@memberjunction/api-keys

Server-side API key management and scope-based authorization engine for MemberJunction. Provides key generation, validation, hierarchical scope evaluation, pattern-based access control, and usage logging.

Architecture

graph TD
    subgraph "API Key Engine"
        A[APIKeyEngine] --> B[ScopeEvaluator]
        A --> C[PatternMatcher]
        A --> D[UsageLogger]
        A --> E[APIKeysEngineBase
Metadata Cache]
    end

    subgraph "Authorization Flow"
        F[Incoming Request] --> G{Format Valid?}
        G -->|Yes| H{Hash Lookup}
        G -->|No| I[Reject]
        H -->|Found| J{Status Active?}
        H -->|Not Found| I
        J -->|Yes| K{Not Expired?}
        J -->|No| I
        K -->|Yes| L{App Binding OK?}
        K -->|No| I
        L -->|Yes| M[User Context]
        L -->|No| I
    end

    subgraph "Scope Evaluation"
        N[AuthorizationRequest] --> O{App Ceiling
Check}
        O -->|Pass| P{Key Scope
Check}
        O -->|Fail| Q[Denied]
        P -->|Pass| R[Allowed]
        P -->|Fail| Q
    end

    style A fill:#2d6a9f,stroke:#1a4971,color:#fff
    style B fill:#7c5295,stroke:#563a6b,color:#fff
    style C fill:#7c5295,stroke:#563a6b,color:#fff
    style D fill:#7c5295,stroke:#563a6b,color:#fff
    style E fill:#2d8659,stroke:#1a5c3a,color:#fff
    style R fill:#2d8659,stroke:#1a5c3a,color:#fff
    style Q fill:#b8762f,stroke:#8a5722,color:#fff
    style I fill:#b8762f,stroke:#8a5722,color:#fff
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Overview

This package implements a comprehensive API key authorization system with:

• Key Generation: Cryptographically secure keys in mj_sk_[64 hex] format
• Key Validation: Format checking, hash lookup, status/expiry verification, app binding checks
• Two-Level Authorization: Application ceiling + API key scope evaluation
• Pattern Matching: Wildcard and multi-value patterns for resource-level permissions
• Usage Logging: Automatic audit trails for all authorization decisions
• Scope Hierarchy: Structured permission paths (e.g., entity:read, agent:execute)

Installation

npm install @memberjunction/api-keys
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Requires Node.js 18+ (uses crypto module for key generation and hashing).

Core Concepts

API Key Format

Keys follow the format mj_sk_[64 hex characters]:

• mj_sk_ prefix identifies MemberJunction secret keys
• 64 hex characters = 32 bytes of cryptographically secure random data
• Keys are stored as SHA-256 hashes, never in plaintext

Two-Level Scope Evaluation

graph LR
    A["Application Ceiling
(Maximum allowed)"] --> C{Intersection}
    B["API Key Scopes
(What key grants)"] --> C
    C --> D["Effective
Permissions"]

    style A fill:#2d6a9f,stroke:#1a4971,color:#fff
    style B fill:#7c5295,stroke:#563a6b,color:#fff
    style C fill:#b8762f,stroke:#8a5722,color:#fff
    style D fill:#2d8659,stroke:#1a5c3a,color:#fff
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Authorization succeeds only when BOTH levels permit the operation:

1. Application Ceiling defines the maximum scopes an application allows
2. API Key Scopes define what scopes are assigned to a specific key

Common Scopes

Usage

Getting the Engine

import { GetAPIKeyEngine } from '@memberjunction/api-keys';

const engine = GetAPIKeyEngine();
await engine.Config(false, contextUser);
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Creating API Keys

const result = await engine.CreateAPIKey({
    UserId: 'user-guid',
    Label: 'My Integration',
    Description: 'Used for CI/CD pipeline',
    ExpiresAt: new Date('2026-12-31')
}, contextUser);

if (result.Success) {
    // IMPORTANT: Show this key once -- it cannot be recovered
    console.log('Raw API Key:', result.RawKey);
    console.log('API Key ID:', result.APIKeyId);
}
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Validating API Keys

const result = await engine.ValidateAPIKey({
    RawKey: request.headers['x-api-key'],
    ApplicationName: 'MCPServer',
    Endpoint: '/graphql',
    Method: 'POST',
    IPAddress: request.ip
}, systemUser);

if (result.IsValid) {
    // result.User contains the authenticated UserInfo
    // result.APIKeyHash is available for subsequent Authorize() calls
}
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Authorizing Requests

const authResult = await engine.Authorize(
    apiKeyHash,
    'MJAPI',          // Application name
    'entity:read',    // Scope path
    'Users',          // Resource name
    contextUser,
    {
        endpoint: '/graphql',
        method: 'POST',
        operation: 'GetUsersRecord'
    }
);

if (authResult.Allowed) {
    // Proceed with the operation
} else {
    console.log('Denied:', authResult.Reason);
    console.log('Rules evaluated:', authResult.EvaluatedRules);
}
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Pattern Matching

import { PatternMatcher } from '@memberjunction/api-keys';

PatternMatcher.matches('Users', '*');           // true - wildcard
PatternMatcher.matches('Users', 'Users');       // true - exact
PatternMatcher.matches('Users', 'User*');       // true - prefix
PatternMatcher.matches('Users', '*ers');        // true - suffix
PatternMatcher.matches('Users', '*ser*');       // true - contains
PatternMatcher.matches('Users', 'Users,Roles'); // true - multi-value
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Revoking Keys

const success = await engine.RevokeAPIKey(apiKeyId, contextUser);
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Components

Configuration

import { GetAPIKeyEngine } from '@memberjunction/api-keys';

const engine = GetAPIKeyEngine({
    enforcementEnabled: true,        // Enable scope checks (default: true)
    loggingEnabled: true,            // Log all requests (default: true)
    defaultBehaviorNoScopes: 'deny', // Keys with no scopes are denied (default)
    scopeCacheTTLMs: 60000           // Cache TTL for scope rules
});
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Database Entities

Testing

npm test
npm run test:coverage
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Test files: APIKeyEngine.spec.ts, ScopeEvaluator.spec.ts, PatternMatcher.spec.ts

Security Best Practices

1. Default Deny: Keys without scopes have no permissions
2. Minimal Scopes: Assign only the scopes needed
3. Resource Restrictions: Use specific patterns instead of * when possible
4. Expiration: Set expiration dates for temporary keys
5. Monitoring: Review usage logs for suspicious activity
6. Rotation: Regularly rotate keys in production

Integration

Used by @memberjunction/server (MJAPI), @memberjunction/ai-mcp-server (MCP Server), and @memberjunction/a2aserver (A2A Server).

Dependencies

License

ISC