Deepak Gupta

What is OAuth Device Flow?

RFC 8628 enables auth on devices like TVs and IoT. Elegant design. Exploitable trust assumptions.

The Core Weakness

Not a coding flaw, an assumption users can distinguish legitimate from malicious authorization requests.

Attack Methodology

Recon > vishing as IT support > victim authorizes malicious OAuth app > persistent token > data exfil.

ShinyHunters (UNC6040)

From data theft to enterprise extortion. Technical adaptability and patient persistence across months.

High-Profile Victims

Google, Qantas, Allianz (1.1M records), LVMH, Chanel, Adidas. Systematic targeting, not opportunistic.

Security Model Erosion

Attackers gained persistent access without hacking servers or exploiting vulns. Identity is the new perimeter.

MFA Limitations

MFA protects auth steps, not authorization decisions. Users trained to click through grant broad permissions.

SaaS Sprawl

75% of major IdPs support device flow by default. Hundreds of SaaS apps = exponential attack surface.

Technical Defenses

Conditional access. OAuth app inventories. Disable device flow. Real-time monitoring. Zero trust scoping.

Building Resilient Identity

Assume compromise. Distinguish legitimate from malicious authorizations. Continuous adaptation.

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