OpenID Connect for Agents: Securing LLM Identity with OIDC-A 1.0

Subramanya N
Co-Founder
As AI agents become integral to enterprise operations, we face a critical challenge: how do we properly authenticate and authorize these autonomous systems? Traditional identity management wasn't designed for LLMs that act on behalf of users with varying degrees of autonomy. Today, we're proposing a solution: OpenID Connect for Agents (OIDC-A) 1.0, a comprehensive extension to the OpenID Connect standard specifically designed for the AI agent era.
This proposal represents months of collaboration with security experts, enterprise architects, and AI researchers who recognize that securing AI agents requires more than adapting existing protocolsβit demands a fundamental rethinking of digital identity for autonomous systems.
The Identity Crisis in AI Agent Systems
The rapid adoption of AI agents in enterprise environments has exposed a fundamental gap in our security infrastructure. Consider a typical scenario: an AI assistant that manages calendars, responds to emails, and accesses corporate databases on behalf of multiple users. How do we:
- Verify the agent's identity and ensure it hasn't been tampered with?
- Track delegation chains when users grant agents permission to act on their behalf?
- Enforce fine-grained permissions based on the agent's capabilities and context?
- Maintain audit trails that satisfy compliance requirements?
- Prevent unauthorized escalation of agent privileges?
Current OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect implementations treat AI agents like traditional applications, missing critical aspects of their autonomous nature. This gap creates security vulnerabilities and compliance challenges that grow more severe as agents gain broader access to enterprise systems.
Understanding the AI Agent Authentication Challenge
graph TB
subgraph "Traditional OAuth/OIDC Flow"
User1[π€ User] --> Auth1[π Authorization Server]
Auth1 --> App1[π» Application]
App1 --> Resource1[ποΈ Resource Server]
end
subgraph "AI Agent Reality"
User2[π€ User] --> Agent[π€ AI Agent]
Agent --> Multiple[π Multiple Resources]
Agent -.->|"β How to verify<br/>agent identity?"| Q1[Identity Verification]
Agent -.->|"β How to track<br/>delegations?"| Q2[Delegation Tracking]
Agent -.->|"β How to enforce<br/>constraints?"| Q3[Permission Constraints]
Agent -.->|"β How to audit<br/>actions?"| Q4[Audit Trail]
end
style User1 fill:#74b9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style User2 fill:#74b9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Agent fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px
style Q1 fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Q2 fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Q3 fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Q4 fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
The challenges multiply when we consider the unique characteristics of AI agents:
1. Dynamic Capabilities
Unlike traditional applications with fixed functionality, AI agents possess dynamic capabilities that can change based on their underlying models, training, and context. A GPT-4 based agent has different capabilities than a Claude 3 agent, and these differences matter for authorization decisions.
2. Delegation Complexity
When a user asks an AI agent to "handle my emails while I'm on vacation," they're creating a complex delegation relationship. The agent might need to read emails, draft responses, access calendars, and even delegate subtasks to other specialized agents. Traditional OAuth scopes can't adequately represent these nuanced permissions.
3. Attestation Requirements
Enterprises need cryptographic proof that an AI agent is genuine, unmodified, and operating within approved parameters. This goes beyond simple API authentication to include verification of the agent's model, version, provider, and runtime environment.
4. Audit and Compliance
Regulatory requirements demand detailed audit trails of who (or what) accessed sensitive data and why. When an AI agent accesses customer records, compliance teams need to know not just that "an agent" accessed the data, but which specific agent instance, operating under whose authority, for what purpose.
Introducing OIDC-A: A Comprehensive Solution
OpenID Connect for Agents (OIDC-A) 1.0 extends the OpenID Connect standard with purpose-built constructs for AI agent authentication and authorization. Rather than treating agents as simple clients or resources, OIDC-A recognizes them as a distinct category of entity with unique security requirements.
Core Components of OIDC-A
graph TB
subgraph "OIDC-A Architecture"
subgraph "Identity Layer"
AgentID[π Agent Identity Claims<br/>- agent_type<br/>- agent_model<br/>- agent_provider<br/>- agent_instance_id]
end
subgraph "Delegation Layer"
Delegation[π Delegation Claims<br/>- delegator_sub<br/>- delegation_chain<br/>- delegation_purpose<br/>- delegation_constraints]
end
subgraph "Attestation Layer"
Attestation[π‘οΈ Attestation Claims<br/>- agent_attestation<br/>- agent_trust_level<br/>- verification_evidence]
end
subgraph "Capability Layer"
Capability[βοΈ Capability Claims<br/>- agent_capabilities<br/>- supported_operations<br/>- context_boundaries]
end
end
Token[π« OIDC-A ID Token] --> AgentID
Token --> Delegation
Token --> Attestation
Token --> Capability
style Token fill:#00b894,stroke:#333,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style AgentID fill:#74b9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Delegation fill:#a29bfe,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Attestation fill:#81ecec,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Capability fill:#ffeaa7,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
1. Agent Identity Claims
OIDC-A introduces standardized claims for representing agent identity:
{
"sub": "agent_instance_789",
"agent_type": "assistant",
"agent_model": "gpt-4",
"agent_version": "2025-03",
"agent_provider": "openai.com",
"agent_instance_id": "agent_instance_789",
"agent_context_id": "conversation_123"
}
These claims enable fine-grained authorization decisions based on the specific agent model, version, and provider. For example, an organization might trust GPT-4 agents for customer service tasks but require human approval for financial operations.
