Skip to content

OpenID (OrchardCore.OpenId)

OpenID Connect Module

OrchardCore.OpenId provides robust OpenID Connect functionality, enabling Orchard Core to act as an OpenID Connect server and client. The following features are available:

  • OpenID Connect Core Services
  • OpenID Connect Authorization Server
  • OpenID Connect Management UI
  • OpenID Connect Authorization Server
  • OpenID Connect Client Integration

Core OpenID Connect Services

This feature provides the essential services that underpin all other OpenID Connect features within Orchard Core. It includes fundamental components needed for secure communication, token handling, and user authentication.

OpenID Connect Management UI

Adds a management interface to the Orchard Core admin dashboard, enabling users to manage OpenID Connect applications, define and modify scopes, and configure application permissions through a user-friendly UI.

OpenID Connect Authorization Server

Allows Orchard Core to function as an OpenID Connect authorization server, also referred to as an identity provider (IdP). This feature enables authentication and the issuance of tokens, conforming to OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 standards.

Key points: - Orchard Core can serve as a centralized identity provider, allowing external applications to authenticate users and manage access control. - Powered by the OpenIddict library, this feature supports token-based authentication without requiring an external identity provider. - The authorization server takes care of validating the access tokens received by the /connect/userinfo API endpoint, so you don't need to enable the token validation feature for the current tenant. - To validate issued tokens, ensure the 'OpenID Connect Token Validation' feature is activated.

Supported flows include: - Authorization Code Flow - Implicit Flow - Hybrid Flow - Client Credentials Grant - Resource Owner Password Grant

OpenID Connect Token Validation

This feature is responsible for validating tokens issued either by Orchard Core's own OpenID Connect authorization server or by other trusted servers. It supports JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and OpenID Connect discovery, ensuring secure and reliable token validation across distributed applications.

Configuration

Configuration can be set through the OpenID Connect settings menu in the admin dashboard and also through a recipe step.

Available settings are:

A sample of OpenID Connect Settings recipe step:

{
      "name": "OpenIdServerSettings",
      "TestingModeEnabled": false,
      "AccessTokenFormat": "JsonWebToken", // JsonWebToken or DataProtection
      "Authority": "https://www.orchardproject.net",
      "SigningCertificateStoreLocation": "LocalMachine", //More info: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.security.cryptography.x509certificates.storelocation(v=vs.110).aspx
      "SigningCertificateStoreName": "My", //More info: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.security.cryptography.x509certificates.storename(v=vs.110).aspx
      "SigningCertificateThumbprint": "27CCA66EF38EF46CD9022431FB1FF0F2DF5CA1D7",
      "EncryptionCertificateStoreLocation": "LocalMachine",
      "EncryptionCertificateStoreName": "My",
      "EncryptionCertificateThumbprint": "BC34460ABEA2D576EA68E8FFCFEEB3F45C94FB0F",
      "EnableTokenEndpoint": true,
      "EnableAuthorizationEndpoint": false,
      "EnableLogoutEndpoint": true,
      "EnableUserInfoEndpoint": true,
      "AllowPasswordFlow": true,
      "AllowClientCredentialsFlow": false,
      "AllowAuthorizationCodeFlow": false,
      "AllowRefreshTokenFlow": false,
      "AllowImplicitFlow": false,
      "RequireProofKeyForCodeExchange" : false
}

OpenID Connect Client Integration Configuration

OpenID Connect apps can be set through OpenID Connect Apps menu in the admin dashboard (through the Management Interface feature) and also through a recipe step.

OpenID Connect apps require the following configuration.

