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Clarifications to SSO login/UIA (#2608)

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including a bunch of text about security
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2
CONTRIBUTING.rst
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@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/meta/documentation_style.rs
Python code within the ``matrix-doc`` project should follow the same style as
synapse, which is documented at
https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/tree/master/docs/code_style.rst.
https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/tree/master/docs/code_style.md.
Matrix-doc workflows
--------------------

1
changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/2608.clarification
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@ -0,0 +1 @@
Clarify the behaviour of SSO login and UI-Auth.

32
specification/client_server_api.rst
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@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
.. Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
.. Copyright 2016-2020 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C.
..
.. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
.. you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@ -425,6 +425,8 @@ on the server-side and the user simply needs to provide their credentials again.
In either case, the client's previously known access token will no longer function.
.. _`user-interactive authentication`:
User-Interactive Authentication API
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ -813,28 +815,8 @@ Single Sign-On
provider.
A client wanting to complete authentication using SSO should use the
`Fallback`_ authentication flow by opening a browser window for
``/_matrix/client/r0/auth/m.login.sso/fallback/web?session=<...>`` with the
session parameter set to the session ID provided by the server.
The homeserver should return a page which asks for the user's confirmation
before proceeding. For example, the page could say words to the effect of:
A client is trying to remove a device/add an email address/take over your
account. To confirm this action, re-authenticate with single sign-on. If you
did not expect this, your account may be compromised!
Once the user has confirmed they should be redirected to the single sign-on
provider's login page. Once the provider has validated the user, the browser is
redirected back to the homeserver.
The homeserver then validates the response from the single sign-on provider and
updates the user-interactive authentication session to mark the single sign-on
stage has been completed. The browser is shown the fallback authentication
completion page.
Once the flow has completed, the client retries the request with the session
only, as above.
`Fallback`_ mechanism. See `SSO during User-Interactive Authentication`_ for
more information.
Email-based (identity / homeserver)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
@ -940,6 +922,8 @@ should open is::
Where ``auth type`` is the type name of the stage it is attempting and
``session ID`` is the ID of the session given by the homeserver.
.. _`user-interactive authentication fallback completion`:
This MUST return an HTML page which can perform this authentication stage. This
page must use the following JavaScript when the authentication has been
completed:
@ -1157,7 +1141,7 @@ with ``403 Forbidden`` and an error code of ``M_FORBIDDEN``.
If the homeserver advertises ``m.login.sso`` as a viable flow, and the client
supports it, the client should redirect the user to the ``/redirect`` endpoint
for `Single Sign-On <#sso-client-login>`_. After authentication is complete, the
for `client login via SSO`_. After authentication is complete, the
client will need to submit a ``/login`` request matching ``m.login.token``.
{{login_cs_http_api}}

328
specification/modules/sso_login.rst
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@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
.. Copyright 2019 New Vector Ltd
.. Copyright 2019-2020 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C.
..
.. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
.. you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@ -12,34 +12,98 @@
.. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
.. limitations under the License.
SSO client login
================
SSO client login/authentication
===============================
.. _module:sso_login:
Single Sign-On (SSO) is a generic term which refers to protocols which allow
users to log into applications via a single web-based authentication portal.
Examples include "Central Authentication Service" (CAS) and SAML.
Examples include OpenID Connect, "Central Authentication Service" (CAS) and SAML.
An overview of the process, as used in Matrix, is as follows:
This module allows a Matrix homeserver to delegate user authentication to an
external authentication server supporting one of these protocols. In this
process, there are three systems involved:
1. The Matrix client instructs the user's browser to navigate to the
|/login/sso/redirect|_ endpoint on the user's homeserver.
* A Matrix client, using the APIs defined this specification, which is seeking
to authenticate a user to a Matrix homeserver.
* A Matrix homeserver, implementing the APIs defined in this specification, but
which is delegating user authentication to the authentication server.
* An "authentication server", which is responsible for authenticating the
user.
This specification is concerned only with communication between the Matrix
client and the homeserver, and is independent of the SSO protocol used to
communicate with the authentication server. Different Matrix homeserver
implementations might support different SSO protocols.
