· solutions · 3 min read
Strapi Refresh Token Plugin for Enhanced Security
A Strapi5 plugin that provides refresh token functionality, a critical feature for enhancing security and maintaining secure user sessions in your application.
Strapi Refresh Token Plugin: A Critical Security Enhancement
In modern web applications, ensuring secure and efficient authentication is paramount. That’s why we’ve developed a Strapi 5 plugin that introduces refresh token functionality into your authentication flow. This plugin enhances the security of your application by providing an additional layer of protection for user sessions.
Why Refresh Tokens Matter
Refresh tokens are an essential part of maintaining secure user sessions. In traditional authentication systems, access tokens are often used to grant access to protected resources. Access tokens are typically short-lived to reduce the risk of unauthorized access if they are compromised. This is where our plugin comes into play.
Strapi’s access token life is default to 30 days, which isn’t ideal for systems that require more granular and secure environments. Reducing the lifespan of access tokens without providing a simple way to renew them can cause user experience issues. Our solution provides endpoints that allow your system to request a new token without requiring the user to log in again.
Key Features
1. Long-Lasting Sessions
Refresh tokens allow users to remain authenticated for longer periods, without needing to log in repeatedly. When an access token expires, the refresh token can be used to generate a new one, providing a seamless user experience. This ensures that users don’t need to continuously re-authenticate while maintaining a high level of security.
2. Protecting Against Token Theft
By using short-lived access tokens and long-lived refresh tokens, you mitigate the risk of exposing user credentials. Even if an access token is compromised, the refresh token can remain secure and is only transmitted over secure channels. In case of suspected theft, refresh tokens can be invalidated, adding another layer of protection.
3. Centralized Control
Refresh tokens allow you to implement more fine-grained control over user sessions. You can manage token expiration and revocation centrally, making it easier to revoke access for specific users or sessions if needed. This helps maintain security across your platform and reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
How Our Strapi Plugin Works
Our Strapi plugin seamlessly integrates refresh token functionality into your Strapi-based authentication system. Here’s how it works:
Issue Refresh Tokens: When a user logs in, the plugin generates both an access token and a refresh token.
Access Token Expiry: The access token expires after a set period, but the refresh token remains valid.
Renew Access Token: When the access token expires, the refresh token can be sent to the server to request a new access token without requiring the user to log in again.
Revocation Mechanism: You can revoke refresh tokens if necessary, providing an additional layer of security.
Centralized Session Management: Admins gain full control over user sessions, enabling them to manage and revoke tokens as needed to ensure platform security.
Having the Strapi Refresh Token Plugin is a powerful addition to your authentication system. By implementing refresh tokens, you enhance the security of your application, protect user data, and provide a seamless user experience. If this solution is something you are interested in deploying, feel free to contact us to get started.