WordPress REST API Authentication
miniOrange By miniOrange

June 26, 2024

WordPress REST API Authentication Plugin

Secure and protect your WP REST API endpoints from unauthorized access with our WordPress API Auth using highly secure authentication methods.

WordPress REST APIs by default are loose endpoints through which a hacker can control your site remotely. You don’t want hackers to give access to your WordPress Login and WordPress Register or any other endpoints. With our WordPress REST API Authentication plugin, we promise to have the secure api from unauthorized users and protects WP REST API endpoints from public access using API Key Authentication or JWT Authentication or Basic Authentication or OAuth 2.0 Authentication or third-party OAuth 2.0/OIDC/Firebase provider’s token authentication methods. Our plugin is made in a way to make sure that we always have a secure api connection so that data isn’t compromised. JWT Authentication is an industry-approved method to secure communication between 2 parties and we also allow you to use that on your wordpress website.
It also allows you to access the WordPress REST APIs using the above-mentioned authentication methods from Android / iOS and desktop applications.
This plugin will make sure that only after the successful authentication, the user is allowed to access your site’s resources which adds to our motivation toward secure API. REST API Authentication will make your WordPress login endpoints secure from unauthorized access. You can protect APIs with ease and in a highly secure way using this plugin.
This plugin also provides features for authentication of custom-developed REST endpoints and third-party plugin REST API endpoints like that of Woocommerce, Learndash, Buddypress, Gravity forms, CoCart etc.

You can create the custom routes/REST endpoints in WordPress with another GUI-based plugin Custom API for WordPress.

You will be able to securely log in using the following endpoint:

https://<your-wordpress-base-url>/wp-json/api/v1/token

Usecases

  • The WordPress REST API makes CRUD (Create, Read, Update & Delete) operations available from anywhere instead of being limited to just the admin dashboard. It provides a lightweight form of communication between the client and the server making it a great solution for exchanging data.
  • It can be used to create iOS/Android, etc native apps. We can use any language we want as long as the language can make HTTP requests and interpret JSON such as Node, JS, Express JS, Ruby, Python etc.
  • WordPress Login and WordPress Registration become secure with REST API Authentication.
  • Block unauthorized public access to your WordPress and protect API endpoints like /pages, /posts to secure your website from hackers.
  • _**Disable WP REST APIs to prevent data leakage and allow access only to authorized users_
  • Only users authorized using our plugin’s authentication methods will be allowed to access the secure API.
  • Login APIs will be protected from unauthorized access.
  • Woocommerce, Learndash, Buddypress, Gravity forms, CoCart etc. like plugins will be secured with our plugin’s authentication methods.
  • jwt token (JSON Web tokens) from other Identity Providers (OAuth/OIDC providers)Authenticate/Protect/Secure WordPress REST API endpoints with the access token .
  • Securely Login and register into Mobile or other client applications using REST APIs.
  • Obtain user-based JWT token to use as an authentication source to login and register on other platforms.
  • Authenticate Woocommerce REST API endpoints by bypassing WooCommerce consumers’ credentials security instead of using their authentication methods to control the data access and thus improving security and removing chances for exposing the WC credentials.
  • Authenticate/secure WordPress REST APIs access using Firebase JWT token, any external JWT token, any OAuth 2.0/OpenID Connect(OIDC) provider access/id-token like Azure AD, Azure B2C, Okta, Keycloak, ADFS, AWS Cognito etc or that provided by Social login providers like Google, Facebook, Apple.
    The plugin provides an interface for applications to interact with your WordPress REST API endpoints by sending and receiving data as JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) objects. Also, It provides a user-friendly user interface of the plugin to configure the methods and implement them very easily. You can easily secure API/protect your WordPress REST API endpoints with ease.

With our plugin, the user credentials are not stored as cookies but with every API call, user credentials or JWT (JSON Web tokens) or API key is passed so that we have secure API transactions.

WordPress REST API Authentication Methods in our WordPress plugin

  • Basic Authentication: This is a basic authentication method to protect your wordpress endpoints by following methods:
    – 1. Username: Password: This method for Basic Authentication authenticates the REST APIs by using username and password in the authorization header in the form of base64 encoded or with highly secure HMAC encryption.
    – 2. Client-ID: Client-Secret: This method for Basic Authentication authenticates/protects the REST APIs by using client credentials provided by the plugin in the authorization header in the form of base64 encoded or highly secure HMAC encryption.
  • API Key Authentication: It allows you to secure wordpress endpoints without exposing user credentials as the plugin generates an API key for accessing any resource which can also be regenerated in the plugin UI.
  • JWT Authentication: WordPress REST API Authentication itself issues the JWT token and works as an API Authenticator to protect your REST APIs. The plugin itself provides the REST API endpoint through which you can generate the JWT token very easily by passing the valid WordPress user credentials.
  • OAuth 2.0 Authentication: If you don’t have a third-party identity provider, then, in this case, WordPress REST API Authentication works as both OAuth Server(Provider) and API Authenticator to protect your REST APIs. It is the most secure method to authenticate the WordPress REST API endpoints.
    – 1. Password Grant: If you want to fetch user-specific content from the database then this method is useful
    – 2. Client Credentials Grant: This method uses the OAuth 2.0 protocol with Client Credentials grant to authenticate the WP REST API endpoints to use services that call APIs without users.

