Hidayat Mahetar

HeadlessKey – JWT Auth extends the REST API to provide a robust and secure authentication system using JSON Web Tokens (JWT). Designed for Headless WordPress, it enables seamless user authentication, registration, and session management via standard REST endpoints.
<h3>Key Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Standard JWT Authentication: Secure user authentication using industry-standard RFC 7519 tokens.</li>
<li>Multiple Algorithms: Support for <code>HS256</code>, <code>RS256</code>, and <code>ES256</code> signing algorithms.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Endpoints: Ready-to-use endpoints for Login, Register, Token Refresh, and Password Management.</li>
<li>Single Sign-On (SSO): Connect multiple sites with a secure, headers-based SSO exchange mechanism.</li>
<li>Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Configure public or authenticated access for every endpoint.</li>
<li>Brute Force Protection: Protects against attacks by locking users/IPs after failed attempts.</li>
<li>Activity Logs: Detailed audit trail of all authentication events, including IP and device data.</li>
<li>Security Webhooks: Real-time JSON events sent to your external services for monitoring key actions.</li>
<li>Device Limits: Restrict the number of active devices/sessions per user.</li>
<li>Developer Friendly: Extensive hooks and filters for deep customization.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Configuration</h3>
<h3>Secret Key</h3>
The plugin uses a secret key to sign tokens. By default, a secure random key is generated. For better security and consistency across environments, define your key in <code>wp-config.php</code>:
<pre><code>define('headlesskey_SECRET_KEY', 'your-long-random-secure-string');
</code></pre>
You can generate a strong salt here: <a href="https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Salt Generator</a>
<h3>CORS Support</h3>
Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) is enabled by default to allow frontend applications to connect. To disable or customize it via constant:
<pre><code>define('headlesskey_CORS', true); // or false to disable
</code></pre>
<h3>REST API Namespace</h3>
By default, endpoints are under <code>wp-json/wpauthapi/v1</code>. You can customize this namespace:
<pre><code>define('headlesskey_REST_NAMESPACE', 'my-custom-auth');
define('headlesskey_REST_VERSION', 'v2');<h3>Endpoints</h3>
</code></pre>
The plugin adds the following endpoints under the <code>/wp-json/headlesskey/v1</code> namespace:
 Endpoint 
 HTTP Verb 
 Description
 <code>/token</code> 
 POST 
 Login: Exchange username/password for a JWT.
 <code>/token/validate</code> 
 POST 
 Validate: Check if a token validity.
 <code>/token/refresh</code> 
 POST 
 Refresh: Exchange a valid token for a new one (rotation).
 <code>/token/revoke</code> 
 POST 
 Logout: Invalidate a specific token.
 <code>/register</code> 
 POST 
 Register: Create a new user account.
 <code>/login</code> 
 POST 
 Profile: Login and get full user profile data in one request.
 <code>/forgot-password</code> 
 POST 
 Recover: Request a password reset via Link or OTP.
 <code>/reset-password</code> 
 POST 
 Reset: Set a new password using a token or OTP.
 <code>/change-password</code> 
 POST 
 Update: Change password for authenticated user.
 <code>/sso/exchange</code> 
 POST 
 SSO: Exchange a remote site token for a local session.
<h3>1. Login (Generate Token)</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/token</code> 
Description: Authenticate a user and generate a JWT token.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "username": "admin", 
 "password": "secret-password" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9...", 
 "expiration": "2023-10-27T10:00:00+00:00", 
 "expires_in": 3600, 
 "user": { 
 "ID": 1, 
 "user_login": "admin", 
 "user_email": "admin@example.com", 
 "display_name": "Administrator", 
 "roles": ["administrator"] 
 }, 
 "refreshable": true, 
 "jti": "545086b9-450f-488b-a70d-3047d14d1101" 
}</code>
<h3>2. Validate Token</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/token/validate</code> 
