Improve Authentication: Replace JWT with Session-Based Authentication

[YaSh8202]

Overview

Replace the current JWT-based authentication system with a more secure and robust session-based authentication approach.

Current Issues with JWT Authentication

• Security concerns: JWTs are stored on the client-side (localStorage/sessionStorage) making them vulnerable to XSS attacks
• Token revocation: Difficult to invalidate JWTs before expiration
• Stateless nature: Cannot easily track user sessions or implement features like "logout from all devices"
• Token size: JWTs can become large with extensive claims, increasing payload size

Proposed Solution: Session-Based Authentication

Implement a traditional session-based authentication system with the following benefits:

Advantages

• Enhanced Security: Sessions stored server-side, only session ID sent to client via secure HTTP-only cookies
• Easy Revocation: Sessions can be immediately invalidated on the server
• Better Control: Full control over session lifecycle and user tracking
• CSRF Protection: Can implement proper CSRF tokens with session management
• Logout Functionality: Easy implementation of "logout from all devices"

Implementation Plan

1. Session Storage:

   • Choose appropriate session store (Redis, database, in-memory for development)
   • Implement session cleanup and expiration

2. Cookie Management:

   • Use HTTP-only cookies to store session IDs
   • Implement secure cookie settings (Secure, SameSite)
   • Set appropriate expiration times

3. Middleware Updates:

   • Replace JWT verification middleware with session validation
   • Add session refresh logic for long-lived sessions

4. Database Changes:

   • Create sessions table/collection if using database storage
   • Add user session tracking capabilities

5. Security Enhancements:

   • Implement CSRF protection
   • Add session rotation on privilege escalation
   • Implement proper logout functionality

Migration Strategy

• Set up session infrastructure alongside existing JWT system
• Create migration scripts for existing users
• Implement feature flags for gradual rollout
• Update authentication middleware
• Update client-side authentication handling
• Remove JWT dependencies after successful migration

Technical Requirements

• Session store implementation (Redis recommended for production)
• Updated authentication middleware
• Proper cookie security configuration
• CSRF protection implementation
• Session cleanup mechanism

Acceptance Criteria

• Session-based authentication fully implemented
• Secure cookie handling with HTTP-only flags
• Proper session expiration and cleanup
• CSRF protection in place
• Migration from JWT completed without data loss
• All existing authentication flows working with sessions
• Documentation updated with new authentication flow

Priority

High - Security improvement that addresses current vulnerabilities

Labels

• security
• authentication
• enhancement
• backend

This change will significantly improve the security posture of the application while providing better control over user sessions.