CRM platform authentication tokens not received when user logs in during OAuth flow

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1

I’m having trouble with my CRM platform’s OAuth setup. It’s weird. When someone’s already signed in, everything’s cool. The tokens show up no problem. But if they gotta log in during the process, it’s like the tokens vanish into thin air.

Here’s what I’m working with:

async function getTokens(authCode) {
  const tokenUrl = 'https://api.crm.com/oauth/token';
  const reqBody = new URLSearchParams({
    code: authCode,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    client_id: 'myAppId',
    client_secret: 'myAppSecret'
  });

  try {
    const response = await fetch(tokenUrl, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
      body: reqBody
    });
    return await response.json();
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Token fetch failed:', error);
  }
}

I’ve triple-checked the docs, made sure my redirect URL is spot on, and the app permissions are all set. The logs show the token exchange request happening, but it’s like it falls into a black hole when the user has to log in first. Any ideas what could be going wrong here?

2

yo, that’s a head-scratcher for sure. have u checked if the auth flow changes when users login mid-process? maybe the CRM’s throwing a curveball there. also, double-check ur error handling - could be swallowing important info. tried adding some console.logs right after the fetch to see what’s comin back?

3

Have you checked if the authorization code is still valid when the user logs in during the OAuth flow? Some CRM platforms invalidate the code if there’s a login event mid-process. You might need to request a new authorization code after the user logs in.

Also, consider adding more robust error handling. Instead of just logging the error, try to parse the response even if it’s not a 200 OK. The API might be sending back useful error information.

if (!response.ok) {
  const errorBody = await response.text();
  console.error(`Error response: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}`, errorBody);
  throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
}

This way, you’ll get more insight into what’s happening when the token exchange fails. It could reveal issues with scopes, client credentials, or other configuration problems that only occur during the login flow.

4

I’ve dealt with similar OAuth hiccups before, and it’s often trickier than it seems. One thing that jumps out at me is the possibility of a race condition. When users log in during the flow, there might be a delay in the CRM system updating their session state.

Have you considered implementing a retry mechanism with a short delay? Something like:

async function getTokensWithRetry(authCode, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
    const tokens = await getTokens(authCode);
    if (tokens) return tokens;
    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
  }
  throw new Error('Failed to retrieve tokens after retries');
}

This approach has saved my bacon a few times when dealing with finicky OAuth implementations. It gives the CRM a moment to catch up if there’s any lag in their system after a fresh login.

Also, don’t forget to check the response status before parsing JSON. Sometimes the real error is hiding in the response body or headers. Good luck troubleshooting!