Configuring SAML2 Web Single-Sign-On¶

SAML stands for Security Assertion Markup Language which is a XML based data format for exchanging authentication and authorization data between an identity provider and a service provider. The single most important requirement that SAML addresses is web browser single sign-on (SSO). For more information about SAML2 single-sign-on, see the SAML 2.0 Web SSO topic.

Let's start configuring SAML2 Web SSO.

To configure SAML2 Web SSO:

1. Expand SAML2 Web SSO Configuration under Inbound Authentication Configuration and click Configure.
2. Select one of the following modes:

Manual configuration¶

1. Select Manual Configuration and enter the required details as given below.

   Field	Description	Sample value
   Issuer	Specify the Issuer . This is the <saml:Issuer> element that contains the unique identifier of the service provider. This is also the issuer value specified in the SAML Authentication Request issued by the service provider.	travelocity.com
   Service Provider Qualifier	This value is needed only if you have to configure multiple SAML SSO inbound authentication configurations for the same Issuer value. When a Service Provider Qualifier is defined here, it will be appended to the end of the Issuer value when registering the SAML SP in the Identity Server. For example, if you specify travelocity.com as the Issuer and sp1 as the Service Provider Qualifier, the configuration will be registered in IS as travelocity.com:urn:sp:qualifier:sp1 You can configure a number of SAML SPs with the same Issuer and different Service Provider Qualifiers. When a Service Provider Qualifier is defined, the issuer of the SAML SSO authentication request is the value specified as the Issuer in the configuration (ex : travelocity.com ). The service provider qualifier value should be sent as a query parameter, spQualifier with the HTTP request in the following format. https://{Hostname}:{Port}/samlsso?spQualifier={Service Provider Qualifier} In Travelocity sample SP, this query parameter can be set by modifying SAML2.IdPURL value mentioned in the <travelocity.com-home>/WEB-INF/classes/travelocity.properties file as https://localhost:9443/samlsso?spQualifier=sp1 .	sp1
   Assertion Consumer URLs	This is the URL to which the browser should be redirected to after the authentication is successful. This is the Assertion Consumer Service (ACS) URL of the service provider. The identity provider redirects the SAML2 response to this ACS URL. However, if the SAML2 request is signed and SAML2 request contains the ACS URL, the Identity Server will honor the ACS URL of the SAML2 request. It should have this format: https://(host-name):(port)/acs . You can add multiple assertion consumer URLs for the service provider by entering the URL and clicking the Add button.	http://wso2is.local:8080/travelocity.com/home.jsp
   Default Assertion Consumer URL	Since there can be multiple assertion consumer URLs, you must define a Default Assertion Consumer URL in case you are unable to retrieve it from the authentication request. Tip In a service provider initiated single sign-on setup, the following needs to be considered. If no ACS URL is given in the < AuthnRequest >, the Identity Server sends the response to the default ACS URL of the service provider (whether the request is signed or not). If the ACS URL in < AuthnRequest > matches with one of the registered URLs, the Identity Server sends the response to the matched one. If the ACS URL in < AuthnRequest > does not match any of the registered ACS URLs and if the request is signed, the Identity Server sends the response to the ACS URL in the request only if the signature is valid. Alternatively, the < AuthnRequest > is rejected. In an identity provider initiated single sign-on setup, the following needs to be considered. If the “acs” query parameter is not present in the request, the Identity Server sends the response to default ACS URL of the service provider. If the "acs” parameter is present and the value of that parameter matches with any of the registered ACS URLs of the service provider, then the Identity Server sends the response to the matched one.	http://wso2is.local:8080/travelocity.com/home.jsp
   NameID format	Specify the NameID format . This defines the name identifier formats supported by the identity provider. The service provider and identity provider usually communicate with each other regarding a specific subject. That subject should be identified through a Name-Identifier (NameID) , which should be in some format so that It is easy for the other party to identify it based on the format. Name identifiers are used to provide information regarding a user. About NameID formats For SSO interactions, you can use the following types of NameID formats. urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:nameid-format:persistent urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:nameid-format:transient urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:unspecified urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:X509SubjectName urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:WindowsDomainQualifiedName urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:nameid-format:kerberos urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:nameid-format:entity This specifies the name identifier format that the Identity Server wants to receive in the subject of an assertion from a particular identity provider. The following is the default format used by the identity provider. urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress	urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress
   Certificate Alias	Select the Certificate Alias from the dropdown. This is used to validate the signature of SAML2 requests and is used to generate encryption. Basically the service provider’s certificate must be selected here. Note that this can also be the Identity Server tenant's public certificate in a scenario where you are doing a tenant specific configuration. Tip From WSO2 IS 5.5.0 onwards, the .pem certificate can be updated via the Service Provider screen in the management console UI using the Application Certificate field. If the certificate has been entered in the Application Certifiate field, the system will use the certificate given there and override the certificate alias field. However, if the Application Certificate field has been left blank, the certificate specified in Certificate Alias will be used.	wso2carbon
