Jeff D Stephens

Discover Distinct Ways that WebAuthn and OIDC Compare

WebAuthn (Web Authentication) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) are two standards that are often used to improve the security and convenience of online authentication. While they serve different purposes, they can both be useful tools for protecting against cyber threats such as identity theft and account takeover.

In this blog post, I’ll compare WebAuthn and OIDC, explaining how they work and discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each standard. By the end of this post, you should have a good understanding of the differences between WebAuthn and OIDC, and be able to decide which standard is best suited to your needs.

What is WebAuthn

WebAuthn (Web Authentication) is a standard that allows users to authenticate themselves to a website or application using strong, secure authentication methods, such as a hardware token or biometric data, instead of a password. It is designed to provide a more secure and convenient alternative to traditional username and password authentication, which is vulnerable to attacks such as phishing and password cracking.

To use WebAuthn, a user must have a device that supports the standard, such as a smartphone or security key. When the user attempts to log in to a website or application that supports WebAuthn, the device is used to verify the user’s identity. This typically involves the user performing some action on the device, such as pressing a button or using their fingerprint to confirm their identity.

Technically, WebAuthn relies on a combination of public key cryptography and the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) protocol. When a user attempts to log in to a website or application, the server sends a challenge to the user’s device. The device then generates a cryptographic key pair and uses the private key to sign the challenge. The signed challenge and the public key are then sent back to the server, which verifies the signature using the public key and allows the user to log in if the signature is valid.

Overall, WebAuthn is a powerful tool for improving the security and convenience of online authentication, as it allows users to use strong, secure authentication methods without the need for passwords. It is supported by a wide range of browsers and devices, and is becoming increasingly popular as a way to protect against cyber threats such as identity theft and account takeover.

What is OpenID Connect

OpenID Connect (OIDC) is an open standard that enables users to authenticate themselves to multiple online services using a single set of credentials. It allows users to log in to multiple websites and applications using a single set of login details, such as a username and password, or a third-party authentication service like Google or Facebook.

OIDC is built on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol, which is a widely-used standard for authorization. OIDC adds an authentication layer to OAuth, allowing users to authenticate themselves to an identity provider (IdP) and then use the IdP to access multiple online services.

To use OIDC, a user must first log in to an IdP using their login details. The IdP then verifies the user’s identity and sends an access token to the website or application that the user is trying to access (the relying party, or RP). The RP can then use the access token to grant the user access to the service.

OIDC is supported by a wide range of websites and applications, and is commonly used to enable single sign-on (SSO) functionality. This allows users to log in to multiple services using a single set of credentials, improving the convenience of online authentication.

Overall, OIDC is a powerful tool for enabling users to access multiple online services using a single set of credentials, while still providing a secure and convenient way to authenticate users. It is widely used by businesses, governments, and other organizations to improve the security and convenience of online authentication.

What are the major components of a WebAuthn system and an OIDC system

Both systems have several key components that are involved in the authentication process.

For a WebAuthn system, some of the major components include:

  • Relying party (RP): This is the website or application that the user is trying to log in to. The RP is responsible for initiating the authentication process and verifying the user’s identity.
  • User agent: This is the software that the user is using to access the RP, such as a web browser. The user agent is responsible for communicating with the user’s device and the RP during the authentication process.
  • Authenticator: This is the device or software that the user uses to verify their identity. It can be a hardware token, a software token, or a biometric device, such as a fingerprint reader. The authenticator is responsible for generating a cryptographic key pair and signing the challenge sent by the RP.

For an OpenID Connect system, some of the major components include:

  • Identity provider (IdP): This is the service that the user is using to authenticate themselves. It could be a website or application that the user logs in to using a username and password, or a third-party authentication service like Google or Facebook.
  • Relying party (RP): This is the website or application that the user is trying to log in to. The RP relies on the IdP to authenticate the user and provides access to the user if the authentication is successful.
  • User agent: This is the software that the user is using to access the RP, such as a web browser. The user agent is responsible for communicating with the IdP and the RP during the authentication process.

