How to implement password reset functionality with JWTs

03 Oct 2023

In this tutorial, we will explore how to implement a password reset functionality using JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) in a web application. JWTs are a secure way to transmit information between parties as a JSON object. They can be used to authenticate and authorize users within an application.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of web development
Familiarity with a backend framework (e.g., Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails)
Understanding of JWTs and their implementation

Step 1: Request Password Reset

The first step is to allow users to request a password reset. Create an API endpoint or a route that accepts the user’s email address. When a user requests a password reset, generate a JWT with a short expiration time, typically a few minutes.

Here’s an example code snippet in Node.js using the jsonwebtoken library:

const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');

app.post('/password-reset', (req, res) => {
  const { email } = req.body;

  // Check if the email exists in your user database

  // Generate a JWT
  const token = jwt.sign({ email }, 'your_secret_key', { expiresIn: '5m' });

  // Send the JWT token to the user's email

  res.send('Password reset email sent!');
});

Step 2: Verify and Reset Password

Next, the user needs to verify their identity and set a new password. When the user receives the JWT token via email, they should be directed to a verify password reset page.

On this page, verify the validity of the JWT. If the token is valid and has not expired, allow the user to reset their password. The JWT payload can contain the email or user ID to identify the user.

Here’s an example code snippet to verify the JWT in Node.js:

app.get('/password-reset/verify/:token', (req, res) => {
  const { token } = req.params;

  try {
    const payload = jwt.verify(token, 'your_secret_key');
    const email = payload.email;

    // Display the password reset form

    res.send('Password reset verification successful! You can now set a new password.');
  } catch (error) {
    // Token verification failed
    res.send('Invalid or expired token. Please request a new password reset.');
  }
});

Step 3: Set New Password

Once the user has verified their identity, they should be able to set a new password.

Create an API endpoint or route to accept the new password and the user’s email or ID. Update the password for the corresponding user record in your database.

Here’s an example code snippet in Node.js:

app.post('/password-reset/set', (req, res) => {
  const { email, password } = req.body;

  // Update the user's password in the database

  res.send('Password reset successful!');
});

Conclusion

Implementing password reset functionality using JWTs adds an extra layer of security to your application. It allows users to securely reset their passwords without relying on traditional email links.

Remember to handle errors, validate input, and use secure methods to store passwords. Implementing features like rate limiting and captcha can further enhance security.

#webdevelopment #JWT #passwordreset