Description: Validate if an existing token is valid.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9..." 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "valid": true, 
 "data": { 
 "iss": "https://example.com", 
 "iat": 1698393600, 
 "exp": 1698397200, 
 "data": { 
 "ID": 1, 
 "user_login": "admin" 
 } 
 } 
}</code>
<h3>3. Refresh Token</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/token/refresh</code> 
Description: Rotate an expiring token for a fresh one.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9..." 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.new...", 
 "expiration": "2023-10-27T11:00:00+00:00", 
 "user": { 
 "ID": 1, 
 "user_login": "admin" 
 }, 
 "jti": "new-uuid-v4" 
}</code>
<h3>4. Revoke Token (Logout)</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/token/revoke</code> 
Description: Invalidate a token immediately.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9..." 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "message": "Token revoked successfully." 
}</code>
<h3>5. Register User</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/register</code> 
Description: Create a new user account.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "username": "johndoe", 
 "email": "john@example.com", 
 "password": "secure-password", 
 "name": "John Doe" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "user_id": 45, 
 "user": { 
 "ID": 45, 
 "user_login": "johndoe", 
 "user_email": "john@example.com", 
 "display_name": "John Doe", 
 "roles": ["subscriber"] 
 }, 
 "token_response": { 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOi...", 
 "expiration": "2023-10-27T10:00:00+00:00" 
 } 
}</code>
<h3>6. User Profile (Login Extended)</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/login</code> 
Description: Alternative login endpoint that returns cleaner profile structure.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "username": "admin", 
 "password": "secret-password" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9...", 
 "expiration": "2023-10-27T10:00:00+00:00", 
 "user": { 
 "ID": 1, 
 "user_login": "admin", 
 "user_email": "admin@example.com", 
 "display_name": "Administrator", 
 "roles": ["administrator"] 
 } 
}</code>
<h3>7. Forgot Password</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/forgot-password</code> 
Description: Initiate password recovery. Note: <code>delivery</code> can be <code>link</code> or <code>otp</code>.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "login": "admin@example.com", 
 "delivery": "link" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "message": "Password reset email sent." 
}</code>
<h3>8. Reset Password</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/reset-password</code> 
Description: Reset password using the token sent via email or OTP.
Request (Link method): 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "login": "admin@example.com", 
 "password": "new-secure-password", 
 "token": "generated-reset-key" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "message": "Password updated successfully." 
}</code>
<h3>9. Change Password</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/change-password</code> 
Description: Change password for currently authenticated user. Requires <code>Authorization</code> header.
Headers: 
 Authorization: Bearer 
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "current_password": "old-password", 
 "new_password": "new-secure-password" 
}</code>
Response: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "message": "Password changed successfully. Please login again." 
}</code>
<h3>10. SSO Token Exchange</h3>
Endpoint: <code>POST /wp-json/headlesskey/v1/sso/exchange</code> 
Description: Securely exchange a token from a connected remote site for a local authentication session. This powers the distributed Single Sign-On network.
Request: 
 <code>json 
{ 
 "site_key": "remote-site-id", 
 "token": "remote-jwt-token", 
 "signature": "hmac-sha256-signature" 
}</code>
Response: 
Returns a standard Login response (Token + User Data) if the signature is valid.