  • Third Party Provider Authentication: if you are already using an external OAuth/OpenID Connect (Identity provider) which provides you with an access token/id token or a JWT token, then that token can be used to authenticate the WordPress REST APIs and the plugin will validate the token directly from these token providers and only on successful validation, API endpoints are allowed to access.

    Following are some of the integrations that are possible with REST API Authentication:

WooCommerce API

  • WordPress Rest API authentication allows integration of WP Rest API with WooCommerce Rest APIs. You can authenticate the WooCommerce store APIs with your mobile or desktop application & extend the features and functionality of your eCommerce store.

BuddyPress API ( BP REST API )

  • With this plugin you can access BP REST API endpoints and also authenticate those from different Authentication methods like JWT token (JSON Web Token), API Keys etc.

Gravity Form API

  • This plugin supports interaction with Gravity Forms from an external client application which can be your Android/iOS application. WP REST API Authentication also allows WordPress users to create, read, update and delete forms, entries, and results over HTTP based on their roles.

Learndash API

  • This plugin allows you to securely access Learndash user profiles, courses, groups & many more third-party APIs.

Custom Built REST API Endpoints

  • The plugin supports authentication for your own built custom REST API routes/endpoints. You can secure these API endpoints using the plugin’s highly secured authentication methods.

External/Third-party plugin API endpoints integration in WordPress

  • These integrations can be used to fetch/update the data from the third-party side into the WordPress that can be used to display it on the WordPress site as well and this data can be processed further to use with any other plugin or WordPress events.

FEATURES

FREE PLAN

  • Supports Basic Authentication with username and password along with base64 encoding of the API token to have a secure api.
  • JWT Token-based Authentication.
  • Authentication for all the Standard WordPress REST API endpoints like WordPress Login, WordPress Register, etc…
  • Allow or Deny public access to your WordPress standard REST APIs as per your requirement. Disable REST APIs as needed.
  • Token endpoint to retrieve user-specific JWT (JSON Web tokens).
  • Restrict non-logged-in users to access REST API endpoints.
  • Postman Samples for each Authentication method to test API access with the Postman application

PREMIUM PLANS

  • Authentication (Protection) for all WordPress REST API endpoints including standard WP REST APIs and custom/third-party plugin REST API endpoints.
  • Supports Basic Authentication (both WP User credentials and Client credentials), JWT Token Authentication, API Key Authentication, OAuth 2.0 Authentication, and Third-Party OAuth 2.0/OIDC Provider’s Token Authentication methods.
  • HMAC encryption and user-specific Client credentials with Basic authentication.
  • Token endpoint to retrieve user-specific JWT (JSON Web tokens).
  • Allow or Deny public access to all the WordPress standard REST APIs as well as custom/third-party plugin REST API endpoints as per requirement.
  • Universal (Global) API key as well as User-specific API key for authentication.
  • Supports JWT Authentication with signature validation using highly secured HSA & RSA Signing.
  • Custom Token Expiry feature for JWT token to further increase security.
  • Provides the Time-based Access token or JWT token.
  • WordPress Login using Access token or JWT token.
  • Authenticate WordPress REST APIs with the token (access token / JWT) provided by your OAuth/OIDC Provider (Third Party Provider) like Azure, AWS Cognito, ADFS, Keycloak, Google, Facebook, ADFS, Firebase or any external JWT (JSON Web tokens) provider etc.
  • User’s WordPress Role and capability-based access to all the WordPress REST API endpoints like posts, pages etc.
  • Allow or Deny public access to your WordPress REST APIs as per requirement. Disable REST APIs as needed.
  • Custom Header support rather than just ‘Authorization’ to increase security.
  • Create users in WordPress based on third-party provider access tokens (JWT tokens).
  • Feature to exclude any selected REST API endpoints.
  • Restrict non-logged-in users to access REST API endpoints.

Our Other Popular REST API Integrations

Custom API for WP plugin

  • It allows you to create custom REST API endpoints in WordPress through an easy-to-use GUI without the need to write the code.
  • It allows you to integrate external APIs in WordPress (Connect to External API in WordPress) such that you can easily connect to any of our external or 3rd-party REST API endpoints in WordPress to display the real-time data or store and use that data for further purposes. Supports all authentication like OAuth 2.0, Basic Auth, JWT, API Key etc.

