How to Protect Internal Apps from Phishing Using Passkeys (No-Code)

Read full article here: https://www.slashid.com/blog/gate-passkeys/?source=nhimg

Phishing remains the leading cause of data breaches, with more than 50% of incidents starting from credential theft (Verizon DBIR). While MFA helps reduce risk, attackers continue to bypass traditional factors. WebAuthn/Passkeys represent a fundamentally stronger defense because they eliminate credential replay and enforce phishing-resistant checks directly at the browser level.

This article explores how Gate, an identity-aware reverse proxy, can enforce Passkey-based authentication for internal apps without requiring application code changes. In under 10 minutes, organizations can place Gate in front of sensitive apps, add phishing-resistant login flows, and apply fine-grained authorization policies.

Why Passkeys Beat Phishing

• Public/Private Key Pairs - Only the public key is shared; the private key never leaves the device.
• Origin and TLS Checks - Browsers block Passkey use outside trusted origins, neutralizing domain spoofing.
• Phishing Resistance by Design - Unlike passwords or SMS codes, attackers can’t reuse or replay passkeys.
• Session Boundaries - Even if tokens are intercepted, they expire quickly and can’t be escalated.

Gate’s No-Code Enforcement Model

Instead of modifying app code, Gate intercepts HTTP requests, injects a Passkey login flow when no valid token exists, and forwards authenticated traffic to the backend.

• Drop-in Proxy Model - Works with self-hosted apps (example: YouTrack) or cloud workloads.
• Flexible Deployment - Docker Compose setup with a few lines of config.
• Authentication Proxy Plugin - Provides out-of-the-box login pages, supports multiple factors (Passkeys, OIDC, SAML), and integrates group-based access control.
• OPA Policy Integration - Add advanced rules (e.g., require Google group membership, restrict by IP, step-up auth).

Practical Example: YouTrack with Passkeys

• Gate placed in front of YouTrack’s containerized deployment.
• Configuration enforces Passkey login before app traffic reaches YouTrack.
• Customizable login page with Passkeys + optional OIDC fallback.
• Optional group-based access control — e.g., restrict to developers@example.com.

Result: Phishing-resistant login in <10 minutes without touching YouTrack’s source code.

Benefits of Gate + Passkeys

• Zero-Code Deployment - No app rewrites or developer intervention.
• Phishing-Resistant MFA - Stops credential-based attacks at the source.
• Fine-Grained Authorization - Out-of-the-box policies and OPA integration.
• Future-Proof Security - Supports Passkeys adoption across browsers, devices, and internal environments.

Conclusion

Passkeys and WebAuthn represent the next evolution in authentication, but implementation hurdles have slowed adoption. Gate bridges that gap with a no-code, policy-driven proxy model, enabling organizations to secure internal applications against phishing and credential theft in minutes.

Bottom Line

Phishing can’t be fixed with patchwork MFA. Passkeys plus Gate’s no-code enforcement provide the path to modern, phishing-resistant identity security.