- Author: Brandon Fang
- Translator: Fran Chen
Deciphering OIDC (OpenID Connect): Resolving Password Security and API Management Challenges
In a study conducted by Home Security Heroes, an AI cracker tested 15.68 million passwords, and over 50% of them were successfully cracked within 1 minute. In OAuth 2.0 Password Grant, exchanging credentials with passwords is even completely prohibited. On the contrary, the Authorization Code is recommended for authentication without the use of passwords.
Exploring the Essence of OIDC in Password-Free Authentication
OIDC (OpenID Connect) is an open standard protocol based on OAuth 2.0 for authentication and authorization purposes. It facilitates the establishment of secure trust relationships among web applications while simplifying the user identity authentication process.
Utilizing an Authentication Server, OIDC verifies user identities and relays the authentication success message back to the client application. This grants users seamless access to multiple applications using a single set of credentials, eliminating the necessity for re-authentication.
The advantage of OIDC lies in providing an improved user experience while enhancing security, assisting developers in verifying user identities and ensuring a more convenient user journey. On the other hand, beyond authentication and authorization, the validation and management of APIs are crucial for enterprises. Confusion about APIs is a common challenge for companies. Properly utilizing API Tokens for authentication, authorization, and usage and time limitations is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity management.
Overlooking API Management Exposes Enterprises to Risks
Neglecting API management often leads to difficulties for companies or organizations. Managing numerous APIs, especially with varied formats, often results in frequent rewriting when demands arise. Authorization for internal and external API usage is inconsistent, contributing to confusion and challenging audits. Even the security of APIs within enterprises remains uncertain.
Back in 2019, Gartner’s research report “API Security: What You Need to Do to Protect Your APIs” highlighted the ongoing occurrences of API attacks. Enterprises must design and implement effective API management strategies to safeguard their APIs.
During the Taiwan CYBERSEC 2020, Professor Kung Chen from the Department of Management Information Systems at National Chengchi University mentioned two significant challenges regarding API security. First, hackers tend to target the forgotten, underused, or abandoned APIs. Second, hackers exploit legitimate channels to access enterprises and carry out attacks, often without detection for extended periods by many companies.
To address the challenges of API control and authentication, TPIsoftware has developed the digiRunner API Management Platform. This platform assists enterprises and organizations in easily managing APIs, saving time and costs associated with implementing AuthN and AuthZ mechanisms. It alleviates the need for development, unit testing, extensive research, and technical debt, making it the perfect choice for implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms.
digiRunner Tackles Password Vulnerabilities and API Management Complexity with OIDC
digiRunner leverages the OIDC authorization flow, an advanced version of OAuth 2.0, functions as an Authentication Server, issuing Access Tokens and ID Tokens to process authentication and authorization. This process ensures data security by restricting access to authenticated users for specific resources and even implements secondary identity verification for sensitive transactions.
Apart from managing authentication, digiRunner efficiently addresses the challenges of API complexities, security, and format conversions through its API Management Console and API Portal. For internal IT and API developers, digiRunner serves as a proxy, facilitating integration with client APIs through the API Management Console. Additionally, both internal and external developers can conveniently access all published APIs via the API Portal within a unified platform.
Regarding monitoring capabilities, digiRunner allows setting thresholds for immediate notification via email or Line when conditions are met. Enterprises can configure traffic thresholds and IP blacklisting/whitelisting, as well as manage API Key or Token mechanisms, including restricting user-specific access timeframes or API calls.
digiRunner incorporates API statistical reports for swift insights into API usage, identifying the most and least used APIs. Additionally, the API Log expedites both internal and external auditing requirements.
Despite its robust functionalities, digiRunner boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Take API Composer, for instance. Simply drag and drop nodes onto the work area with digiRunner, and a new API is effortlessly created.”
Implementing digiRunner assists companies in reducing API maintenance costs, promptly detecting cybersecurity risks, and complying with OAuth 2.0 and OIDC standards and domestic regulations. It significantly reduces the time required for enterprise API management, eliminating the hassle of API authorization, traffic management, encryption, and logging. The in-house professional team can solely focus on API services, substantially boosting overall efficiency of the enterprise.
digiRunner serves as an independent Authentication Server (Auth Server), effectively resolving authentication and API management challenges. If you encounter difficulties in password security and API management, please feel free to contact TPIsoftware for complimentary professional consultation services.