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ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) with Okta as IDP

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) module gives the ability to enable SAML Single Sign-On for your ASP.NET core applications. Using Single Sign-On you can use only one password to access your ASP.NET core application and services. Our module is compatible with all the SAML compliant Identity providers. Here we will go through a step-by-step guide to configure Single Sign-On (SSO) between ASP.NET Core and Okta considering Okta as IdP. To know more about the features we provide for ASP.NET Core SSO, click here.

Platform Support: The ASP.NET Core SAML middleware supports ASP.NET Core 2.1 and above. It supports all the ASP.NET Core platforms, including Windows, Linux and macOS.

Pre-requisites: Download And Installation

Install from NuGet store
Manual Installation

NuGet Package
.NET CLI

PM> NuGet\Install-Package miniOrange.SAML.SSO.Middleware -Version 5.0.2

Please refer to the code below for adding SAML middleware in your application's pipeline. The code will differ as per your ASP.NET Core version

ASP.NET 3.0, 3.1, 5.0
ASP.NET v6

  
  
  using miniorange.saml
  public class Startup
  {
    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
       // Add session services
       services.AddSession();
  
       // Add authentication services
      services.AddAuthentication(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme).AddCookie();
    }
    public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env, ILoggerFactory loggerFactory)
    {
      // Your middleware pipeline might differ from the default one
      app.UseHttpsRedirection();
      app.UseStaticFiles();
      app.UseRouting();
      app.UseAuthorization();
      app.MapRazorPages();
  
      app.UseCookiePolicy();
      app.UseSession();
      app.UseAuthentication();
  
      // use miniorange middleware
      app.UseminiOrangeSAMLSSOMiddleware();
      app.Run();
    }
  }

  
  
  using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.Cookies;
  using miniOrange.saml;
  
  var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
  
  // Add services to the container
  builder.Services.AddRazorPages();
  // Add session services
  builder.Services.AddSession();
  // Add authentication services
  builder.Services.AddAuthentication(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme).AddCookie();
  
  var app = builder.Build();
  
  // Configure the HTTP request pipeline
  if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
   {
      app.UseExceptionHandler("/Error");
  
      // The default HSTS value is 30 days. You may want to change this for production scenarios, see https://aka.ms/aspnetcore-hsts.
      app.UseHsts();
   }
  
  app.UseHttpsRedirection();
  app.UseStaticFiles();
  app.UseRouting();
  app.UseAuthorization();
  app.MapRazorPages();
  
  app.UseCookiePolicy();
  app.UseSession();
  app.UseAuthentication();
  
  // Use miniOrange middleware
  app.UseminiOrangeSAMLSSOMiddleware();
  app.Run();

Steps to configure ASP.NET Core Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP

1. Add module on ASP.NET Core application

After integration, open your browser and browse the connector dashboard with the URL below:
https://<your-application-base-url>/?ssoaction=config
If the registration page or login page pops up, you have successfully added the miniOrange ASP.NET middleware authentication SAML SSO connector to your application.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - saml dll register

Dashboard
appsettings.json

2. Configure Okta as Identity Provider

Under the Plugin Settings tab, select Okta as your identity provider from the list shown.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Select Okta as identity provider

There are two ways detailed below with which you can get the SAML SP metadata to configure onto your identity provider end.

A] Using SAML metadata URL or metadata file:

In the Plugin Settings menu, look for Service Provider Settings. Under that, you can find the metadata URL as well as the option to download the SAML metadata.
Copy metadata URL or download the metadata file to configure the same on your identity provider end.
You may refer to the screenshot below:

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Copy Downloaded Metadata

B] Uploading metadata manually:

From the Service Provider Settings section, you can manually copy the service provider metadata like SP Entity ID, ACS URL, Single Logout URL and share it with your identity provider for configuration.
You may refer to the screenshot below:

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Manual Metadata

Log in to Okta Developer Console.
In Okta Developer site, navigate to Applications tab and select Applications.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - add_application

Click on the Create App Integration button to create new app.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - SAML 2.0 Configure

Click on the SAML 2.0.