   Response Signing Algorithm	Specifies the ‘SignatureMethod’ algorithm to be used in the ‘Signature’ element in POST binding. The default value can be configured through the <IS_HOME>/repository/deployment.toml file by adding the following config. [saml] signing_alg="signing algorithm" If it is not provided the default algorithm is RSA­SHA 1, at URI ‘ http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa­-sha1 ' .	http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa­sha1
   Response Digest Algorithm	Specifies the ‘DigestMethod’ algorithm to be used in the ‘Signature’ element in POST binding. The default value can be configured in the <IS_HOME>/repository/conf/deployment.toml file by adding the following config. [saml] digest_alg="digest algorithm" If it is not provided the default algorithm is SHA 1, at URI ‘ http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1 ’ .	http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1
   Assertion Encryption Algorithm	The algorithm that the SAML2 assertion is encrypted. The default value can be configured in the <IS_HOME>/repository/conf/deployment.toml file by adding the following config. [saml] assertion_encryption_alg="assertion encryption algorithm" The default is http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes256-cbc .	www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes256-cbc
   Key Encryption Algorithm	The algorithm that the SAML2 key is encrypted. The default value can be configured in the <IS_HOME>/repository/deployment.toml file by adding the following config. [saml] key_encryption_alg="key encryption algorithm" The default algorithm is http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#rsa-oaep-mgf1p	www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#rsa-oaep-mgf1p
   Enable Response Signing	Select Enable Response Signing to sign the SAML2 Responses returned after the authentication process.	Selected
   Enable Signature Validation in Authentication Requests and Logout Requests	Select Enable Signature Validation in Authentication Requests and Logout Requests if you need this functionality configured. This specifies whether the identity provider must validate the signature of the SAML2 authentication request and the SAML2 logout request that are sent by the service provider. Tip To find the configuration recommended to enable signature validation in Travelocity, refer Testing with tenants.	Unselected
   Enable Assertion Encryption	Enable Assertion Encryption , if you wish to encrypt the assertion.	Unselected
   Enable Single Logout	Select Enable Single Logout so that all sessions are terminated once the user signs out from one server. If single logout is enabled, the identity provider sends logout requests to all service providers. Basically, the identity provider acts according to the single logout profile. If the service provider supports a different URL for logout, you can enter a SLO Response URL and SLO Request URL for logging out. These URLs indicate where the request and response should go to. If you do not specify this URL, the identity provider uses the Assertion Consumer Service (ACS) URL. WSO2 Identity Server supports both SAML Back-Channel Logout and SAML Front-Channel Logout methods. By default, when you select Enable Single Logout the Back-Channel Logout is enabled . In order to enable SAML Front-Channel Logout, you can either select Front-Channel Logout (HTTP Redirect Binding) or Front-Channel Logout (HTTP POST Binding) .	Selected
   Enable Attribute Profile	Select Enable Attribute Profile to enable this and add a claim by entering the claim link and clicking the Add Claim button. The Identity Server provides support for a basic attribute profile where the identity provider can include the user’s attributes in the SAML Assertions as part of the attribute statement. Once you select the checkbox to Include Attributes in the Response Always , the identity provider always includes the attribute values related to the selected claims in the SAML attribute statement.	Unselected
   Enable Audience Restriction	Select Enable Audience Restriction to restrict the audience. You may add audience members using the Audience text box and clicking the Add button.	Unselected
   Enable Recipient Validation	Select this if you require validation from the recipient of the response.	Unselected
   Enable IdP Initiated SSO	Select the Enable IdP Initiated SSO checkbox to enable this functionality. When this is enabled, the service provider is not required to send the SAML2 request.	Unselected
   Enable IdP Initiated SLO	Select the Enable IdP Initiated SLO checkbox to enable this functionality. You must specify the URL.	Unselected
   Enable Assertion Query Request Profile	Select the Enable Assertion Query Request Profile checkbox to query assertions that are persisted to the database when you login to the service provider application. For more information, see Querying SAML Assertions .	Unselected
   Enable SAML2 Artifact Binding	This is to define SAML2 artifact binding is enabled or not so that WSO2 Identity Server responds to each SAML SSO authentication request with an artifact. For more information, see Configuring SAML 2.0 Artifact Binding .	Unselected
   IdP Entity ID Alias	This value can override the value of Identity Provider Entity ID specified under SAML SSO Inbound Authentication configuration in Resident IdP. The Identity Provider Entity ID is used as the issuer of the SAML responses generated from IS. By default, all the SAML responses issued by IS will have the issuer value similar to the Identity Provider Entity ID in Resident IdP’s SAML SSO inbound authentication configuration. But if you want that value to be unique for your SAML SP configuration, you can specify the value here, so that the IdP Entity ID will be overridden with this IdP Entity ID Alias value. In Travelocity sample SP, this value can be set by modifying SAML2.IdPEntityId value mentioned in the <travelocity.com-home>/WEB-INF/classes/travelocity.properties file, so that it reflects the value of the IdP Entity ID Alias you define in the SAML SP configuration.	any valid URL/URI

