT enough for security? ›
It's important to note that a JWT guarantees data ownership but not encryption. The reason is that the JWT can be seen by anyone who intercepts the token because it's serialized, not encrypted. It is strongly advised to use JWTs with HTTPS, a practice that extends to general web security.
What is the safest JWT algorithm? ›
Always sign the JWT token: Use a secure signing algorithm, such as HMAC or RSA, to sign the token with a secret or private key. This ensures the integrity and authenticity of the token.
Is JWT obsolete? ›
In May 2023, Adobe announced the deprecation and end of life of Service Account (JWT) credentials. This means that any of your integrations or custom applications using a Service Account (JWT) credential will need to migrate to the new OAuth Server-to-Server credential before January 27, 2025.
Is JWT still relevant? ›
The JWT specification itself is not trusted by security experts. This should preclude all usage of them for anything related to security and authentication. The original spec specifically made it possible to create fake tokens, and is likely to contain other mistakes.
What is the security flaw in JWT? ›
JWT attacks involve a user sending modified JWTs to the server in order to achieve a malicious goal. Typically, this goal is to bypass authentication and access controls by impersonating another user who has already been authenticated.
Why Paseto is better than JWT? ›
Paseto (Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens) offers a modern, more secure alternative to JWT. It addresses some inherent vulnerabilities of JWT by emphasizing secure defaults and ease of implementation.
Which authentication method is the most secure? ›
1. Biometric Authentication Methods. Biometric authentication relies on the unique biological traits of a user in order to verify their identity. This makes biometrics one of the most secure authentication methods as of today.
How do I make my JWT token more secure? ›
JWT Security Best Practices
- JWTs Used as Access Tokens.
- Avoid JWTs With Sensitive Data on the Front Channel.
- What Algorithms to use.
- When to Validate the Token.
- Always Check the Issuer.
- Always Check the Audience.
- Make Sure Tokens are Used as Intended.
- Don't Trust All the Claims.
Both Spring Security OAuth2 and JWT are used to improve the security of web applications and that is similar in Security Enhancement. Both Spring Security OAuth2 and JWT depend on token-based authentication and authorization mechanisms. Both make use of JSON, JWT uses JSON to represent the claims between two parties.
What are the disadvantages of JWT authentication? ›
Disadvantages of JWT Authentication:
Token Size: JWTs can become large if they carry extensive user data, leading to increased network traffic. You should strike a balance between token size and necessary information. Limited Token Expiry Control: Once issued, JWTs remain valid until they expire.
What is better than JWT security? ›
OAuth provides a secure way for the user to give permission for the third-party application to access their resources without exposing their login credentials. To summarize: Use cases – JWT is better suited to APIs. OAuth is useful for web, API, and browser applications and resources.
What are the criticism of JWT? ›
The criticisms of JWT seem to fall into two categories: (1) Criticizing vulnerabilities in particular JWT libraries, as in this article. (2) Generally criticizing the practice of using any "stateless" client tokens. Because there's no great way to revoke them early while remaining stateless, etc.
Is JWT more secure than API key? ›
However, you can't control all API use; API keys are likely to leak; HTTPS is not always possible; and so on. With JWT, because the token is hashed / encrypted, it comes with a more secure methodology that is less likely to be exposed.
Why is PASETO better than JWT? ›
Paseto (Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens) offers a modern, more secure alternative to JWT. It addresses some inherent vulnerabilities of JWT by emphasizing secure defaults and ease of implementation.
Are sessions better than JWT? ›
Choosing between JWT and session-based authentication depends on your application's specific needs. If you prioritize statelessness and scalability, JWT might be your go-to. For traditional applications where immediate control over sessions is crucial, session-based authentication holds the upper hand.
Which is more secure cookies or JWT? ›
Choosing Between JWT and Cookies storage
API Integration: For API integration and resources, JWT perform better in authentication than cookies storage, it controls both the API and client by offering more protection and flexibility.
