envoyproxy/envoy

jwt authn filter: re-retrieve the keys when it sees an unfamiliar kid value.

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#39,643 opened on May 27, 2025

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area/jwt_authnenhancementhelp wantedno stalebot

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Description

Title: One line description

Description: The jwt authn filter should try to re-fetch the keys if it encounters an unknown key. This allows the jwt authn filter work with a provider that rotates keys (for example, Zitadel).

[optional Relevant Links:] https://github.com/envoyproxy/gateway/issues/4180

Contributor guide

Research direction
Examine the existing JWT authentication filter code in Envoy to understand how keys are currently loaded and cached. Identify where the key ID (kid) is checked and implement logic to trigger a re fetch of keys when an unknown kid is encountered, ensuring thread safety and handling possible failures.
Tech stack
None
Domain
securityauthenticationapi
Issue type
Feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-2 days
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
Active
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
Mostly clear
Prerequisites
C++Envoy development setupJWT knowledge
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
40