OAuth Security in APIGEE

This blog explores implementing OAuth Security in Apigee proxy flows. Controlling and securing API access is essential in proxy development.

Apigee offers policies tailored to various requirements. The OAuth policy manages OAuth grant types and handles code and token generation for authenticating proxy requests.

OAuth streamlines the authorization process for client developers by offering a consistent and unified framework. Its specifications are created and maintained by a working group under the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Apigee Supported Oauth Grant Types:

•  Authorization Code
•  Client Credentials
•  Password
• Implicit Grant
• Refresh Token

Setting up OAuth in Apigee using the Authorization Code grant type: Apigee includes a specific policy to enable OAuth 2.0 integration and functionality.. This policy includes configurable elements to specify the grant type, perform operations such as token generation or verification, and define the necessary parameters.

This blog focuses on the Authorization Code grant type. While setting up the policy, the grant type is configured as Authorization Code, with the first step focused on creating the authorization code. The proxy incorporates three conditional flows: generating the authorization code, generating the token, and verifying the token to grant backend access.

Key parameters for authorization generation include redirect_uri, response_type, and client_id, while optional parameters are scope and state. If optional parameters are provided, they must also be specified during token generation. Responses can be configured to return either to the redirect URI or as a JSON response to the client.

With the authorization code received, a subsequent request can be sent to obtain an access token, configuring the policy with the “generate access token” operation. Required parameters are grant_type, code, and redirect_uri. As before, responses can be sent to the redirect URI or directly to the client. These two flows are essential for obtaining a new token.

Token verification is achieved by configuring the policy with the “verify access token” operation. The OAuth token, provided as a bearer token in the authorization header, is validated by the policy. If the token is active and valid, the request proceeds; if not, an error response is returned.The understanding of OAuth in Apigee enables various operations. All five grant types can be implemented similarly, with variations in required parameters.