OAuth 2.1 Provider for Rails

Build a complete RFC-compliant OAuth 2.1 authorization server enabling your Rails app to:

• Authorize third-party clients with consent screens
• Issue access tokens via authorization code + PKCE or client credentials
• Dynamic client registration (RFC 7591)
• OAuth metadata discovery (RFC 8414)
• Comprehensive audit logging and monitoring

Quick Decision Guide

Architecture Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     OAuth 2.1 Provider                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Discovery Layer                                             │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │ GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server             │ │
│  │ Returns: issuer, authorization_endpoint, token_endpoint │ │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                                              │
│  Authorization Layer                                         │
│  ┌─────────────────────┐   ┌─────────────────────┐         │
│  │ /oauth/authorize    │   │ /oauth/token        │         │
│  │ - Consent screen    │   │ - client_credentials│         │
│  │ - PKCE validation   │   │ - authorization_code│         │
│  │ - Code issuance     │   │ - refresh_token     │         │
│  └─────────────────────┘   └─────────────────────┘         │
│                                                              │
│  Client Layer                                                │
│  ┌─────────────────────┐   ┌─────────────────────┐         │
│  │ /oauth/register     │   │ OAuthClient         │         │
│  │ - Dynamic DCR       │   │ OAuthAccessToken    │         │
│  │ - RFC 7591          │   │ OAuthAuthorizationCode│       │
│  └─────────────────────┘   └─────────────────────┘         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Implementation Order

Phase 1: Core Models (1-2 hours)

1. Read Core Implementation
2. Generate migrations for OAuth tables
3. Create OAuthClient, OAuthAccessToken, OAuthAuthorizationCode models

Phase 2: Authorization Endpoints (2-3 hours)

1. Read PKCE Flow
2. Implement OAuthController with discovery, authorize, token endpoints
3. Create consent screen view

Phase 3: Client Management (1-2 hours)

1. Read Client Management
2. Implement ClientRegistrationService
3. Add dynamic client registration endpoint

Phase 4: Token Service (1-2 hours)

1. Read Token Service
2. Implement TokenService for issuance and validation
3. Add cleanup tasks for expired tokens

Phase 5: Monitoring (Optional, 1-2 hours)

1. Read Monitoring
2. Implement OAuthMonitoringService
3. Add event tracking and cleanup tasks

Key Files to Create

app/
├── controllers/
│   └── oauth_controller.rb           # Main OAuth endpoints
├── models/
│   ├── oauth_client.rb               # Client registration
│   ├── oauth_access_token.rb         # Bearer tokens
│   ├── oauth_authorization_code.rb   # Auth codes with PKCE
│   ├── oauth_refresh_token.rb        # Refresh tokens
│   └── oauth_event.rb                # Audit logging
├── services/
│   ├── token_service.rb              # Token issuance/validation
│   ├── client_registration_service.rb # Dynamic registration
│   ├── p_k_c_e_service.rb            # PKCE handling
│   └── oauth_monitoring_service.rb   # Stats and cleanup
├── views/
│   └── oauth/
│       └── authorize.html.erb        # Consent screen
└── concerns/
    ├── oauth_authentication.rb       # Auth concern
    └── oauth_cors.rb                 # CORS handling

config/
├── initializers/
│   └── oauth_security.rb             # Security config
└── oauth_security.yml                # Security settings

db/migrate/
├── create_oauth_clients.rb
├── create_oauth_access_tokens.rb
├── create_oauth_authorization_codes.rb
└── create_oauth_events.rb

Output Checklist

When implementation is complete, verify:

• GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server returns RFC 8414 metadata
• Discovery includes: issuer, authorization_endpoint, token_endpoint, registration_endpoint
• Discovery includes: grant_types_supported, response_types_supported, scopes_supported
• POST /oauth/register supports dynamic client registration (RFC 7591)
• Registration validates redirect URIs (HTTPS required except localhost)
• GET /oauth/authorize renders consent screen for logged-in users
• Authorization code flow enforces PKCE for public clients
• POST /oauth/token handles authorization_code grant with PKCE verification
• POST /oauth/token handles client_credentials grant for confidential clients
• Token validation is timing-safe using secure_compare
• Scope validation is centralized and enforced on protected endpoints
• Expired tokens and codes are cleaned up automatically

Common Pitfalls

1. Missing PKCE for public clients: OAuth 2.1 requires PKCE for all public clients
2. Timing attacks on token validation: Always use secure_compare for token comparison
3. Token leakage: Encrypt tokens at rest with Rails encrypts declaration
4. CORS issues: Configure proper CORS headers for browser-based clients
5. Redirect URI validation: Strict validation to prevent open redirector attacks
6. HTTP for non-localhost: Only allow HTTP for localhost redirect URIs
7. Fragment in redirect URI: Reject URIs containing fragments (#)
8. Missing state parameter: Always validate and return state for CSRF protection

Testing Notes

Discovery Testing

• Verify /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server returns valid JSON
• Confirm all required RFC 8414 fields are present
• Test that endpoints URLs are absolute

Registration Testing

• Test public client creation (no secret returned)
• Test confidential client creation (secret returned)
• Verify HTTP redirect URIs rejected (except localhost)
• Verify fragment-containing URIs rejected

Authorization Flow Testing

• Test PKCE required for public clients
• Test state parameter preservation
• Test consent screen renders correctly
• Test code issuance and single-use

Token Exchange Testing

• Test PKCE verification with correct verifier
• Test PKCE failure with incorrect verifier
• Test code expiration (10 min default)
• Test redirect_uri matching

Security Testing

• Verify timing-safe token comparison
• Test rate limiting on token endpoint
• Verify token encryption at rest
• Test scope enforcement

References

• Core Implementation - Models and controller
• PKCE Flow - Public client authorization
• Client Management - Dynamic registration
• Token Service - Token lifecycle
• Monitoring - Audit and cleanup