OAuth2 credentials are the secrets or tokens that let an application act on a user’s or service’s behalf under the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework. They can include client secrets, access tokens, refresh tokens, and related authentication material used by integrations, APIs, and automated workflows.
These credentials matter because whoever holds them may gain authorized access without knowing a password. In real attacks, stolen OAuth2 credentials are often used to read email, call cloud APIs, move laterally between services, or keep access alive after a password reset. Defenders treat them as high-value secrets: they should be stored securely, rotated when exposed, scoped to the minimum needed permissions, and monitored for unusual use. In platforms that connect many services, exposing OAuth2 credentials can turn one management flaw into broad access across internal systems and external integrations.