Your employee just clicked “Accept.”
That harmless-looking productivity app now has a permanent key to your organization’s most sensitive SaaS data.
It can:
And the worst part?
That access survives password resets, MFA changes, and every security awareness training you’ve ever run.
OAuth was designed for convenience.
But for attackers, it’s a backdoor into SaaS applications that most organizations never notice - until it’s too late.
When a user clicks "Accept", they aren’t just logging in. They’re delegating permissions, called scopes, that define what the app can do.
OAuth is about authorization. Once consent is given, the app receives an OAuth token - essentially a digital master key.
Depending on scopes, that key may allow:
These OAuth tokens persist even if you reset credentials or enforce MFA. That’s why OAuth risks are so hard to manage with traditional SaaS security tools.
Traditional defenses often fail against OAuth-based attacks because:
Security teams detect symptoms (strange file access, unusual email patterns, suspicious API calls) but rarely uncover the true cause - a malicious OAuth app silently holding valid access keys.
Attackers already exploit OAuth in ways that bypass standard defenses. Some active attack playbooks include:
A malicious OAuth app gained mailbox access, stayed hidden for 90 days, then launched phishing campaigns using legitimate communication patterns.
Fake OAuth apps impersonating Microsoft, Adobe, and DocuSign tricked users into granting access. Nearly 3,000 accounts across 900+ Microsoft 365 environments were compromised in 2025, with a 50% success rate. Even clicking “Cancel” triggered the same redirect chain.
Apps request minimal permissions initially, then escalate privileges through hidden token exchanges.
Tokens issued for one app are reused by another, enabling lateral movement across SaaS environments.
These aren’t hypothetical. OAuth exploitation is one of the fastest-growing SaaS security threats.
Shadow IT has evolved. It’s no longer just employees installing unauthorized software - it’s thousands of OAuth apps gaining access silently.
This is where most organizations are flying blind.
Perimeters.io was built specifically to address OAuth security and SaaS risk management.
Identify every OAuth-connected app in your SaaS environment, whether authorized yesterday or years ago.
See exactly what each OAuth app can do - from basic profile access to full admin rights.
Flag high-risk apps based on:
Revoke risky OAuth scopes or disable malicious apps instantly. Employees are notified with clear educational messaging.
Discovery is only the beginning.
Perimeters.io continuously monitors OAuth activity for compromise indicators:
When risks appear, Perimeters.io sends real-time alerts, creates incident tickets, and provides forensic context - so your team can act before attackers escalate.
You can’t stop employees from clicking "Accept."
But you can stop attackers from turning that click into a SaaS breach.
Perimeters.io provides complete OAuth visibility, risk scoring, and remediation so you can shut down malicious access before it impacts your business.
Book a 20-minute demo to see which OAuth apps already have access to your data - before an attacker does.