HeadlessKey – JWT Auth

A complete authentication solution for Headless WordPress applications using JWT, supporting Registration, SSO, RBAC, and advanced Security features.

tmeister

This plugin seamlessly extends the WP REST API, enabling robust and secure authentication using JSON Web Tokens (JWT). It provides a straightforward way to authenticate users via the REST API, returning a standard JWT upon successful login.
<h3>Key features of this free version include:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Standard JWT Authentication: Implements the industry-standard <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519" rel="nofollow ugc">RFC 7519</a> for secure claims representation.</li>
<li>Simple Endpoints: Offers clear <code>/token</code> and <code>/token/validate</code> endpoints for generating and validating tokens.</li>
<li>Configurable Secret Key: Define your unique secret key via <code>wp-config.php</code> for secure token signing.</li>
<li>Optional CORS Support: Easily enable Cross-Origin Resource Sharing support via a <code>wp-config.php</code> constant.</li>
<li>Developer Hooks: Provides filters (<code>jwt_auth_expire</code>, <code>jwt_auth_token_before_sign</code>, etc.) for customizing token behavior.</li>
</ul>
JSON Web Tokens are an open, industry standard method for representing claims securely between two parties.
For users requiring more advanced capabilities such as multiple signing algorithms (RS256, ES256), token refresh/revocation, UI-based configuration, or priority support, consider checking out <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=description_link_soft" rel="nofollow ugc">JWT Authentication PRO</a>.
Support and Requests: Please use <a href="https://github.com/Tmeister/wp-api-jwt-auth/issues" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub Issues</a>. For priority support, consider upgrading to <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=description_support_link" rel="nofollow ugc">PRO</a>.
<h3>REQUIREMENTS</h3>
<h4>WP REST API V2</h4>
This plugin was conceived to extend the <a href="https://github.com/WP-API/WP-API" rel="nofollow ugc">WP REST API V2</a> plugin features and, of course, was built on top of it.
So, to use the wp-api-jwt-auth you need to install and activate <a href="https://github.com/WP-API/WP-API" rel="nofollow ugc">WP REST API</a>.
<h3>PHP</h3>
Minimum PHP version: 7.4.0
<h3>PHP HTTP Authorization Header Enable</h3>
Most shared hosting providers have disabled the HTTP Authorization Header by default.
To enable this option you’ll need to edit your .htaccess file by adding the following:
<pre><code>RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP:Authorization} ^(.*)
RewriteRule ^(.*) - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%1]
</code></pre>
<h4>WPENGINE</h4>
For WPEngine hosting, you’ll need to edit your .htaccess file by adding the following:
<pre><code>SetEnvIf Authorization "(.*)" HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=$1
</code></pre>
See https://github.com/Tmeister/wp-api-jwt-auth/issues/1 for more details.
<h3>CONFIGURATION</h3>
<h3>Configure the Secret Key</h3>
The JWT needs a secret key to sign the token. This secret key must be unique and never revealed.
To add the secret key, edit your wp-config.php file and add a new constant called JWT_AUTH_SECRET_KEY:
<pre><code>define('JWT_AUTH_SECRET_KEY', 'your-top-secret-key');
</code></pre>
You can generate a secure key from: https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/
Looking for easier configuration? <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=config_secret_key_link" rel="nofollow ugc">JWT Authentication PRO</a> allows you to manage all settings through a simple admin UI.
<h3>Configure CORS Support</h3>
The wp-api-jwt-auth plugin has the option to activate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-origin_resource_sharing" rel="nofollow ugc">CORS</a> support.
To enable CORS Support, edit your wp-config.php file and add a new constant called JWT_AUTH_CORS_ENABLE:
<pre><code>define('JWT_AUTH_CORS_ENABLE', true);
</code></pre>
Finally, activate the plugin within your wp-admin.
<h3>Namespace and Endpoints</h3>
When the plugin is activated, a new namespace is added:
<pre><code>/jwt-auth/v1
</code></pre>
Also, two new endpoints are added to this namespace:
Endpoint | HTTP Verb 
/wp-json/jwt-auth/v1/token | POST 
/wp-json/jwt-auth/v1/token/validate | POST
Need more functionality? <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=endpoints_pro_note" rel="nofollow ugc">JWT Authentication PRO</a> includes additional endpoints for token refresh and revocation.
<h3>USAGE</h3>
<h4>/wp-json/jwt-auth/v1/token</h4>
This is the entry point for JWT Authentication.
It validates the user credentials, username and password, and returns a token to use in future requests to the API if the authentication is correct, or an error if authentication fails.
Sample Request Using AngularJS
<pre><code>(function() {
 var app = angular.module('jwtAuth', []);

 app.controller('MainController', function($scope, $http) {
 var apiHost = 'http://yourdomain.com/wp-json';