2. Delegation Chain Representation
One of OIDC-A's most powerful features is its ability to represent complex delegation relationships:
sequenceDiagram
participant U as π€ User (Alice)
participant A1 as π€ Assistant Agent
participant A2 as π Analytics Agent
participant RS as ποΈ Resource Server
Note over U,RS: OIDC-A Delegation Chain Example
U->>A1: "Analyze my sales data"
Note over A1: Creates delegation token<br/>with constrained scope
A1->>A2: Delegate: "Analyze sales patterns"
Note over A2: Delegation chain includes:<br/>1. Alice β Assistant<br/>2. Assistant β Analytics
A2->>RS: Access request with<br/>full delegation chain
RS->>RS: Validate chain:<br/>- Each step authorized?<br/>- Scopes properly reduced?<br/>- Constraints satisfied?
RS-->>A2: β
Authorized with constraints
A2-->>A1: π Analysis results
A1-->>U: π "Your sales increased 23%"
The delegation chain provides complete traceability:
"delegation_chain": [
{
"iss": "https://auth.example.com",
"sub": "user_alice",
"aud": "agent_assistant_789",
"delegated_at": 1714348800,
"scope": "read:sales write:reports",
"purpose": "Analyze my sales data"
},
{
"iss": "https://auth.example.com",
"sub": "agent_assistant_789",
"aud": "agent_analytics_101",
"delegated_at": 1714348830,
"scope": "read:sales",
"purpose": "Generate sales analysis",
"constraints": {"max_records": 1000}
}
]
3. Cryptographic Attestation
OIDC-A provides a framework for cryptographic attestation of agent integrity:
graph TB
subgraph "Agent Attestation Process"
Agent[π€ AI Agent] --> Evidence[π Attestation Evidence<br/>- Model hash<br/>- Provider signature<br/>- Runtime measurements]
Evidence --> Token[π« Attestation Token<br/>JWT/EAT Format]
Token --> Verify{π Verification}
Verify -->|β
Valid| Trust[π’ Trusted Agent<br/>Full Access]
Verify -->|β Unknown| Limited[π‘ Limited Trust<br/>Restricted Access]
Verify -->|β Invalid| Deny[π΄ Untrusted<br/>Access Denied]
end
Keys[π Provider Keys] --> Verify
Policy[π Trust Policy] --> Verify
style Agent fill:#74b9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Token fill:#00b894,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Trust fill:#00b894,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Limited fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Deny fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
This attestation mechanism enables enterprises to:
- Verify the agent hasn't been tampered with
- Ensure the agent is running in a secure environment
- Validate the agent's model and version claims
- Establish a hardware-backed root of trust when available
4. Fine-Grained Capability Management
OIDC-A enables precise control over agent capabilities:
{
"agent_capabilities": [
"email:read",
"email:draft",
"calendar:view",
"data:analyze"
],
"capability_constraints": {
"email:draft": {
"requires_approval": true,
"max_recipients": 10
},
"data:analyze": {
"max_rows": 10000,
"excluded_columns": ["ssn", "credit_card"]
}
}
}
Implementation: Enterprise-Ready Architecture
Discovery and Registration
OIDC-A extends OpenID Connect Discovery to include agent-specific metadata:
{
"issuer": "https://auth.example.com",
"authorization_endpoint": "https://auth.example.com/authorize",
"token_endpoint": "https://auth.example.com/token",
// OIDC-A Extensions
"agent_attestation_endpoint": "https://auth.example.com/agent/attestation",
"agent_capabilities_endpoint": "https://auth.example.com/.well-known/agent-capabilities",
"agent_types_supported": ["assistant", "retrieval", "coding", "analytical"],
"attestation_formats_supported": ["eat+jwt", "tpm2", "sgx"],
"delegation_methods_supported": ["chain", "token_exchange"],
"agent_claims_supported": [
"agent_type", "agent_model", "agent_provider",
"delegation_chain", "agent_attestation"
]
}
Security Control Flow
flowchart TD
Start([π€ Agent Request]) --> Check{π OIDC-A Token<br/>Present?}
Check -->|No| Reject[β Reject Request]
Check -->|Yes| Validate[β Validate Standard<br/>OIDC Claims]
Validate --> Agent[π Verify Agent<br/>Identity Claims]
Agent --> Attestation{π‘οΈ Attestation<br/>Valid?}
Attestation -->|No| Deny[π« Deny Access]
Attestation -->|Yes| Delegation{π Delegation<br/>Chain Valid?}
Delegation -->|No| Deny
Delegation -->|Yes| Capability{βοΈ Capabilities<br/>Sufficient?}
Capability -->|No| Partial[β οΈ Partial Access]
Capability -->|Yes| Policy{π Policy<br/>Check}
Policy -->|Deny| Deny
Policy -->|Allow| Grant[β
Grant Access]
Grant --> Audit[π Audit Log]
Partial --> Audit
Deny --> Audit
Reject --> Audit
style Start fill:#74b9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Grant fill:#00b894,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Partial fill:#fdcb6e,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
style Deny fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Reject fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
Real-World Implementation Example
Consider an enterprise deploying an AI assistant for employees:
{
"iss": "https://auth.enterprise.com",
