Authentication Failure
🎯 Purpose
Handles various authentication failure scenarios, implements security measures like account lockouts, and provides user guidance for recovery from authentication errors.
🚨 Authentication Failure Types
🔒 Incorrect Credentials
- Scenario: User provides wrong Password, Email OTP, or SMS Authentication Code
- System Response: Authentication error displayed to user
- Attempt Tracking: System decrements available attempts counter
- User Impact: Opportunity to retry with correct credentials
📊 Attempt Counter System
- Configuration: Attempt limits are configurable (e.g., 5 attempts for password)
- Tracking: Separate counters for different authentication factors
- Exhaustion: All attempts exhausted triggers account lockout
- Reset: Counters reset after successful authentication
🔐 Account Lockout Process
- Trigger: User exhausts all available authentication attempts
- Duration: Account blocked for configurable cooling period
- User Experience: Clear error message indicating lockout status
- Automatic Recovery: User automatically unblocked after cooling period expires
📊 Failure Scenarios and Responses
| Failure Type | Cause | System Response | User Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong Password | Incorrect password entered | Error message, attempt counter decremented | Retry with correct password |
| Invalid SMS OTP | Wrong SMS code entered | Error message, option to resend | Request new SMS code |
| Invalid Email OTP | Wrong email code entered | Error message, option to resend | Request new email code |
| Expired OTP | Code used beyond time limit | Error message | Request new code |
| Account Locked | Too many failed attempts | Lockout message with time remaining | Wait for cooling period |
🔄 Cooling Period Management
🕐 Lockout Duration
- Configuration: Cooling period duration is configurable by administrators
- Typical Duration: Ranges from minutes to hours based on security policy
- Progressive Increase: May increase with repeated lockouts
- User Notification: Clear indication of remaining lockout time
⏰ Automatic Unblock Process
- Timer: System maintains countdown timer for each locked account
- Automatic Release: Account automatically unlocked when cooling period expires
- Status Reset: Attempt counters reset upon automatic unblock
- User Notification: System ready to accept new authentication attempts
📧 Code Resend Functionality
🔄 SMS Code Resend
- Availability: "Re-send SMS" option available if code not received
- Rate Limiting: Prevents abuse through time delays between requests
- User Guidance: Instructions for checking phone reception and SMS blocking
📮 Email Code Resend
- Availability: "Re-send Email" option available if code not received
- Rate Limiting: Time delays prevent spam and abuse
- User Guidance: Instructions for checking spam folders and email delivery
🎯 User Experience During Failures
📱 Clear Error Messaging
- Specific Errors: Clear indication of what went wrong
- Actionable Guidance: Instructions on how to resolve the issue
- Retry Options: Clear paths for attempting authentication again
- Support Information: Contact details for additional help
🔄 Recovery Options
- Alternative Methods: Suggestion of different authentication factors if available
- Account Recovery: Links to account recovery flows for persistent issues
- Help Resources: Documentation and support contact information
📊 Failure Flow Diagram
Updated 15 days ago