Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Application Security

Google to Revoke OAuth 2.0 Tokens Upon Password Reset

A new OAuth 2.0 token revocation rule will soon cause third-party mail apps to stop syncing data upon user password change, Google revealed on Wednesday.

A new OAuth 2.0 token revocation rule will soon cause third-party mail apps to stop syncing data upon user password change, Google revealed on Wednesday.

This update to Google’s security policy was announced last year, but the company decided not to move forward with it for its Apps customers. However, after tweaking the rule to make it more admin-friendly, Google has finally decided to roll out the change starting on Oct. 5.

Google introduced OAuth 2.0 in September 2012 to boost the security of Gmail and Google Talk services, when it announced that the feature would be offering access to Google’s two-factor authentication features as well.

Although initially planned for a wider set of applications, the OAuth 2.0 token revocation rule will be limited to mail scopes only at launch, to “achieve the security benefits of this policy change with minimal admin confusion and end-user disruption,” Google says. App Script tokens and apps installed via the Google Apps Marketplace are not subject to the token revocation, the company said.

As soon as the planned change is in effect, however, third-party mail applications that include at least one mail scope will no longer sync data when the user password is reset. Data syncing will recommence as soon as a new OAuth 2.0 token has been granted (when the user re-authorizes with their Google account username and password).

The new policy change will affect mobile mail applications as well, Google says. This means that the owners of iOS devices who use the mail application that Apple included in the platform will have to re-authorize it with their Google account credentials when they change their password. The Gmail apps on both iOS and Android already require re-authorization upon password reset, and Google decided to enforce the security policy to third-party apps as well.

The change will take effect on October 5, 2016, when it will launch to both Rapid and Scheduled releases. Google has already published a Help Center article and FAQ to offer additional information on the change. The company also notes that it will communicate in advance when additional scopes will be added to the policy.

“Please note that password changes alone should not be relied upon for account security. If you suspect an account may be compromised, use the checklist in the Help Center to ensure that your users’ accounts are secure,” the company also says.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Related: Gmail Flags Unauthenticated Messages, Dangerous URLs

Related: Google Enhances Security Alerts in Gmail

Written By

Ionut Arghire is an international correspondent for SecurityWeek.

Click to comment

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Discover strategies for vendor selection, integration to minimize redundancies, and maximizing ROI from your cybersecurity investments. Gain actionable insights to ensure your stack is ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

Register

Dive into critical topics such as incident response, threat intelligence, and attack surface management. Learn how to align cyber resilience plans with business objectives to reduce potential impacts and secure your organization in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Register

People on the Move

Gigamon has promoted Tony Jarjoura to CFO and Ram Bhide has been hired as Senior VP of engineering.

Cloud security firm Mitiga has appointed Charlie Thomas as Chief Executive Officer.

Cynet announced the appointment of Jason Magee as Chief Executive Officer.

More People On The Move

Expert Insights

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest cybersecurity news, threats, and expert insights. Unsubscribe at any time.