"sub": "agent_assistant_prod_001",
"aud": "enterprise_resources",
"exp": 1714435200,
"iat": 1714348800,
// Standard OIDC claims
"name": "Enterprise AI Assistant",
"email": "ai-assistant@enterprise.com",
// OIDC-A Agent Identity
"agent_type": "assistant",
"agent_model": "gpt-4",
"agent_version": "2025-03-15",
"agent_provider": "openai.com",
"agent_instance_id": "prod_001",
// Delegation from employee
"delegator_sub": "employee_12345",
"delegation_purpose": "Handle routine tasks",
"delegation_constraints": {
"time_bound": "business_hours",
"data_classification": ["public", "internal"],
"requires_approval": ["financial", "personnel"]
},
// Capabilities
"agent_capabilities": [
"email:read", "email:draft",
"calendar:manage", "docs:read",
"data:query"
],
// Attestation
"agent_attestation": {
"format": "eat+jwt",
"token": "eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiI...",
"trust_level": "verified",
"last_verified": 1714348000
}
}
Security Benefits of OIDC-A
1. Comprehensive Identity Verification
Unlike basic API authentication, OIDC-A provides multi-layered identity verification:
- Cryptographic attestation ensures agent integrity
- Provider verification confirms the agent's origin
- Version tracking enables security updates and patches
- Instance identification allows granular access control
2. Traceable Delegation Chains
Every action can be traced back to the original human authority:
- Audit compliance with complete delegation records
- Scope reduction enforcement at each delegation step
- Constraint propagation through the entire chain
- Revocation capability at any point in the chain
3. Dynamic Authorization
Fine-grained permissions based on real-time context:
- Capability-based access control
- Risk-aware authorization decisions
- Contextual constraints enforcement
- Adaptive security policies
4. Enterprise-Grade Compliance
Built-in support for regulatory requirements:
- Comprehensive audit trails for every agent action
- Data lineage tracking through delegation chains
- Consent management with purpose-based access
- Privacy controls with granular data classification
The Path Forward: Standardization and Adoption
Industry Collaboration
OIDC-A represents a collaborative effort involving:
- Security vendors contributing attestation expertise
- AI providers ensuring practical implementation
- Enterprise architects validating real-world requirements
- Standards bodies guiding specification development
Getting Started with OIDC-A
Organizations can begin preparing for OIDC-A adoption:
- Assess Current State: Inventory existing AI agent deployments and authentication methods
- Identify Requirements: Document specific needs for agent authentication and authorization
- Pilot Implementation: Deploy OIDC-A in controlled environments
- Provide Feedback: Contribute to the specification development
- Plan Migration: Develop a roadmap for full OIDC-A adoption
Building Trust in the AI Agent Era
The introduction of OIDC-A marks a critical step in the evolution of AI security. As agents become more sophisticated and gain broader access to enterprise systems, the need for robust authentication and authorization frameworks becomes paramount.
OIDC-A provides the foundation for:
- Trusted AI deployments with cryptographic verification
- Compliant operations with comprehensive audit trails
- Flexible authorization that adapts to agent capabilities
- Scalable security that grows with AI adoption
The standard isn't just about technical protocolsβit's about building the trust infrastructure necessary for AI agents to become true partners in enterprise operations. By establishing clear identity, delegation, and capability frameworks, OIDC-A enables organizations to deploy AI agents confidently while maintaining security and compliance.
Conclusion: A New Standard for a New Era
OpenID Connect for Agents (OIDC-A) 1.0 represents more than an incremental improvement to existing standardsβit's a fundamental rethinking of identity and authorization for the AI age. By addressing the unique challenges of autonomous agents while building on proven OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect foundations, OIDC-A provides a practical path forward for secure AI deployment.
As we stand at the threshold of widespread AI agent adoption, the choices we make about identity and security standards will shape the future of human-AI collaboration. OIDC-A offers a comprehensive, enterprise-ready framework that enables innovation while maintaining the security and compliance requirements that organizations demand.
The journey toward standardized AI agent authentication has begun. With OIDC-A, we have the tools to build a future where AI agents are not just powerful, but trustworthy partners in our digital ecosystem.
The OIDC-A 1.0 specification is open for community review and feedback. Join the conversation and help shape the future of AI agent authentication at subramanya1997/oidc-a.