JWT VS PASETO
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Introduction "Hello everyone, today I'm going to share the differences between JWT (JSON Web Token), which we are familiar with, and PASETO (Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens), a newer option that is currently being discussed regarding security. To put it simply, JWT is like a multi-purpose toolbox that can do everything but must be used correctly, otherwise, it can be dangerous. PASETO, on the other hand, is a ready-made toolkit designed to be secure straight from the factory."
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The Problem with JWT "Why do we need PASETO? Because JWT has vulnerabilities due to its overly flexible design: Algorithm Confusion: The JWT Header specifies which algorithm is used (e.g., RS256 or HS256). Hackers can modify the Header to 'alg: none' to bypass signature verification or trick the server into using the wrong key type. No Encryption by Default: Typically, JWT only encodes data (Base64) but does not encrypt it. Anyone who obtains the Token can immediately view the data inside (unless using JWE, which is difficult to configure)."
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PASETO is the Solution "PASETO solves these issues with the 'Secure by Default' principle: No Agnostic Header: PASETO doesn't let us choose algorithms arbitrarily. Instead, it bundles them into Versions (e.g., v2, v4), where each Version strictly uses the algorithms accepted as most secure at that time. This completely eliminates the 'Algorithm Confusion' problem. Two Modes: Public: Similar to standard JWT, it uses a signature to verify integrity. Local: This encrypts the internal data with a Symmetric Key, making it impossible for others to read the data in the Token at all."
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Conclusion and Recommendation "So, what should we choose? Use JWT: If you need to build a system that connects with international standards like OAuth2 or OpenID Connect (OIDC) because it has the widest ecosystem and library support. Use PASETO: If you are building Internal Microservices or a new Modern Web App and want assurance that the Token won't fail on basic security issues.
In summary, if you prioritize simplicity and high security without extensive configuration, PASETO is the future."
