Missing Expiry Checks: When Tokens and Links Never Die
How missing expiry validation creates permanent access tokens, password reset links that never expire, and how to fix each case.
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Tags: security, authentication, mistakes
Missing Expiry Checks: Why Accepting Expired Tokens Is Dangerous Every credential has a lifetime. Passwords, session tokens, API keys, password reset links, email verification codes, JWTs — all of them should expire. When expiry checks are missing or disabled, a credential that should have been invalid for months remains usable. An attacker who steals an old token from a log file, a leaked database, or an intercepted request has a window that never closes. Why Expiry Exists Time-bounded credentials limit the blast radius of a breach. Even if an attacker captures a token: Short-lived access tokens (5–15 minutes): The token expires before the attacker can use it from a phished network capture Password reset links (10–60 minutes): Old reset links in email archives cannot be replayed Email…
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