Methods for Testing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Signup or Login

Methods for Testing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Signup or Login

3 July 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment QA

Testing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) can be challenging due to the need for dynamic and often external inputs, such as OTPs (One-Time Passwords) sent via SMS or email. However, there are several effective methods to automate 2FA testing without compromising security protocols. This article will guide you through some practical solutions.

Approach 1: Using a 2FA Secret Key for Automated Authentication

An efficient method to automate 2FA is by utilizing the 2FA secret key directly within your test automation scripts. This approach negates the need for external authenticators.

For instance, in Java, you can use the Totp class from the org.jboss.aerogear.security.otp package:


import org.jboss.aerogear.security.otp.Totp;

// 2FA secret key
String otpKeyStr = "6jm7n6xwitpjooh7ihewyyzeux7aqmw2"; 

Totp totp = new Totp(otpKeyStr);
String twoFactorCode = totp.now(); // Generates the current 2FA code
    

This method allows you to generate the 2FA code programmatically, ensuring seamless integration into your test scripts without the need for external OTPs.

Approach 2: Automating OTP Retrieval from External Sources

If your application requires OTPs sent via SMS or email, you can automate the retrieval process by accessing these external sources programmatically.

  • Email-based OTP: Use an email server or a real email account (e.g., Gmail or Yahoo) to receive OTPs. You can then parse the OTP from the email content and use it in your automation script.
  • SMS-based OTP: Services like Google Voice can redirect SMS messages to an email address, from which you can retrieve the OTP.

This approach requires setting up email or SMS redirection services and parsing the received messages to extract the OTP.

Approach 3: Database Access for OTP Retrieval

In scenarios where OTPs are stored in a database, you can directly access the database to retrieve the OTP. This method involves:

  • Connecting to the database using your automation tool (e.g., JMeter, Selenium).
  • Extracting the OTP from the relevant database table.
  • Using the extracted OTP in your test script for authentication.

This approach ensures that your automation script can authenticate using the dynamically generated OTP without manual intervention.

Conclusion

Automating 2FA testing can be achieved through various methods, each tailored to different scenarios and requirements. Whether you are using a 2FA secret key, retrieving OTPs from emails or SMS, or accessing the database, these methods can significantly streamline your testing process.

For those looking for a no-code solution to automate testing for iOS and Android apps, consider using Repeato. Repeato leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently. It simplifies setup and usage, making it an excellent choice for quality assurance teams.

For more information on test automation and related topics, explore our blog and documentation.

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