Implement Secure User Login Endpoint with JWT Authentication

[HermanL0201]

Implement Secure User Login Endpoint with JWT Authentication

Description

Task

Create login route that authenticates user credentials and generates JWT

Acceptance Criteria

• Endpoint successfully authenticates users with correct credentials
• Returns 401 for invalid email or password
• Returns 400 for missing email or password
• Generates valid JWT token for authenticated users
• Handles server errors gracefully

Summary of Work

This pull request implements a secure login endpoint for user authentication using JWT tokens.

Changes Made

• Implemented POST /api/auth/login endpoint in authRoutes.ts
• Added comprehensive input validation and error handling
• Integrated bcrypt for secure password comparison
• Generated JWT token upon successful authentication

Implementation Details

• Endpoint validates presence of email and password
• Uses User model to find existing user by email
• Compares provided password with stored hashed password
• Generates JWT token with user ID payload
• Implements proper error handling for various scenarios

Authentication Flow

1. Validate input (email and password are required)
2. Find user by email in database
3. Compare passwords using bcrypt
4. Generate JWT token if credentials are valid
5. Return token or appropriate error response

Security Considerations

• Uses bcrypt for secure password comparison
• Implements JWT token generation with 1-hour expiration
• Prevents timing attacks through constant-time password comparison
• Generic error messages to prevent user enumeration

Testing Approach

• Validates input validation logic
• Checks authentication for valid and invalid credentials
• Verifies JWT token generation
• Ensures proper error handling for different scenarios

Notes

• Requires JWT_SECRET to be set in environment variables
• Uses a default secret as fallback (should be changed in production)
• Follows secure authentication best practices

Changes Made

• Implemented POST /api/auth/login endpoint
• Added input validation
• Integrated bcrypt password comparison
• Generated JWT token
• Implemented error handling

Tests

• Validate login with correct credentials
• Reject login with incorrect email
• Reject login with incorrect password
• Verify JWT token generation
• Check input validation for missing email/password

Signatures

Staking Key

DZwmqbbKALnQYMhTLYdYeBBKVNptDMSAKQjaASJ9btgo: 9ij4v8G7Ua211zaiVWqnffAsGcUYvVMNFfrGoE9hj4fGJ84HzpXGAgVbBCHcdjwrABJaCWffkJFFNZutZnrtuMDXLBEmhw24nHjqZuFowzBgEMVBfGRpQk3yZfgqfJnwcS63ucKSoxV6sjaAXDYYijoJw31fHD7TYfcQ8gQgodfeJGSStTNYjgCrmWJywdHSU4VhnnmoEQMrAzuJxvapMDBqaL1wwuWborWFZBo8J4XD5GRSFNXFgQJtKge1GgFxWvvayxAteMShSBrLwzhD98FqBzv6kk398KbafZKnyydePL34FvxcUApcNvKkoBvL9XbMnXhJFg5De8KsZbqLLzDnw4uqMptJfF7sMfZW2L1BvLSG3UhzFUa6DWcurwoMTJj5Q61qJdsoWMcwY4VYYXR21roHAeoFtyr

Public Key

4E3nQUGBiknkTFLJE6Htj3KKNnHzpxhNv2Jw5cvW4s7J: G98oF7FKYrt3CGHeyoUcVeyh7XkXLRbQY2DyVcnw3v68ZaNPyx83UdsZ6ZStYSc9AqmFc6rtJGt8cxW6NytKzo5vgpW2NwNdmmrAeGzXjVoWdqmCym5mZFedvnieoPzJpzjMcdF2beuio4Je7ikaRKuUvmNRuYBhPvjMmc6Rar44gcpfYp4TmUUZbytHCip8wqxTeDnwPb1CSeBxDDq7KbakSt4QMKFt3c21e1nYks3dyQqscpfQHEafYV9fWuirLVE4kWGRo12mbsmoQXpW3F2Uc25iRUguswRwa81c61xgQeFzw4x5rNodqsX5SL87axbmb7ueFcUcF7goSzQ8ttoD2t9eBcjE3E3exzg1LSPiuSZP42LqAAWG2pKvFV79VPyW18nfXeGkM9n9gtC9xVTfgPXJRHWVFpp