Setting up Delegated Authentication With the Installer

Delegated Authentication

At present, we support delegating the authentication of users to the following provider interfaces:

• LDAP
• SAML
• OIDC
• CAS

When enabling Delegated Auth, you can still allow local users managed by Element to connect to the instance

When Allow Local Users Login is Enabled, you can both connect to your instance using your IDP and the local database.

Different options are offered by the installer and you can combine two or more options on the same instance like enabling SAML and OIDC delegated authentication.

Setting up Delegated Authentication with LDAP on Windows AD

Setting up Delegated Authentication with OpenID on Microsoft Azure

Setting up Delegated Authentication with OpenID on Microsoft AD FS

Note: We are rapidly working to expand and improve this documentation. For now, we are providing screenshots of working configurations, but in the future, we will better explain the options as well. If you do not see your provider listed below, please file a support ticket or reach out to your Element representative and we will work to get you connected and our documentation updated.

LDAP with Windows AD

• Base: the distinguished name of the root level Org Unit in your LDAP directory.

  The distinguished name can be displayed by selecting View/Advanced Features in the Active Directory console and then, right-clicking on the object, selecting Properties/Attributes Editor.

• Base Dn: the distinguished name of the LDAP account with read access.
• Filter: an LDAP filter to filter out objects under the LDAP Base DN.
• Uri: the URI of your LDAP server.
• LDAP Bind Password: the password of the LDAP account with read access.

SAML

OpenID with Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure Active Directory

• You need to create an App registration.
• You have to select Redirect URI (optional) and set it to https://matrix.your-domain.com/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

For the bridge to be able to operate correctly, navigate to API permissions, add Microsoft Graph APIs, choose Delegated Permissions and add

• openid
• profile

Remember to grant the admin consent for those.

To setup the installer, you'll need

• the Application (client) ID
• the Directory (tenant) ID
• a secret generated from Certificates & secrets on the app.

In the installer, select:

• Allow Existing Users: if checked, it allows a user logging in via OIDC to match a pre-existing account instead of failing. This could be used if switching from password logins to OIDC.
• Authorization Endpoint: the oauth2 authorization endpoint. Required if provider discovery is disabled.

  https://login.microsoftonline.com/<Directory (tenant) ID>/oauth2/v2.0/authorize

• Backchannel Logout Enabled: Synapse supports receiving OpenID Connect Back-Channel Logout notifications. This lets the OpenID Connect Provider notify Synapse when a user logs out, so that Synapse can end that user session. This property has to bet set to https://your-domain/_synapse/client/oidc/backchannel_logoutin your identity provider

• Client Auth Method: auth method to use when exchanging the token. Set it to Client Secret Post or any method supported by your Idp
• Client ID: your Application (client) ID
• Discover: enable/disable the use of the OIDC discovery mechanism to discover endpoints
• Idp Brand: an optional brand for this identity provider, allowing clients to style the login flow according to the identity provider in question
• Idp ID: a string identifying your identity provider in your configuration
• Idp Name: A user-facing name for this identity provider, which is used to offer the user a choice of login mechanisms in the Element UI. In the screenshot bellow, Idp Name is set to Azure AD

• Issuer: the OIDC issuer. Used to validate tokens and (if discovery is enabled) to discover the provider's endpoints

  https://login.microsoftonline.com/<Directory (tenant) ID>/v2.0

• Token Endpoint: the oauth2 authorization endpoint. Required if provider discovery is disabled.
• Client Secret: your secret value defined under "Certificates and secrets"

• Scopes: add every scope on a different line
  • The openid scope is required which translates to the Sign you in permission in the consent UI
  • You might also include other scopes in this request for requesting consent.

• User Mapping Provider: Configuration for how attributes returned from a OIDC provider are mapped onto a matrix user.

  

  • Localpart Template: Jinja2 template for the localpart of the MXID. Set it to {{ user.preferred_username.split('@')[0] }} for Azure AD
  • Display Name Template: Jinja2 template for the display name to set on first login. If unset, no displayname will be set. Set it to {{ user.name }}for Azure AD

  Other configurations are documented here.

  OpenID with Microsoft ADFS on-prem

  Before starting the installation, make sure:

  • your Windows computer name is correct since you won't be able to change it after having installed AD FS
  • you configured your server with a static IP address
  • your server joined a domain and your domain is defined under Server Manager > Local server
  • you can resolve your server FQDN like computername.my-domain.com
    

  You can find a checklist here.
  

  Steps to follow:

  • Install AD CS (Certificate Server) to issue valid certificates for AD FS. AD CS provides a platform for issuing and managing public key infrastructure [PKI] certificates.
  • Install AD FS (Federation Server)

  Install AD CS

  You need to install the AD CS Server Role.

  • Follow this guide.
    

  Obtain and Configure an SSL Certificate for AD FS

  Before installing AD FS, you are required to generate a certificate for your federation service. The SSL certificate is used for securing communications between federation servers and clients.

  • Follow this guide.
  • Additionally, this guide provides more details on how to create a certificate template.

  Install AD FS

  You need to install the AD FS Role Service.

  • Follow this guide.

  Configure the federation service

  AD FS is installed but not configured.

  • Click on Configure the federation service on this server under Post-deployment configurationin the Server Manager.
  • Ensure Create the first federation server in a federation server farm and is selected

  

  • Click Next

  

  • Select the SSL Certificate and set a Federation Service Display Name

  

  • On the Specify Service Account page, you can either Create a Group Managed Service Account (gMSA) or Specify an existing Service or gMSA Account

  

  • Choose your database

  

  • Review Options , check prerequisites are completed and click on Configure
  • Restart the server

  Add AD FS as an OpenID Connect identity provider

  To enable sign-in for users with an AD FS account, create an Application Group in your AD FS.
  To create an Application Group, follow theses steps:

  • In Server Manager, select Tools, and then select AD FS Management
  • In AD FS Management, right-click on Application Groups and select Add Application Group
  • On the Application Group Wizard Welcome screen
    • Enter the Name of your application
    • Under Standalone applications section, select Server application and click Next

  

  • Enter https://<matrix domain>/_synapse/client/oidc/callback in Redirect URI: field, click Add, save the Client Identifier somewhere, you will need it when setting up Element and click Next (e.g. https://matrix.domain.com/_synapse/client/oidc/callback)

  

  • Select Generate a shared secret checkbox and make a note of the generated Secret and press Next (Secret needs to be added in the Element Installer GUI in a later step)
  • Right click on the created Application Group and select `Properties``

  

  • Select Add application... button.
  • Select Web API