# WebCryptoAPI Authentication Implementation This document describes the complete WebCryptoAPI authentication system implemented in this project. ## Overview The WebCryptoAPI authentication system provides cryptographic authentication using ECDSA P-256 key pairs, challenge-response authentication, and secure key storage. This is the primary authentication mechanism for the application. ## Architecture ### Core Components 1. **Crypto Module** (`src/lib/auth/crypto.ts`) - WebCryptoAPI wrapper functions - Key pair generation (ECDSA P-256) - Public key export/import - Data signing and verification - User credential storage 2. **CryptoAuthService** (`src/lib/auth/cryptoAuthService.ts`) - High-level authentication service - Challenge-response authentication - User registration and login - Credential verification 3. **AuthService** (`src/lib/auth/authService.ts`) - Simplified authentication service - Session management - Integration with CryptoAuthService 4. **UI Components** - `CryptID.tsx` - Cryptographic authentication UI - `CryptoDebug.tsx` - Debug component for verification - `CryptoTest.tsx` - Test component for verification ## Features ### ✅ Implemented - **ECDSA P-256 Key Pairs**: Secure cryptographic key generation - **Challenge-Response Authentication**: Prevents replay attacks - **Public Key Infrastructure**: Store and verify public keys - **Browser Support Detection**: Checks for WebCryptoAPI availability - **Secure Context Validation**: Ensures HTTPS requirement - **Modern UI**: Responsive design with dark mode support - **Comprehensive Testing**: Test component for verification ### 🔧 Technical Details #### Key Generation ```typescript const keyPair = await crypto.generateKeyPair(); // Returns CryptoKeyPair with public and private keys ``` #### Public Key Export/Import ```typescript const publicKeyBase64 = await crypto.exportPublicKey(keyPair.publicKey); const importedKey = await crypto.importPublicKey(publicKeyBase64); ``` #### Data Signing and Verification ```typescript const signature = await crypto.signData(privateKey, data); const isValid = await crypto.verifySignature(publicKey, signature, data); ``` #### Challenge-Response Authentication ```typescript // Generate challenge const challenge = `${username}:${timestamp}:${random}`; // Sign challenge during registration const signature = await crypto.signData(privateKey, challenge); // Verify during login const isValid = await crypto.verifySignature(publicKey, signature, challenge); ``` ## Browser Requirements ### Minimum Requirements - **WebCryptoAPI Support**: `window.crypto.subtle` - **Secure Context**: HTTPS or localhost - **Modern Browser**: Chrome 37+, Firefox 34+, Safari 11+, Edge 12+ ### Feature Detection ```typescript const hasWebCrypto = typeof window.crypto !== 'undefined' && typeof window.crypto.subtle !== 'undefined'; const isSecure = window.isSecureContext; ``` ## Security Considerations ### ✅ Implemented Security Measures 1. **Secure Context Requirement**: Only works over HTTPS 2. **ECDSA P-256**: Industry-standard elliptic curve 3. **Challenge-Response**: Prevents replay attacks 4. **Key Storage**: Public keys stored securely in localStorage 5. **Input Validation**: Username format validation 6. **Error Handling**: Comprehensive error management ### ⚠️ Security Notes 1. **Private Key Storage**: Currently uses localStorage for demo purposes - In production, consider using Web Crypto API's non-extractable keys - Consider hardware security modules (HSM) - Implement proper key derivation 2. **Session Management**: - Uses localStorage for session persistence - Consider implementing JWT tokens for server-side verification - Add session expiration and refresh logic 3. **Network Security**: - All crypto operations happen client-side - No private keys transmitted over network - Consider adding server-side signature verification ## Usage ### Basic Authentication Flow ```typescript import { CryptoAuthService } from './lib/auth/cryptoAuthService'; // Register a new user const registerResult = await CryptoAuthService.register('username'); if (registerResult.success) { console.log('User registered successfully'); } // Login with existing user const loginResult = await CryptoAuthService.login('username'); if (loginResult.success) { console.log('User authenticated successfully'); } ``` ### Integration with React Context ```typescript import { useAuth } from './context/AuthContext'; const { login, register } = useAuth(); // AuthService automatically uses crypto auth