  • Id: Unique identifier.
  • Client Id: Client identifier of the application. It has to be provided by a client when requesting a valid token.
  • Display Name: Display name associated with the current application.
  • Type: There are two options:
  • Confidential: Confidential applications MUST send their client secret when communicating with the token and revocation endpoints. This guarantees that only the legit client can exchange an authorization code or get a refresh token.
  • Public: Public applications don't use client secret on their communications.
  • Client Secret: Client secret is a password associated with the application. It will be required when the application is configured as Confidential.
  • Flows: If general OpenID Connect settings allow this flow, an app can also enable this flow.
  • Allow Password Flow: It requires that the Token Endpoint is enabled. More info at https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6749#section-1.3.3
  • Allow Client Credentials Flow: It requires that the Token Endpoint is enabled. More info at https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6749#section-1.3.4
  • Allow Authorization Code Flow: It requires that the Authorization and Token Endpoints are enabled. More info at http://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-core-1_0.html#CodeFlowAuth
  • Allow Implicit Flow: It requires that the Authorization Endpoint is enabled. More info at http://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-core-1_0.html#ImplicitFlowAuth
  • Allow Refresh Token Flow: It allows to refresh access token using a refresh token. It can be used in combination with Password Flow, Authorization Code Flow and Hybrid Flow. More info at http://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-core-1_0.html#RefreshTokens
  • Normalized RoleNames: This configuration is only required if Client Credentials Flow is enabled. It determines the roles assigned to the app when it is authenticated using that flow.
  • Redirect Options: Those options are only required when Implicit Flow, Authorization Code Flow or Allow Hybrid Flow is required.
  • Logout Redirect Uri: logout callback URL.
  • Redirect Uri: callback URL.
  • Skip Consent: sets whether a consent form has to be completed by the user after log in.
  • Advanced Parameters: Allows setting additional parameters that can be sent with the authorize request. Note: The default parameters are set from the options above.
  • Require PKCE: Applies PKCE for the registered application. Ensure that the client library being used suppports PKCE.

A sample of OpenID Connect App recipe step:

{
      "name": "openidapplication",
      "ClientId": "openidtest",
      "DisplayName": "Open Id Test",
      "Type": "Confidential",
      "ClientSecret": "MyPassword",
      "EnableTokenEndpoint": true,
      "EnableAuthorizationEndpoint": false,
      "EnableLogoutEndpoint": true,
      "EnableUserInfoEndpoint": true,
      "AllowPasswordFlow": true,
      "AllowClientCredentialsFlow": false,
      "AllowAuthorizationCodeFlow": false,
      "AllowRefreshTokenFlow": false,
      "AllowImplicitFlow": false,
      "RequireProofKeyForCodeExchange": false
}

OpenID Connect Scopes Configuration

Scopes can be set through OpenID Connect Scopes menu in the admin dashboard (through the Management Interface feature) and also through a recipe step.

OpenID Connect Scopes require the following configuration.

Property Description
Name Unique name of the scope.
Display Name Display name associated with the current scope.
Description Describe how this scope is used in the system.
Tenants Build the audience based on tenants names.
Additional resources Build the audience based on the space separated strings provided.

A sample of OpenID Connect Scope recipe step:

    {
      "name": "OpenIdScope",
      "Description": "A scope to provide audience for remote clients",
      "DisplayName": "External Audience Scope",
      "ScopeName": "custom_scope",
      "Resources": "my_recipient"
    }

Configuring Certificates

Windows / IIS

Several tools are available for generating a signing certificate on Windows and/or IIS, for example:

  • IIS Server Manager (offers limited control)
    1. Server Certificates
    2. Create Self-Signed Certificate
  • PowerShell (offers full control)
    1. New-SelfSignedCertificate, for example:
# See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/powershell/windows/pkiclient/new-selfsignedcertificate

New-SelfSignedCertificate `
    -Subject "connect.example.com" `
    -FriendlyName "Example.com Signing Certificate" `
    -CertStoreLocation "cert:\LocalMachine\My" `
    -KeySpec Signature `
    -KeyUsage DigitalSignature `
    -KeyUsageProperty Sign `
    -TextExtension @("2.5.29.37={text}1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1") `
    -KeyExportPolicy NonExportable `
    -KeyAlgorithm RSA `
    -KeyLength 4096 `
    -HashAlgorithm SHA256 `
    -NotAfter (Get-Date).AddDays(825) `
    -Provider "Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider"

This snippet must be run as admin. It generates a 4096-bit signing certificate, stores it in the machine store and returns the certificate's thumbprint, which you need in the OpenID Connect Settings recipe or when exporting the certificate through PowerShell. You should update this example according to your requirements!