2. Click Register .

Metadata file configuration¶

This option allows you to provide the configuration data required for configuring SAML2, by uploading a metadata .xml file instead of having to manually enter the values. This enables faster entry of configuration data and allows the user to use the same metadata XML file for multiple instances of entity configuration.

1. Select Metadata File Configuration.
   

2. Click Choose File, and select the .xml file containing the metadata for the service provider SAML configuration.

3. Click Upload.

   Tip

   From WSO2 Identity Server 5.5.0 onwards, the certificate can be added via the Service Providers screen in the management console UI using the Application Certificate field. This means that certificates can now be directly added along with the service provider instead of having to import the certificate to the keystore and referring to it using the Certificate Alias field.

   Therefore, when uploading a metadata file, the Application Certificate field in the Service Providers screen will automatically display the certificate that is embedded in the metatdata file. You can update or edit the certificate by editing the content within the Application Certificate field and uploading the metadata file again will override the existing certificate.

   Click here to view a sample of the metadata configuration file

   Service provider metadata file

   <?xml version="1.0"?>
   <md:EntityDescriptor xmlns:md="urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:metadata" validUntil="2030-07-25T04:49:17Z
   " cacheDuration="PT604800S" entityID="travelocity.com">
     <md:SPSSODescriptor AuthnRequestsSigned="false" WantAssertionsSigned="false" protocolSupportEnumeration="urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:protocol">
       <md:KeyDescriptor use="signing">
         <ds:KeyInfo xmlns:ds="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#">
           <ds:X509Data>
             <ds:X509Certificate>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</ds:X509Certificate>
           </ds:X509Data>
         </ds:KeyInfo>
       </md:KeyDescriptor>
       <md:KeyDescriptor use="encryption">
         <ds:KeyInfo xmlns:ds="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#">
           <ds:X509Data>
             <ds:X509Certificate>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</ds:X509Certificate>
           </ds:X509Data>
         </ds:KeyInfo>
       </md:KeyDescriptor>
       <md:NameIDFormat>urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:unspecified</md:NameIDFormat>
       <md:AssertionConsumerService Binding="urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:bindings:HTTP-POST" Location="http://localhost:8080/travelocity.com/home.jsp" index="1"/>
     </md:SPSSODescriptor>
   </md:EntityDescriptor>

URL configuration¶

Metadata for a service provider may be published in a well known location via a URI. This option allows you to provide the configuration data required for configuring SAML2, by providing a URI (Ex: " https://spconfigs.com/sample-sp.xml ") instead of having to manually enter the values. This enables faster entry of configuration data and allows the user to use the same metadata XML file for multiple instances of entity configuration.

1. Select URL Configuration and enter the URL containing the service provider metadata.
   
2. Click Upload .