 $http.post(apiHost + '/jwt-auth/v1/token', {
 username: 'admin',
 password: 'password'
 })
 .then(function(response) {
 console.log(response.data)
 })
 .catch(function(error) {
 console.error('Error', error.data[0]);
 });
 });
})();
</code></pre>
Success Response From The Server
<pre><code>{
 "token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJodHRwOlwvXC9qd3QuZGV2IiwiaWF0IjoxNDM4NTcxMDUwLCJuYmYiOjE0Mzg1NzEwNTAsImV4cCI6MTQzOTE3NTg1MCwiZGF0YSI6eyJ1c2VyIjp7ImlkIjoiMSJ9fX0.YNe6AyWW4B7ZwfFE5wJ0O6qQ8QFcYizimDmBy6hCH_8",
 "user_display_name": "admin",
 "user_email": "admin@localhost.dev",
 "user_nicename": "admin"
}
</code></pre>
Error Response From The Server
<pre><code>{
 "code": "jwt_auth_failed",
 "data": {
 "status": 403
 },
 "message": "Invalid Credentials."
}
</code></pre>
Once you get the token, you must store it somewhere in your application, e.g., in a cookie or using localStorage.
From this point, you should pass this token with every API call.
Sample Call Using The Authorization Header With AngularJS
<pre><code>app.config(function($httpProvider) {
 $httpProvider.interceptors.push(['$q', '$location', '$cookies', function($q, $location, $cookies) {
 return {
 'request': function(config) {
 config.headers = config.headers || {};
 // Assume that you store the token in a cookie
 var globals = $cookies.getObject('globals') || {};
 // If the cookie has the CurrentUser and the token
 // add the Authorization header in each request
 if (globals.currentUser && globals.currentUser.token) {
 config.headers.Authorization = 'Bearer ' + globals.currentUser.token;
 }
 return config;
 }
 };
 }]);
});
</code></pre>
The wp-api-jwt-auth plugin will intercept every call to the server and will look for the Authorization Header. If the Authorization header is present, it will try to decode the token and will set the user according to the data stored in it.
If the token is valid, the API call flow will continue as normal.
Sample Headers
<pre><code>POST /resource HTTP/1.1
Host: server.example.com
Authorization: Bearer mF_s9.B5f-4.1JqM
</code></pre>
<h3>ERRORS</h3>
If the token is invalid, an error will be returned. Here are some sample errors:
Invalid Credentials
<pre><code>[
 {
 "code": "jwt_auth_failed",
 "message": "Invalid Credentials.",
 "data": {
 "status": 403
 }
 }
]
</code></pre>
Invalid Signature
<pre><code>[
 {
 "code": "jwt_auth_invalid_token",
 "message": "Signature verification failed",
 "data": {
 "status": 403
 }
 }
]
</code></pre>
Expired Token
<pre><code>[
 {
 "code": "jwt_auth_invalid_token",
 "message": "Expired token",
 "data": {
 "status": 403
 }
 }
]
</code></pre>
Need advanced error tracking? <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=errors_pro_note" rel="nofollow ugc">JWT Authentication PRO</a> offers enhanced error tracking and monitoring capabilities.
<h4>/wp-json/jwt-auth/v1/token/validate</h4>
This is a simple helper endpoint to validate a token. You only need to make a POST request with the Authorization header.
Valid Token Response
<pre><code>{
 "code": "jwt_auth_valid_token",
 "data": {
 "status": 200
 }
}
</code></pre>
<h3>AVAILABLE HOOKS</h3>
The wp-api-jwt-auth plugin is developer-friendly and provides five filters to override the default settings.
<h4>jwt_auth_cors_allow_headers</h4>
The jwt_auth_cors_allow_headers filter allows you to modify the available headers when CORS support is enabled.
Default Value:
<pre><code>'Access-Control-Allow-Headers, Content-Type, Authorization'
</code></pre>
<h4>jwt_auth_not_before</h4>
The jwt_auth_not_before filter allows you to change the <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519#section-4.1.5" rel="nofollow ugc">nbf</a> value before the token is created.
Default Value:
<pre><code>Creation time - time()
</code></pre>
<h4>jwt_auth_expire</h4>
The jwt_auth_expire filter allows you to change the <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519#section-4.1.4" rel="nofollow ugc">exp</a> value before the token is created.
Default Value:
<pre><code>time() + (DAY_IN_SECONDS * 7)
</code></pre>
<h4>jwt_auth_token_before_sign</h4>
The jwt_auth_token_before_sign filter allows you to modify all token data before it is encoded and signed.
Default Value:
<pre><code>$token = array(
 'iss' => get_bloginfo('url'),
 'iat' => $issuedAt,
 'nbf' => $notBefore,
 'exp' => $expire,
 'data' => array(
 'user' => array(
 'id' => $user->data->ID,
 )
 )
);
</code></pre>
Want easier customization? <a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=hook_payload_pro_note" rel="nofollow ugc">JWT Authentication PRO</a> allows you to add custom claims directly through the admin UI.
<h4>jwt_auth_token_before_dispatch</h4>
The jwt_auth_token_before_dispatch filter allows you to modify the response array before it is sent to the client.
Default Value:
<pre><code>$data = array(
 'token' => $token,
 'user_email' => $user->data->user_email,
 'user_nicename' => $user->data->user_nicename,
 'user_display_name' => $user->data->display_name,
);
</code></pre>
<h4>jwt_auth_algorithm</h4>
The jwt_auth_algorithm filter allows you to modify the signing algorithm.
Default value:
<pre><code>$token = JWT::encode(
 apply_filters('jwt_auth_token_before_sign', $token, $user),
 $secret_key,
 apply_filters('jwt_auth_algorithm', 'HS256')
);

