Skip to main content

SecureAuth protection against replay attacks

Replay attacks happen when an attacker captures valid authentication data, such as a token or assertion, and tries to reuse it to gain unauthorized access.

SecureAuth Identity Platform includes configuration options and built-in security features that protect your resources from replay attacks. These controls make sure that captured tokens or authentication messages cannot be reused to impersonate a valid user.

Why this matters

Replay-resistant authentication strengthens your security posture and helps you meet compliance requirements by making every authentication transaction unique and time-bound.

Configuration options that help prevent replay attacks

SecureAuth Identity Platform provides several configuration settings that help you reduce or eliminate the risk of replay attacks. By enabling short-lived tokens, device checks, and modern authentication standards, you can make sure that every login request is verified, unique, and valid only once. The following options show how each protocol and feature contributes to replay protection.

SAML assertions

You can configure SAML assertions with short validity periods (NotBefore and NotOnOrAfter) and require all assertions to be signed and, if needed, encrypted. These settings prevent attackers from reusing expired or modified assertions.

OpenID Connect (OIDC) and OAuth 2.0

SecureAuth supports Proof Key for Code Exchange (PKCE) and short-lived authorization codes and access tokens. These settings reduce the risk of code interception and limit the short time a token is valid.

FIDO2 / WebAuthn (passkeys)

SecureAuth supports FIDO2 WebAuthn for passwordless authentication. Each login challenge is unique and verified with public-key cryptography, so a captured credential or signature cannot be used again.

Device Recognition

Device Recognition ties a credential to both a client-side profile and a server-side record. Authentication works only when both match, preventing a token from being reused on another device or browser.

Additional hardening controls

You can enable features such as Dynamic IP Blocking, Password Throttling, and enforced TLS. These controls stop automated replay attempts, protect communication channels, and further reduce exposure.

Summary

SecureAuth Identity Platform protects against replay attacks in multiple ways:

  • SAML assertions are short-lived, signed, and optionally encrypted.

  • OAuth and OIDC use PKCE and short token lifetimes.

  • WebAuthn and passkeys use unique cryptographic challenges for each login.

  • Device Recognition checks both client and server components before allowing access.

  • Dynamic IP Blocking, Password Throttling, and TLS provide additional protection

These settings and controls work together to prevent reuse of authentication data and to ensure that only valid, time-bound credentials are accepted.

In this section: