WebSocket Reconnects Must Re-Verify Authorization, Not Assume Prior Access

WebSocket connections typically authenticate only once at the time of initial connection, but security experts warn this is not enough. When a client reconnects, resumes a session, or re-subscribes to a channel, authorization should be re-checked against current user roles and permissions. This matters because users can be offboarded, subscription plans can change, and channel access grants can expire while a socket remains technically active. Developers are advised to treat every subscribe or resume event as a fresh authorization decision rather than a continuation of a previous session. Tools like policy-as-code solutions can help centralize these recurring authorization checks instead of scattering them across reconnect logic.