Sync products to WooCommerce | Import WooCommerce products using API

  • This plugin allows you to connect to your Supplier, Inventory, ERP, and CRM APIs to sync the products to your WooCommerce store with all the relevant product data automatically.

Sync Custom Posts using External API

  • This plugin allows you to automatically sync the data to a custom post in WordPress from the external REST API data.
  • Supports the data sync to custom post fields created using plugins like Advanced Custom Field (ACF)
  • Supports syncing automatically on a scheduled basis as per the time and Frequency you want.

WordPress JWT Single Sign-On (SSO) Auto login

  • This plugin helps you sync user sessions or auto-login to WordPress and other connected sites

Privacy

This plugin does not store any user data.

Installation

This section describes how to install the WordPress REST API Authentication and get it working.

From your WordPress dashboard

  1. Visit Plugins > Add New
  2. Search for REST API Authentication. Find and Install the api authentication plugin by miniOrange
  3. Activate the plugin

From WordPress.org

  1. Download WordPress REST API Authentication.
  2. Unzip and upload the wp-rest-api-authentication directory to your /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Activate WordPress REST API Authentication from your Plugins page.

Screenshots

  1. List of API Authentication Methods

    List of API Authentication Methods

  2. List of Protected WP REST APIs

    List of Protected WP REST APIs

  3. Basic Authentication method configuration

    Basic Authentication method configuration

  4. JWT Authentication method configuration

    JWT Authentication method configuration

  5. Advanced Settings

    Advanced Settings

  6. Custom API Integration

    Custom API Integration

  7. Postman Sample Settings

    Postman Sample Settings

FAQ

What is the use of API Authentication

The REST API authentication prevents unauthorized access to your WordPress APIs. It reduces potential attack factors.

How to enable API access in WooCommerce?

You can enable API access in WooCommerce using our WP REST API Authentication plugin. Please reach out to us at [email protected].

How does the REST API Authentication plugin work?

You just have to select your Authentication Method in the plugin.
Based on the method you have selected you will get the authorization code/token after sending the token request.
Access your REST API with the code/token you received in the previous step.

How to access draft posts?

You can access draft posts using Basic Auth, OAuth 2.0(using Username: Password), JWT authentication, and API Key auth(using Universal Key) methods. Pages/posts need to access with the status. The default status used in the request is ‘Publish’ and any user can access the Published post.
To access the pages/posts stored in the draft, you need to append the ?status=draft to the page/post request.
For Example:
You need to use below URL format while sending a request to access different types of posts
1. Access draft posts only
https:///wp-json/wp/v2/posts?status=draft
2. Access all types of posts
https:///wp-json/wp/v2/posts?status=any
You just have to change the status(draft, pending, any, publish) as per your requirement. You do not have to pass the status parameter to access Published posts.

How can I authenticate the REST APIs using this plugin?

This plugin supports 5 methods: i) authentication through API key or token, ii) authentication through user credentials passed as an encrypted token, iii) authentication through JWT (JSON Web token), iv) authentication through OAuth 2.0 protocol and v) authentication via JWT token obtained from the external OAuth/OpenId providers which include Google, Facebook, Azure, AWS Cognito, Apple etc and also from Firebase.

Does this plugin allow authentication through JWT (JSON Web Tokens)?

Yes, this plugin supports REST API authentication through JWT (JSON Web token). The JWT is validated every time an API request is made, only the requested resource for the API call is allowed to access if the JWT validation is successful.

How do I authenticate WordPress REST API endpoints using an external JWT token or access token provided by OAuth/OIDC/Social Login providers?

This plugin provides you with an authentication method called the ‘Third Party Provider’ authentication method in which the JWT token or access token is obtained from external identities(OAuth/OIDC/JWT/JWKS providers) like Firebase, Okta, Azure, Keycloak, ADFS, AWS Cognito, Google, Facebook, Apple etc. can be passed along with API request in the header and the plugin validates that JWT / access token directly from these external sources/providers.

How do I access user-specific data for Woocommerce REST API without the need to pass actual Woocommerce API credentials?

This plugin provides a way to bypass Woocommerce security and instead authenticate APIs using the authentication methods, hence improvising the security and hence no chance of Woocommerce credentials getting compromised. The authentication token passed in the API request will validate the user and result in user-specific data only. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

Does this plugin provide the Basic authentication method for API authentication?

Yes, the plugin provides the Basic authentication with the following 2 methods –
a.) WP Username & Password b.) Client Credentials.
The plugin provides you with more security of Basic auth token validation using a highly secure HMAC algorithm.

Does this plugin enable the authentication for my custom-built REST endpoints?

Yes, the plugin supports the authentication for custom-built REST endpoints using rest_api_init or register_rest_route.

Does this plugin disable REST APIs of WordPress?

