OAuthin

OAuthin is a proposed authorization framework that extends OAuth 2.0 to address device and application contexts where user interaction is limited or indirect. In this model, OAuthin retains the same core roles as OAuth—resource owner, client, authorization server, and resource server—but introduces device bindings and policy-based token issuance to improve security and usability in mobile, IoT, and embedded environments.

Operations and flows: OAuthin uses a device authorization approach similar to the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant, where a user completes authorization on a separate device. A device code is issued to the client and presented to the user via a companion device or display. After user consent, the authorization server issues access tokens bound to the device identity, with renewed scopes and finite lifetime. Client registration and attestation can require hardware-backed keys or in-device attestation to verify the client identity.

Security and policy: OAuthin emphasizes token binding to device identity, short-lived access tokens, and robust revocation. It supports PKCE, mutual TLS, and audience or origin filtering. It also envisions continuous consent models and granular scope control, to minimize token exposure.

Status and adoption: OAuthin is described in community drafts and experimental projects but has not become an official standard. It remains a subject of discussion among security researchers and vendors exploring device-friendly authorization patterns. Practitioners rely on established OAuth 2.0 and OAuth 2.1 patterns and consider OAuthin concepts as design guidance rather than a replacement.

See also: OAuth 2.0, OAuth 2.1, Device Authorization Grant, Token binding, Mutual TLS.