Can't Authenticate With OAuth2 - window Was Closed Without Granting Authorization

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What Happens?

When setting up an authentication scheme using Scalar.AspNetCore, you may encounter an issue where the application fails to authenticate with OAuth2, resulting in the error message "Window was closed without granting authorization." This error occurs before you even have a chance to enter your username and password in the new window that opens for authorization.

The issue arises from the way the Scalar library attempts to read the location of the new window from the parent window. This method is not allowed when the two windows are not under the same origin, which is the case here. The Scalar UI is running under "localhost:5004," while the authentication server is under "auth.mydomain.com."

To understand the problem better, let's take a look at the code snippet that sets up the authentication scheme:

settings.AddSecurity("bearer", new OpenApiSecurityScheme
{
    Type = OpenApiSecuritySchemeType.OAuth2,
    Scheme = "Bearer",
    BearerFormat = "JWT",
    Flows = new OpenApiOAuthFlows
    {
        AuthorizationCode = new OpenApiOAuthFlow
        {
            AuthorizationUrl = "https://auth.mydomain.com/connect/authorize",
            Scopes = new Dictionary<string, string>
            {
                { "openid", "OpenId" },
                { "profile", "Profile" },
            }
        }
    }
});

As you can see, the AuthorizationUrl is set to "https://auth.mydomain.com/connect/authorize," which is the URL of the authentication server.

What Did You Expect to Happen?

When you click on the "Authorize" button in the Scalar UI, you expect the application to read the authorization code from the new window and use it to get a token. However, due to the security restrictions, the application fails to do so, resulting in the error message "Window was closed without granting authorization."

OpenAPI Document

The OpenAPI document is not provided in the question, but it is likely that the document is not properly configured or is missing some necessary information.

Debugging the Issue

To debug the issue, you can try attaching a debugger to the authWindow.then method in the oauth2.ts file. This will allow you to see the error messages that are being thrown. The error messages indicate that there is a security error blocking the frame with origin "https://localhost:5004/" from accessing a cross-origin frame.

One possible solution to this issue is to use window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows instead of trying to read the location of the new window directly. This can be done by modifying the oauth2.ts file to use window.postMessage instead of trying to read the location of the new window.

Modifying the OAuth2 Flow

To modify the OAuth2 flow to use window.postMessage, you can make the following changes to the oauth2.ts file:

authWindow.then((window) => {
    // Try to read the location of the new window using window.postMessage
    window.postMessage({ type: 'get-location' }, '*');
});

This will send a message to the new window asking it to send its location back to the parent window. The parent window can then use this location to get the authorization code.

Receiving the Location in the Parent Window

To receive the location in the parent window, you can add an event listener to the window object:

window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {
    if (event.data.type === 'location') {
        // Get the authorization code from the location
        const authorizationCode = event.data.location;
        // Use the authorization code to get a token
    }
});

This will allow the parent window to receive the location of the new window and use it to get the authorization code.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of "Window was closed without granting authorization" when using OAuth2 with Scalar.AspNetCore is caused by the security restrictions that prevent the parent window from accessing the location of the new window. To solve this issue, you can modify the OAuth2 flow to use window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows. This will allow the parent window to receive the location of the new window and use it to get the authorization code.

Example Use Case

Here is an example use case of how to modify the OAuth2 flow to use window.postMessage:

// In the oauth2.ts file
authWindow.then((window) => {
    // Try to read the location of the new window using window.postMessage
    window.postMessage({ type: 'get-location' }, '*');
});

// In the parent window
window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {
    if (event.data.type === 'location') {
        // Get the authorization code from the location
        const authorizationCode = event.data.location;
        // Use the authorization code to get a token
    }
});

This will allow the parent window to receive the location of the new window and use it to get the authorization code.

Benefits of Using window.postMessage

Using window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows has several benefits, including:

  • Improved security: By using window.postMessage, you can avoid the security restrictions that prevent the parent window from accessing the location of the new window.
  • Easier debugging: Using window.postMessage makes it easier to debug the OAuth2 flow, as you can see the messages being sent between the two windows.
  • More flexibility: Using window.postMessage gives you more flexibility in how you implement the OAuth2 flow, as you can customize the messages being sent between the two windows.

Conclusion

Q&A

Q: What is the issue with OAuth2 authentication in Scalar.AspNetCore?

A: The issue is that the application fails to authenticate with OAuth2, resulting in the error message "Window was closed without granting authorization." This error occurs before you even have a chance to enter your username and password in the new window that opens for authorization.

Q: What causes this issue?

A: The issue is caused by the security restrictions that prevent the parent window from accessing the location of the new window. The Scalar UI is running under "localhost:5004," while the authentication server is under "auth.mydomain.com." This means that the two windows are not under the same origin, and the parent window cannot access the location of the new window.

Q: How can I debug this issue?

A: To debug this issue, you can try attaching a debugger to the authWindow.then method in the oauth2.ts file. This will allow you to see the error messages that are being thrown. The error messages indicate that there is a security error blocking the frame with origin "https://localhost:5004/" from accessing a cross-origin frame.

Q: What is the solution to this issue?

A: One possible solution to this issue is to use window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows instead of trying to read the location of the new window directly. This can be done by modifying the oauth2.ts file to use window.postMessage instead of trying to read the location of the new window.

Q: How do I modify the OAuth2 flow to use window.postMessage?

A: To modify the OAuth2 flow to use window.postMessage, you can make the following changes to the oauth2.ts file:

authWindow.then((window) => {
    // Try to read the location of the new window using window.postMessage
    window.postMessage({ type: 'get-location' }, '*');
});

This will send a message to the new window asking it to send its location back to the parent window. The parent window can then use this location to get the authorization code.

Q: How do I receive the location in the parent window?

A: To receive the location in the parent window, you can add an event listener to the window object:

window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {
    if (event.data.type === 'location') {
        // Get the authorization code from the location
        const authorizationCode = event.data.location;
        // Use the authorization code to get a token
    }
});

This will allow the parent window to receive the location of the new window and use it to get the authorization code.

Q: What are the benefits of using window.postMessage?

A: Using window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows has several benefits, including:

  • Improved security: By using window.postMessage, you can avoid the security restrictions that prevent the parent window from accessing the location of the new window.
  • Easier debugging: Using window.postMessage makes it easier to debug the OAuth2 flow, as you can see the messages being sent between the two windows.
  • More flexibility: Using window.postMessage gives you more flexibility in how you implement the OAuth2 flow, as you can customize the messages being sent between the two windows.

Q: Can I use window.postMessage with other authentication flows?

A: Yes, you can use window.postMessage with other authentication flows, not just OAuth2. This approach can be used with any authentication flow that requires communication between two windows.

Q: Are there any limitations to using window.postMessage?

A: Yes, there are some limitations to using window.postMessage. For example, this approach may not work in older browsers that do not support window.postMessage. Additionally, this approach may not work if the two windows are not under the same origin.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with window.postMessage?

A: To troubleshoot issues with window.postMessage, you can try the following:

  • Check the browser console: Check the browser console for any error messages that may indicate a problem with window.postMessage.
  • Use the debugger: Use the debugger to step through the code and see where the issue is occurring.
  • Test in different browsers: Test the code in different browsers to see if the issue is specific to a particular browser.

By following these steps and using window.postMessage to communicate between the two windows, you can resolve the issue of "Window was closed without granting authorization" when using OAuth2 with Scalar.AspNetCore.