Yes, this plugin by default disables all the WP REST APIs which can only be accessed with allowed authentication and authorization but it provides a feature where you can choose which particular endpoints you want to disable and which one to make accessible publicly.

How do log in and register WordPress users using the WordPress REST API endpoint?

This plugin provides this HTTP POST endpoint wp-json/api/v1/token also called as WordPress login API endpoint in which you can pass the user’s WordPress credentials and this endpoint will validate the user and return you with the appropriate response.
The plugin also supports the authentication and authorization of WordPress users’ register REST API.

How to achieve auto-login between WordPress and external apps using a token or JWT token?

To achieve the auto-login and session sharing, we have another plugin WordPress Login & Register using JWT

Does this plugin provide WordPress Forgot password or password reset functionality using REST API endpoint?

Yes, with the premium plan, the plugin provides the REST API endpoint for the complete forgot password/password reset functionality securely.

Changelog

3.3.1

  • Major Release with UI and UX improvements

3.3.0

  • Major Release with UI and UX improvements

3.2.0

  • Compatibility with WordPress 6.5
  • Fix related to CORS issue

3.1.0

  • Minor UI Improvements

3.0.0

  • Compatibility with WordPress 6.4

2.9.1

  • Quick fix related to permalinks settings

2.9.0

  • Usability improvements
  • UI updates

2.8.0

  • WordPress 6.3 compatibility
  • Added support for the WordPress.com environment for API authentication
  • UI Improvements

2.7.0

  • WordPress 6.2 compatibility
  • UI Changes

2.6.0

  • Security Fixes
  • UI Improvements & Fixes

2.5.1

  • PHP Warning for incorrect JWT fixed

2.5.0

  • Security Fixes
  • UI Improvements

2.4.2

  • Bug Fixes

2.4.1

  • WordPress 6.1 compatibility
  • Added a JWT token endpoint for the JWT authentication method
  • Security fixes

2.4.0

  • Minor Bug Fixes

2.3.0

  • WordPress 6.0 compatibility
  • Improvised Test Configuration User experience
  • Minor Bug Fixes

2.2.1

  • Bug fixes for Test API Configuration
  • Bug fixes for API key configuration
  • UI fixes

2.2.0

  • UI improvements
  • Introduced feature for Test API Configuration
  • Added the Third-party plugin integration section
  • Bug fixes

2.1.0

  • Major UI updates
  • Usability improvements and bug fixes
  • Compatibility with WordPress 5.9.1
  • Compatibility with PHP 8+

1.6.7

  • Compatibility with WordPress 5.9

1.6.6

  • UI Updates

1.6.5

  • WordPress 5.8.2 compatibility
  • UI Changes

1.6.4

  • Security Improvements

1.6.3

  • WordPress 5.8.1 compatibility
  • Readme Updates

1.6.2

  • WordPress 5.8 compatibility
  • Bug Fixes
  • Usability Improvements
  • UI Updates

1.6.1

  • Bug Fixes
  • Modifications for Custom API auth capabilities

1.6.0

  • Minor fixes
  • UI updates
  • Usability improvements

1.5.2

  • Minor fixes
  • Remove extra code

1.5.1

  • Minor fixes
  • Security fixes

1.5.0

  • Minor fixes
  • Security fixes

1.4.2

  • UI updates

1.4.1

  • UI updates
  • Minor fixes

1.4.0

  • WordPress 5.6 compatibility

1.3.10

  • Allow all REST APIs to authenticate
  • Added postman samples
  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.9

  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.8

  • Added compatibility for WP 5.5

1.3.7

  • Bundle plan release
  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.6

  • Added compatibility for WP 5.4

1.3.5

  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.4

  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.2

  • Minor Bugfix

1.3.1

  • Minor Fixes

1.3.0

  • Added UI Changes
  • Updated plugin licensing
  • Added New features
  • Added compatibility for WP 5.3 & PHP7.4
  • Minor UI & feature fixes

1.2.1

  • Added fixes for undefined getallheaders()

1.2.0

  • Added UI changes for Signing Algorithms and Role-Based Access
  • Added Signature Validation
  • Minor fixes

1.1.2

  • Added JWT Authentication
  • Fixed role-based access to REST APIs
  • Fixed common class conflicts

1.1.1

  • Fixes to Create, Posts, Update Publish Posts

1.1.0

  • Updated UI and features
  • Added compatibility for WordPress version 5.2.2
  • Added support for accessing draft posts as per User’s WordPress Role Capability
  • Allowed Logged In Users to access posts through /wp-admin Dashboard

1.0.2

  • Added Bug fixes

1.0.0

  • Updated UI and features
  • Added compatibility for WordPress version 5.2.2
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Details

  • Version: 3.3.1
  • Active installations: 20,000
  • WordPress Version: 3.0.1
  • Tested up to: 6.5.5
  • PHP Version: 5.6

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