Hacker News: Pushed Authorization Requests (Par) in Asp.net Core 9

Source URL: https://nestenius.se/net/pushed-authorization-requests-par-in-asp-net-core-9/
Source: Hacker News
Title: Pushed Authorization Requests (Par) in Asp.net Core 9

Feedly Summary: Comments

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses the importance of Pushed Authorization Requests (PAR) in enhancing security within authentication processes, particularly in sectors such as open banking and healthcare. It highlights the implementation of PAR through the FAPI 2.0 Security Profile and identifies key metadata fields related to PAR in the context of OAuth Authorization Code flows.

Detailed Description:

– **Context and Relevance**: Pushed Authorization Requests (PAR) are increasingly significant in industries that demand high security measures, such as open banking and healthcare. The adoption of PAR is driven by the FAPI 2.0 Security Profile, created by the OpenID Foundation, which aims to protect sensitive information during authentication processes.

– **PAR Functionality**:
– PAR enhances the security of the OAuth Authorization Code flow by utilizing a back-channel to communicate sensitive parameters, as opposed to the front channel (browser URL), which is more susceptible to tampering and leakage.
– By shifting sensitive data to a back-channel, PAR aims to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access and information breaches.

– **Implementation**:
– Multiple identity providers, including Duende IdentityServer, Curity, Keycloak, and Authlete, now support PAR, indicating a shift toward more rigorous security standards.

– **Technical Specifics**:
– According to RFC 9126, identity providers must update their discovery documents to include new metadata fields pertinent to PAR. These fields are crucial for clients to understand and utilize PAR effectively during user authentication.
– The relevant fields include:
– `pushed_authorization_request_endpoint`: The endpoint designated for sending PAR requests.
– `require_pushed_authorization_requests`: A boolean flag that indicates whether the authorization server mandates PAR for authentication requests. If this field is absent, the default is set to false.

This information is particularly valuable for professionals involved in cloud computing security, information security, and the compliance landscape, as it highlights a key advancement in secure authentication practices, including both legislative implications and practical implementations. Understanding and adopting PAR could significantly enhance the security posture of organizations operating in sensitive sectors.