In multi-node environments consider creating the certificate with -KeyExportPolicy Exportable, then export the certificate (PFX) to a secure location, using the MMC Certificates Snap-In or PowerShell Export-PfxCertificate, and subsequently import the certificate on each node as non-exportable, which is the default when using Import-PfxCertificate. For example:

# See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/powershell/windows/pkiclient/export-pfxcertificate
# Run this on the machine where the certificate was generated:

$mypwd = ConvertTo-SecureString -String "MySecretPassword123" -Force -AsPlainText

Export-PfxCertificate -FilePath C:\securelocation\connect.example.com.pfx cert:\localMachine\my\thumbprintfromnewselfsignedcertificate -Password $mypwd

# See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/powershell/windows/pkiclient/import-pfxcertificate
# Run this on the target node:

$mypwd = ConvertTo-SecureString -String "MySecretPassword123" -Force -AsPlainText

Import-PfxCertificate -FilePath C:\securelocation\connect.example.com.pfx cert:\localMachine\my -Password $mypwd

Important: In order for the OrchardCore.OpenId module to use the certificate's keys for signing, it requires Read access to the certificate in the store. This can be granted in various ways, for example:

  • MMC.exe
    1. Add Snap-In 'Certificates' for Computer Account
    2. Right-Click relevant certificate and select All Tasks, Manage Private Keys
    3. Add the relevant identity (e.g. IIS AppPool\PoolName)
      • Add
      • Advanced
      • Locations: Choose iis server machine name
      • Find Now
      • Search Results: Choose your iisServerMachineName\IIS_IUSRS (just one example)
      • OK
    4. Check Allow Read under Permissions
  • WinHttpCertCfg.exe (grants Full Control)
    1. For example: winhttpcertcfg -g -c LOCAL_MACHINE\My -s connect.example.com -a AppPoolIdentityName https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa384088(v=vs.85).aspx

Use the Certificate in Azure

To use the certificate on an Azure hosted site.

  1. Upload the certificate to the 'TLS/SSL settings' page of the site Azure portal page.
  2. Add a new entry to the Azure site setting page with the following:
    • Key: WEBSITE_LOAD_CERTIFICATES
    • Value: [Thumbprint of the certificate]
  3. Select the certificate under CurrentUser > My certificate store.

Token Validation

  • Validates tokens issued by the Orchard OpenID server
  • Configure the validation feature to transparently use the server configuration of another tenant, which has the authorization server feature enabled.
  • Validates token by a remote server supporting JWT and OpenID Connect discovery.

Token Validation require the following configuration.

Property Description
Authorization server tenant The tenant that runs OpenID Connect Server. If none is selected, then the following properties must be provided.
Authority The address of the remote OpenID Connect server that issued the token.
Audience Defines the intended recipient of the token that must be checked.

A sample of Token Validation Settings recipe step:

    {
      "name": "OpenIdValidationSettings",
      "Audience": "my_recipient",
      "Authority": "https://idp.domain.com"
    }

OIDC Client

Authenticates users from an external OpenID Connect identity provider. If the site allows to register new users, a local user is linked and the external login is linked. If an "email" claim is received, and a local user is found, then the external login is linked to that account, after authenticating.

OpenId Configuration

Configuration can be set through the OpenID Connect settings menu in the admin dashboard and also through a recipe step.

Available settings are:

A sample of OpenID Connect Client Settings recipe step:

{
      "name": "OpenIdClientSettings",
      "Authority": "http://localhost:44300/t1",
      "DisplayName": "Orchard (t1) IdP",
      "ClientId": "orchard_t2", 
      "CallbackPath": "/signin-oidc",
      "SignedOutCallbackPath": "/signout-callback-oidc",
      "Scopes": "email phone",
      "ResponseMode": "form_post",
      "ResponseType": "code id_token",
      "ClientSecret": "secret"
}