// ...

$token = JWT::decode(
 $token,
 new Key($secret_key, apply_filters('jwt_auth_algorithm', 'HS256'))
);
</code></pre>
<h3>JWT Authentication PRO</h3>
Elevate your WordPress security and integration capabilities with JWT Authentication PRO. Building upon the solid foundation of the free version, the PRO version offers advanced features, enhanced security options, and a streamlined user experience:
<ul>
<li>Easy Configuration UI: Manage all settings directly from the WordPress admin area.</li>
<li>Token Refresh Endpoint: Allow users to refresh expired tokens seamlessly without requiring re-login.</li>
<li>Token Revocation Endpoint: Immediately invalidate specific tokens for enhanced security control.</li>
<li>Customizable Token Payload: Add custom claims to your JWT payload to suit your specific application needs.</li>
<li>Granular CORS Control: Define allowed origins and headers with more precision directly in the settings.</li>
<li>Rate Limiting: Protect your endpoints from abuse with configurable rate limits.</li>
<li>Audit Logs: Keep track of token generation, validation, and errors.</li>
<li>Priority Support: Get faster, dedicated support directly from the developer.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://jwtauth.pro/?utm_source=wp_plugin_readme&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pro_promotion&utm_content=pro_section_cta" rel="nofollow ugc">Upgrade to JWT Authentication PRO Today!</a>
<h3>Free vs. PRO Comparison</h3>
Here’s a quick look at the key differences:
<ul>
<li>Basic JWT Authentication: Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Token Generation: Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Token Validation: Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Token Refresh Mechanism: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Token Revocation: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Token Management Dashboard: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Analytics & Monitoring: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Geo-IP Identification: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Rate Limiting: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Detailed Documentation: Basic (Free), Comprehensive (PRO)</li>
<li>Developer Tools: Not Included (Free), Included (PRO)</li>
<li>Premium Support: Community via GitHub (Free), Priority Direct Support (PRO)</li>
</ul>

JWT Authentication for WP REST API

I was confused about choosing the jwt plugin. There are 3 versions, the first has not been updated for 6 months and the second has not been updated for two months, the first has not worked, the second has unclear instructions and has some defects despite the presence of a dashboard, and this add-on has not been updated for two years  But when I saw that it was updated a day ago, I decided to use it and all the problems that I was facing were resolved. I ask the add-on developers to update them every period, but there is something unclear, how can I amend the token expiry time?  Thanks

good


It breaks APIs that don't require authorization.



Such as WordPress's posts endpoint and WooCommerce's endpoint.


It breaks APIs that don't require authorization


Perfect! This plugin is very easy to install and use. It's also easy to extend and add your own return data.


Easy to use and extend


I've been using the plugin for over year, it's very good and user friendly!



At some point there was a constant message to upgrade, but that was fixed.


Great plugin!

Extends the WP REST API using JSON Web Tokens Authentication as an authentication method.

HeadlessKey – JWT Auth vs JWT Authentication for WP REST API