Clients and homeservers implementing the SSO flow will need to consider both login_
and `user-interactive authentication`_. The flow is
similar in both cases, but there are slight differences.
Typically, SSO systems require a single "callback" URI to be configured at the
authentication server. Once the user is authenticated, their browser is
redirected to that URI. It is up to the Matrix homeserver implementation to
implement a suitable endpoint. For example, for CAS authentication the
homeserver should provide a means for the administrator to configure where the
CAS server is and the REST endpoints which consume the ticket.
Client login via SSO
---------------------
An overview of the process is as follows:
0. The Matrix client calls |GET /login|_ to find the supported login
types, and the homeserver includes a flow with ``"type": "m.login.sso"`` in the
response.
1. To initiate the ``m.login.sso`` login type, the Matrix client instructs the
user's browser to navigate to the |/login/sso/redirect|_ endpoint on the
user's homeserver.
2. The homeserver responds with an HTTP redirect to the SSO user interface,
which the browser follows.
3. The SSO system authenticates the user.
3. The authentication server and the homeserver interact to verify the user's
identity and other authentication information, potentially using a number of
redirects.
4. The SSO server and the homeserver interact to verify the user's identity
and other authentication information, potentially using a number of redirects.
5. The browser is directed to the ``redirectUrl`` provided by the client with
4. The browser is directed to the ``redirectUrl`` provided by the client with
a ``loginToken`` query parameter for the client to log in with.
5. The client exchanges the login token for an access token by calling the
|/login|_ endpoint with a ``type`` of ``m.login.token``.
For native applications, typically steps 1 to 4 are carried out by opening an
embedded web view.
These steps are illustrated as follows::
Matrix Client Matrix Homeserver Auth Server
| | |
|-------------(0) GET /login----------->| |
|<-------------login types--------------| |
| | |
| Webview | |
| | | |
|----->| | |
| |--(1) GET /login/sso/redirect-->| |
| |<---------(2) 302---------------| |
| | | |
| |<========(3) Authentication process================>|
| | | |
| |<--(4) redirect to redirectUrl--| |
|<-----| | |
| | |
|---(5) POST /login with login token--->| |
|<-------------access token-------------| |
.. Note::
In the older `r0.4.0 version <https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/r0.4.0.html#cas-based-client-login>`_
of this specification it was possible to authenticate via CAS when the server
of this specification it was possible to authenticate via CAS when the homeserver
provides a ``m.login.cas`` login flow. This specification deprecates the use
of ``m.login.cas`` to instead prefer ``m.login.sso``, which is the same process
with the only change being which redirect endpoint to use: for ``m.login.cas``, use
@ -47,40 +111,65 @@ An overview of the process, as used in Matrix, is as follows:
The endpoints are otherwise the same.
Client behaviour
----------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The client starts the process by instructing the browser to navigate to
|/login/sso/redirect|_ with an appropriate ``redirectUrl``. Once authentication
is successful, the browser will be redirected to that ``redirectUrl``.
.. TODO-spec
{{sso_login_redirect_cs_http_api}}
Should we recommend some sort of CSRF protection here (specifically, we
should guard against people accidentally logging in by sending them a link
to ``/login/sso/redirect``.
Security considerations
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe we should recommend that the ``redirectUrl`` should contain a CSRF
token which the client should then check before sending the login token to
``/login``?
1. CSRF attacks via manipulation of parameters on the ``redirectUrl``
{{sso_login_redirect_cs_http_api}}
Clients should validate any requests to the ``redirectUrl``. In particular, it
may be possible for attackers to falsify any query parameters, leading to
cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.
For example, consider a web-based client at ``https://client.example.com``,
which wants to initiate SSO login on the homeserver at ``server.example.org``.
It does this by storing the homeserver name in a query parameter for the
``redirectUrl``: it redirects to
``https://server.example.org/login/sso/redirect?redirectUrl=https://client.example.com?hs=server.example.org``.