const success = await login('username'); ``` ### Using the CryptID Component ```typescript import CryptID from './components/auth/CryptID'; // Render the authentication component console.log('Login successful')} onCancel={() => console.log('Login cancelled')} /> ``` ### Testing the Implementation ```typescript import CryptoTest from './components/auth/CryptoTest'; // Render the test component to verify functionality ``` ## File Structure ``` src/ ├── lib/ │ ├── auth/ │ │ ├── crypto.ts # WebCryptoAPI wrapper │ │ ├── cryptoAuthService.ts # High-level auth service │ │ ├── authService.ts # Simplified auth service │ │ ├── sessionPersistence.ts # Session storage utilities │ │ └── types.ts # TypeScript types │ └── utils/ │ └── browser.ts # Browser support detection ├── components/ │ └── auth/ │ ├── CryptID.tsx # Main crypto auth UI │ ├── CryptoDebug.tsx # Debug component │ └── CryptoTest.tsx # Test component ├── context/ │ └── AuthContext.tsx # React context for auth state └── css/ └── crypto-auth.css # Styles for crypto components ``` ## Dependencies ### Required Packages - `one-webcrypto`: WebCryptoAPI polyfill (^1.0.3) ### Browser APIs Used - `window.crypto.subtle`: WebCryptoAPI - `window.localStorage`: Key and session storage - `window.isSecureContext`: Security context check ## Storage ### localStorage Keys Used - `registeredUsers`: Array of registered usernames - `${username}_publicKey`: User's public key (Base64) - `${username}_authData`: Authentication data (challenge, signature, timestamp) - `session`: Current user session data ## Testing ### Manual Testing 1. Navigate to the application 2. Use the `CryptoTest` component to run automated tests 3. Verify all test cases pass 4. Test on different browsers and devices ### Test Cases - [x] Browser support detection - [x] Secure context validation - [x] Key pair generation - [x] Public key export/import - [x] Data signing and verification - [x] User registration - [x] User login - [x] Credential verification - [x] Session persistence ## Troubleshooting ### Common Issues 1. **"Browser not supported"** - Ensure you're using a modern browser - Check if WebCryptoAPI is available - Verify HTTPS or localhost 2. **"Secure context required"** - Access the application over HTTPS - For development, use localhost 3. **"Key generation failed"** - Check browser console for errors - Verify WebCryptoAPI permissions - Try refreshing the page 4. **"Authentication failed"** - Verify user exists in localStorage - Check stored credentials - Clear browser data and retry ### Debug Mode Enable debug logging by opening the browser console: ```typescript localStorage.setItem('debug_crypto', 'true'); ``` ## Future Enhancements ### Planned Improvements 1. **Enhanced Key Storage**: Use Web Crypto API's non-extractable keys 2. **Server-Side Verification**: Add server-side signature verification 3. **Multi-Factor Authentication**: Add additional authentication factors 4. **Key Rotation**: Implement automatic key rotation 5. **Hardware Security**: Support for hardware security modules ### Advanced Features 1. **Zero-Knowledge Proofs**: Implement ZKP for enhanced privacy 2. **Threshold Cryptography**: Distributed key management 3. **Post-Quantum Cryptography**: Prepare for quantum threats 4. **Biometric Integration**: Add biometric authentication ## Integration with Automerge Sync The authentication system works seamlessly with the Automerge-based real-time collaboration: - **User Identification**: Each user is identified by their username in Automerge - **Session Management**: Sessions persist across page reloads via localStorage - **Collaboration**: Authenticated users can join shared canvas rooms - **Privacy**: Only authenticated users can access canvas data ## Contributing When contributing to the WebCryptoAPI authentication system: 1. **Security First**: All changes must maintain security standards 2. **Test Thoroughly**: Run the test suite before submitting 3. **Document Changes**: Update this documentation 4. **Browser Compatibility**: Test on multiple browsers 5. **Performance**: Ensure crypto operations don't block UI ## References - [WebCryptoAPI Specification](https://www.w3.org/TR/WebCryptoAPI/) - [ECDSA Algorithm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic_Curve_Digital_Signature_Algorithm) - [P-256 Curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIST_Curve_P-256) - [Challenge-Response Authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge%E2%80%93response_authentication)