What is the difference between WebAuthn and OIDC

WebAuthn (Web Authentication) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) are both standards that are used to authenticate users and enable them to access online services and resources. However, they serve different purposes and are used in different ways.

WebAuthn is a standard for authenticating users to websites and applications using strong, secure authentication methods, such as hardware tokens or biometric data. It is designed to provide a more secure and convenient alternative to traditional username and password authentication.

On the other hand, OpenID Connect is a standard for enabling users to authenticate themselves to multiple online services using a single set of credentials. It allows users to log in to multiple websites and applications using a single set of login details, such as a username and password, or a third-party authentication service like Google or Facebook.

In summary, WebAuthn is focused on providing a secure and convenient way to authenticate users to a single website or application, while OpenID Connect is focused on enabling users to authenticate themselves to multiple online services using a single set of credentials. Both standards can be used together to provide a secure and convenient way for users to access online resources.

Benefits and drawbacks of WebAuthn and OIDC

Here are a few benefits and drawbacks of each authentication method.

Benefits of WebAuthn

  1. Improved security: WebAuthn allows users to authenticate themselves using strong, secure authentication methods, such as hardware tokens or biometric data. This makes it more difficult for attackers to compromise user accounts, as they would need to physically access the user’s device or steal their biometric data.
  2. Convenience: WebAuthn eliminates the need for users to remember complex passwords, as they can simply use their device to authenticate themselves. This makes it easier for users to log in to websites and applications, and reduces the risk of users choosing weak or easy-to-guess passwords.
  3. Wide support: WebAuthn is supported by a wide range of browsers and devices, making it widely available to users.

Drawbacks of WebAuthn

  1. Device dependency: WebAuthn requires users to have a device that supports the standard, such as a smartphone or security key. This can be inconvenient for users who do not have a compatible device or who lose access to their device.
  2. Limited adoption: While WebAuthn is becoming increasingly popular, it is not yet supported by all websites and applications. This means that users may not be able to use WebAuthn to authenticate themselves to all of the online services they use.
  3. Complexity: Implementing WebAuthn can be complex, as it involves integrating with multiple devices and protocols. This can be challenging for developers and may require additional resources and expertise.

Benefits of OpenID Connect

  1. Single sign-on: OIDC allows users to log in to multiple online services using a single set of credentials, improving the convenience of online authentication.
  2. Improved security: By allowing users to log in to multiple services using a single set of credentials, OIDC reduces the risk of users choosing weak or easy-to-guess passwords. It also allows users to use strong, secure authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication, to protect their accounts.
  3. Wide support: OIDC is supported by a wide range of websites and applications, making it widely available to users.

Drawbacks of OpenID Connect

  1. Dependency on third-party IdPs: OIDC requires users to log in to an IdP in order to access other online services. This can be inconvenient for users who do not have an account with a compatible IdP or who do not want to use a third-party service to authenticate themselves.
  2. Limited control: When using OIDC, users must rely on the security practices of the IdP to protect their accounts. If the IdP is compromised, the user’s accounts on other services may also be at risk.
  3. Complexity: Implementing OIDC can be complex, as it involves integrating with multiple IdPs and protocols. This can be challenging for developers and may require additional resources and expertise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WebAuthn and OpenID Connect are two standards that are often used to improve the security and convenience of online authentication. While they serve different purposes, they can both be useful tools for protecting against cyber threats such as identity theft and account takeover.

According to a survey by the FIDO Alliance, WebAuthn is supported by over 90% of desktop and mobile browsers, making it widely available to users (FIDO Alliance, 2021). It is also supported by a growing number of websites and applications, including major online services like Google, Microsoft, and Dropbox (FIDO Alliance, 2021).

OpenID Connect is also widely supported, with over 1 billion users relying on the standard to access online services (OpenID Foundation, 2021). It is supported by a wide range of websites and applications, including major online services like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook (OpenID Foundation, 2021).

Overall, both WebAuthn and OpenID Connect are important tools for improving the security and convenience of online authentication. While they have their own benefits and drawbacks, they can be used together to provide a robust and convenient way for users to access online resources.

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