Authentication and Authorization

The aispec framework leverages authentication and authorization to secure access to sensitive data and functionalities. The core principle is to ensure that only authorized users with verified identities can interact with specific parts of the system.

Authentication

Authentication verifies a user’s identity. The aispec framework supports the following authentication mechanisms:

1. Basic Authentication:

   • Concept: This traditional method transmits username and password in plain text.

   • Suitable for: Simple scenarios where security is not paramount.

   • Example (from aispec/auth.py):

     from base64 import b64encode
               
               credentials = b'username:password'
               encoded_credentials = b64encode(credentials).decode('ascii')
               authorization_header = f'Basic {encoded_credentials}'
               

   • Security Considerations: Sensitive data is exposed during transmission, making it unsuitable for high-security applications.

2. API Keys:

   • Concept: Unique keys are assigned to applications or users, allowing access to specific resources.

   • Suitable for: Machine-to-machine interactions or scenarios where user authentication is not required.

   • Example (from aispec/auth.py):

     import requests
               
               api_key = 'your_api_key'
               headers = {'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}'}
               response = requests.get('https://api.example.com/data', headers=headers)
               

   • Security Considerations: API keys should be treated with care, as compromised keys could grant unauthorized access.

3. OAuth 2.0:

   • Concept: A standard protocol that enables delegated authorization, allowing users to grant limited access to their data without sharing their credentials.

   • Suitable for: Applications that interact with external services or require user consent for data access.

   • Example (from aispec/auth.py):

     from authlib.integrations.requests_client import OAuth2Session
               
               client_id = 'your_client_id'
               client_secret = 'your_client_secret'
               authorization_endpoint = 'https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/auth'
               token_endpoint = 'https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token'
               
               oauth = OAuth2Session(client_id, redirect_uri='http://localhost:8000/callback', scope=['profile', 'email'])
               authorization_url, state = oauth.authorization_url(authorization_endpoint)
               # Redirect user to the authorization endpoint
               
               # After user authorization
               token = oauth.fetch_token(token_endpoint, client_secret=client_secret, authorization_response=authorization_url)
               # Now you have access tokens
               

   • Security Considerations: Requires careful configuration and handling of sensitive client secrets.

4. JWT (JSON Web Token):

   • Concept: Compact and self-contained tokens that allow secure transmission of information between parties.

   • Suitable for: Scenarios where secure communication and data validation are required.

   • Example (from aispec/auth.py):

     import jwt
               
               secret_key = 'your_secret_key'
               payload = {'user_id': 123, 'role': 'admin'}
               token = jwt.encode(payload, secret_key, algorithm='HS256')
               
               # ... later
               decoded_token = jwt.decode(token, secret_key, algorithms=['HS256'])
               

   • Security Considerations: Sensitive secret keys must be stored securely, and token validity should be carefully managed.

Authorization

Authorization determines what actions a user is allowed to perform. The aispec framework uses role-based access control (RBAC) to manage authorization.

1. Roles: Each user is assigned a specific role, defining their permissions within the system.

   • Example: An administrator role might have full access, while a user role might only have read permissions.

2. Permissions: Roles are associated with specific permissions that grant access to resources or actions.

   • Example: The aispec/auth.py file defines the structure of the authorization system.

3. Policy Enforcement: Authorization is enforced through a policy engine that checks the user’s role and permissions against the required access level for the requested resource or action.

   • Example: An endpoint requiring administrator access will only be accessible to users with the admin role.

Note: Detailed implementations of authentication and authorization strategies are specific to individual applications and are managed within the project structure.

This outline provides a foundational understanding of how authentication and authorization are implemented in the aispec framework. Developers are encouraged to explore the codebase for specific implementations and integrations with different authentication and authorization mechanisms.