An attacker could trick a victim into following a link to
``https://server.example.org/login/sso/redirect?redirectUrl=https://client.example.com?hs=evil.com``,
which would result in the client sending a login token for the victim's
account to the attacker-controlled site ``evil.com``.
To guard against this, clients MUST NOT store state (such as the address of
the homeserver being logged into) anywhere it can be modified by external
processes.
Instead, the state could be stored in `localStorage
<https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Window/localStorage>`_ or
in a cookie.
2. For added security, clients SHOULD include a unique identifier in the
``redirectUrl`` and reject any callbacks that do not contain a recognised
identifier, to guard against unsolicited login attempts and replay attacks.
Server behaviour
----------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Redirecting to the Authentication server
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The URI for the SSO system to be used should be configured on the server by the
server administrator. The server is expected to set up any endpoints required to
interact with that SSO system. For example, for CAS authentication the homeserver
should provide a means for the administrator to configure where the CAS server is
and the REST endpoints which consume the ticket. A good reference for how CAS could
be implemented is available in the older `r0.4.0 version <https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/r0.4.0.html#cas-based-client-login>`_
of this specification.
The server should handle
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/login/sso/redirect`` as follows:
Handling the redirect endpoint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#. It should build a suitable request for the SSO system.
When responding to the ``/login/sso/redirect`` endpoint, the server must
generate a URI for the SSO login page with any appropriate parameters.
#. It should store enough state that the flow can be securely resumed after the
SSO process completes. One way to do this is by storing a cookie which is
stored in the user's browser, by adding a ``Set-Cookie`` header to the response.
#. It should redirect the user's browser to the SSO login page with the
appropriate parameters.
See also the "Security considerations" below.
.. TODO-spec:
@ -89,24 +178,169 @@ generate a URI for the SSO login page with any appropriate parameters.
endpoint, and to give more meaningful errors in the case of
faulty/poorly-configured clients.
Handling the authentication endpoint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Handling the callback from the Authentication server
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note that there will normally be a single callback URI which is used for both login
and user-interactive authentication: it is up to the homeserver implementation
to distinguish which is taking place.
The homeserver should validate the response from the SSO system: this may
require additional calls to the authentication server, and/or may require
checking a signature on the response.
The homeserver then proceeds as follows:
#. The homeserver MUST map the user details received from the authentication
server to a valid `Matrix user identifier <../appendices.html#user-identifiers>`_.
The guidance in `Mapping from other character sets
<../appendices.html#mapping-from-other-character-sets>`_ may be useful.
#. If the generated user identifier represents a new user, it should be
registered as a new user.
#. The homeserver should generate a short-term login token. This is an opaque
token, suitable for use with the ``m.login.token`` type of the |/login|_
API. The lifetime of this token SHOULD be limited to around five
seconds.
#. The homeserver adds a query parameter of ``loginToken``, with the value of
the generated login token, to the ``redirectUrl`` given in the
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/login/sso/redirect``
request. (Note: ``redirectURL`` may or may not include existing query
parameters. If it already includes one or more ``loginToken`` parameters,
they should be removed before adding the new one.)
#. The homeserver redirects the user's browser to the URI thus built.
Security considerations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Homeservers should ensure that login tokens are not sent to malicious
clients.
For example, consider a homeserver at ``server.example.org``. An attacker tricks
a victim into following a link to
``https://server.example.org/login/sso/redirect?redirectUrl=https://evil.com``,
resulting in a login token being sent to the attacker-controlled site
``evil.com``. This is a form of cross-site request forgery (CSRF).
To mitigate this, Homeservers SHOULD confirm with the user that they are
happy to grant access to their matrix account to the site named in the
``redirectUrl``. This can be done either *before* redirecting to the SSO
login page when handling the
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/login/sso/redirect`` endpoint, or
*after* login when handling the callback from the authentication server. (If
the check is performed before redirecting, it is particularly important that
the homeserver guards against unsolicited authentication attempts as below).
It may be appropriate to whitelist a set of known-trusted client URLs in
this process. In particular, the homeserver's own `login fallback`_
implementation could be excluded.
