AI agents are emerging as vital entities in modern architectures, relying on robust identities for secure API access. Utilizing JSON Web Tokens (JWTs), these agents can authenticate without sharing human tokens or API keys. By issuing distinct JWTs, each bot or autonomous process can perform only allowed actions, enhancing security and accountability. The adoption of OAuth and OIDC patterns, like client credentials or JWT-assertion flows, allows for streamlined authentication while enforcing the principle of least privilege through scoped permissions. Best practices include issuing short-lived tokens, implementing stringent key management, and automating lifecycle management to mitigate risks like token replay and secret leakage. The OWASP Non-Human Identity guidelines further emphasize the necessity for meticulous claim validation and monitoring to prevent over-privileged access. As AI integrations proliferate, employing effective JWT strategies ensures agents operate securely within defined boundaries, reinforcing the importance of strong cryptographic principles in machine identities.
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