Host your own JWT authentication system with Data Tables and token management

Description A production-ready authentication workflow implementing secure user registration, login, token verification, and refresh token mechanisms. Perfect for adding authentication to any application without needing a separate auth service. Get started with n8n now! What it does This template provides a complete authentication backend using n8n workflows and Data Tables: - User Registration: Creates accounts with secure password hashing (SHA-512 + unique salts) - Login System: Generates access tokens (15 min) and refresh tokens (7 days) using JWT - Token Verification: Validates access tokens for protected endpoints - Token Refresh: Issues new access tokens without requiring re-login - Security Features: HMAC-SHA256 signatures, hashed refresh tokens in database, protection against rainbow table attacks Why use this template - No external services: Everything runs in n8n - no Auth0, Firebase, or third-party dependencies - Production-ready security: Industry-standard JWT implementation with proper token lifecycle management - Easy integration: Simple REST API endpoints that work with any frontend framework - Fully customizable: Adjust token lifespans, add custom user fields, implement your own business logic - Well-documented: Extensive inline notes explain every security decision and implementation detail How to set up Prerequisites - n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted) - n8n Data Tables feature enabled Setup Steps 1. Create Data Tables: - users table: id, email, username, passwordhash, refreshtoken - refreshtokens table: id, userid, tokenhash, expiresat 2. Generate Secret Keys: Run this command to generate a random secret: Generate two different secrets for ACCESSSECRET and REFRESHSECRET 3. Configure Secrets: - Update the three "SET ACCESS AND REFRESH SECRET" nodes with your generated keys - Or migrate to n8n Variables for better security (instructions in workflow notes) 4. Connect Data Tables: - Open each Data Table node - Select your created tables from the dropdown 5. Activate Workflow: - Save and activate the workflow - Note your webhook URLs API Endpoints Register: POST /webhook/register-user Request body: Login: POST /webhook/login Request body: Returns: Verify Token: POST /webhook/verify-token Request body: Refresh: POST /webhook/refresh Request body: Frontend Integration Example (Vue.js/React) Login flow: Make authenticated requests: Key Features - Secure Password Storage: Never stores plain text passwords; uses SHA-512 with unique salts - Two-Token System: Short-lived access tokens (security) + long-lived refresh tokens (convenience) - Database Token Revocation: Refresh tokens can be revoked for logout-all-devices functionality - Duplicate Prevention: Checks username and email availability before account creation - Error Handling: Generic error messages prevent information leakage - Extensive Documentation: 30+ sticky notes explain every security decision Use Cases - SaaS applications needing user authentication - Mobile app backends - Internal tools requiring access control - MVP/prototype authentication without third-party costs - Learning JWT and auth system architecture Customization - Token Lifespan: Modify expiration times in "Create JWT Payload" nodes - User Fields: Add custom fields to registration and user profile - Password Rules: Update validation in "Validate Registration Request" node - Token Rotation: Implement refresh token rotation for enhanced security (notes included) Security Notes :warning: Important: - Change the default secret keys before production use - Use HTTPS for all webhook endpoints - Store secrets in n8n Variables (not hardcoded) - Regularly rotate secret keys in production - Consider rate limiting for login endpoints Support & Documentation The workflow includes comprehensive documentation: - Complete authentication flow overview - Security explanations for every decision - Troubleshooting guide - Setup instructions - FAQ section with common issues Perfect for developers who want full control over their authentication system without the complexity of managing separate auth infrastructure. Get Started with n8n now! Tags: authentication, jwt, login, security, user-management, tokens, password-hashing, api, backend