2. For added security, homeservers SHOULD guard against unsolicited
authentication attempts by tracking pending requests. One way to do this is
to set a cookie when handling
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/login/sso/redirect``, which is
checked and cleared when handling the callback from the authentication
server.
SSO during User-Interactive Authentication
------------------------------------------
`User-interactive authentication`_ is used by client-server
endpoints which require additional confirmation of the user's identity (beyond
holding an access token). Typically this means that the user must re-enter
their password, but for homeservers which delegate to an SSO server, this means
redirecting to the authentication server during user-interactive auth.
The implemementation of this is based on the `Fallback`_ mechanism for
user-interactive auth.
Client behaviour
----------------
Clients do not need to take any particular additional steps beyond ensuring
that the fallback mechanism has been implemented, and treating the
``m.login.sso`` authentication type the same as any other unknown type
(i.e. they should open a browser window for
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/auth/m.login.sso/fallback/web?session=<session_id>``.
Once the flow has completed, the client retries the request with the session
only.)
Server behaviour
----------------
Redirecting to the Authentication server
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The server should handle
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/auth/m.login.sso/fallback/web`` in
much the same way as
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/login/sso/redirect``, which is to say:
#. It should build a suitable request for the SSO system.
#. It should store enough state that the flow can be securely resumed after the
SSO process completes. One way to do this is by storing a cookie which is
stored in the user's browser, by adding a ``Set-Cookie`` header to the response.
#. It should redirect the user's browser to the SSO login page with the
appropriate parameters.
See also the "Security considerations" below.
Handling the callback from the Authentication server
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note that there will normally be a single callback URI which is used for both login
and user-interactive authentication: it is up to the homeserver implementation
to distinguish which is taking place.
The homeserver should validate the response from the SSO system: this may
require additional calls to the authentication server, and/or may require
checking a signature on the response.
The homeserver then returns the `user-interactive authentication fallback
completion`_ page to the user's browser.
Security considerations
+++++++++++++++++++++++
1. Confirming the operation
The homeserver SHOULD confirm that the user is happy for the operation to go
ahead. The goal of the user-interactive authentication operation is to guard
against a compromised ``access_token`` being used to take over the user's
account. Simply redirecting the user to the SSO system is insufficient,
since they may not realise what is being asked of them, or the SSO system
may even confirm the authentication automatically.
For example, the homeserver might serve a page with words to the effect of:
A client is trying to remove a device from your account. To confirm this
action, re-authenticate with single sign-on. If you did not expect this, your
account may be compromised!
Once the homeserver has verified the user's identity with the SSO system, it
MUST map the user ID to a valid `Matrix user identifier <../index.html#user-identifiers>`_.
The guidance in `Mapping from other character sets
<../index.html#mapping-from-other-character-sets>`_ may be useful.
This confirmation could take place before redirecting to the SSO
authentication page (when handling the
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/auth/m.login.sso/fallback/web``
endpoint), or *after* authentication when handling the callback from the
authentication server. (If the check is performed before redirecting, it is
particularly important that the homeserver guards against unsolicited
authentication attempts as below).
If the generated user identifier represents a new user, it should be registered
as a new user.
2. For added security, homeservers SHOULD guard against unsolicited
authentication attempts by tracking pending requests. One way to do this is
to set a cookie when handling
``/_matrix/client/%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%/auth/m.login.sso/fallback/web``,
which is checked and cleared when handling the callback from the
authentication server.
Finally, the server should generate a short-term login token. The generated
token should be a macaroon, suitable for use with the ``m.login.token`` type of
the |/login|_ API, and `token-based interactive login <#token-based>`_. The
lifetime of this token SHOULD be limited to around five seconds. This token is
given to the client via the ``loginToken`` query parameter previously mentioned.
.. |GET /login| replace:: ``GET /login``
.. _GET /login: #get-matrix-client-%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%-login
.. |/login| replace:: ``/login``
.. _/login: #post-matrix-client-%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%-login
.. |/login/sso/redirect| replace:: ``/login/sso/redirect``

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