In General Settings tab, enter App Name and click on Next button.

In SAML Settings, enter the following:

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - SAML_SETTINGS

Single Sign On URL	Enter ACS (AssertionConsumerService) URL from the Service Provider metadata tab of the module.
Audience URI (SP Entity ID)	Enter SP Entity ID / Issuer from the Service Provider Metadata tab of the module.

Configure Group Attribute Statements (Optional) and click on Next button.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Add_Attributes

If you have integrated your Active Directory in Okta and want to map the AD groups, please make sure that you have added the OUs used to import groups.You will also need to map the member of attribute under the integrated directory’s configuration.

3. Configure ASP.NET SAML Module as Service Provider

There are two ways detailed below with which you can configure your SAML identity provider metadata in the module.

A] Upload metadata using the Upload IDP Metadata button:

If your identity provider has provided you with the metadata URL or metadata file (.xml format only), then you can simply configure the identity provider metadata in the module using the Upload IDP Metadata option.
You may refer to the screenshot below:

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Upload Metadata

You can choose any one of the options according to the metadata format you have available.

B] Configure the identity provider metadata manually:

After configuring your Identity Provider, it will provide you with IDP Entity ID, IDP Single Sign On URL and SAML X509 Certificate fields respectively.
Click Save to save your IDP details.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - SAML dll config

4. Testing SAML SSO

Click on the Test Configuration button to test whether the SAML Configuration you’ve done is correct.
The screenshot below shows a successful result. Click on SSO Integration to further continue with the SSO Integration.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - SAML dll Test configuration

If you are experiencing any error on the module end you’ll be shown with the window similar to below.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - Enable debug logs

To troubleshoot the error you can follow the below steps:

Under Troubleshoot tab, enable the toggle to receive the plugin logs.

Once enabled, you will be able to retrieve plugin logs by navigating to Plugin Settings tab and clicking on Test Configuration.
Download the log file from the Troubleshoot tab to see what went wrong.
You can share the log file with us at aspnetsupport@xecurify.com and our team will reach out to you to resolve your issue.

5. Attribute Mapping

After testing the configuration, Map your application attributes with the Identity Provider (IdP) attributes.
Note: All the mapped attributes will be stored in the session so that you can access them in your application.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - attribute mapping

6. Integration Code

You can find the Integration code in the Integration Code tab in the module. Just copy-paste that code snippet wherever you want to access the user attributes.
Note: All the mapped attributes will be stored in the session so that you can access them in your application.

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP - integration code

If you want some assistance regarding the integration code, get in touch with us aspnetsupport@xecurify.com

7. Login Settings

Use the following URL as a link in the application from where you want to perform SSO:
https://base-url/?ssoaction=login
For example, you can use it as:
<a href=”https://base-url/?ssoaction=login”>Log in</a>

8. Logout Settings

Use the following URL as a link to your application from where you want to perform SLO:
https://base-url/?ssoaction=logout
For example, you can use it as:
<a href=”https://base-url/?ssoaction=logout”>Log out</a>

You can configure the ASP.NET Core SAML 2.0 Single Sign-On (SSO) module with any Identity Provider such as ADFS, Azure AD, Bitium, centrify, G Suite, JBoss Keycloak, Okta, OneLogin, Salesforce, AWS Cognito, OpenAM, Oracle, PingFederate, PingOne, RSA SecureID, Shibboleth-2, Shibboleth-3, SimpleSAML, WSO2 or even with your own custom identity provider. Check the list of identity providers here.

Additional Resources

Need Help?

Not able to find your identity provider? Mail us on aspnetsupport@xecurify.com and we'll help you set up SSO with your IDP and for quick guidance (via email/meeting) on your requirement and our team will help you to select the best suitable solution/plan as per your requirement.

idp_cert	Enter the IDP certificate against this field
ssourl	Enter the SSO URL against this field
idp_issuer	Enter the IDP Issuer against this field

Contents

ASP.NET Core SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) with Okta as IDP

Pre-requisites: Download And Installation

Steps to configure ASP.NET Core Single Sign-On (SSO) using Okta as IDP