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Chapter 3. Endpoint authentication mechanisms

Data Grid Server can use custom SASL and HTTP authentication mechanisms for Hot Rod and REST endpoints.

3.1. Data Grid Server authentication

Authentication restricts user access to endpoints as well as the Data Grid Console and Command Line Interface (CLI).

Data Grid Server includes a "default" security realm that enforces user authentication. Default authentication uses a property realm with user credentials stored in the server/conf/users.properties file. Data Grid Server also enables security authorization by default so you must assign users with permissions stored in the server/conf/groups.properties file.

Tip

Use the user create command with the Command Line Interface (CLI) to add users and assign permissions. Run user create --help for examples and more information.

3.2. Configuring Data Grid Server authentication mechanisms

You can explicitly configure Hot Rod and REST endpoints to use specific authentication mechanisms. Configuring authentication mechanisms is required only if you need to explicitly override the default mechanisms for a security realm.

Note

Each endpoint section in your configuration must include hotrod-connector and rest-connector elements or fields. For example, if you explicitly declare a hotrod-connector you must also declare a rest-connector even if it does not configure an authentication mechanism.

Prerequisites

  • Add security realms to your Data Grid Server configuration as required.

Procedure

  1. Open your Data Grid Server configuration for editing.
  2. Add an endpoint element or field and specify the security realm that it uses with the security-realm attribute.

  3. Add a hotrod-connector element or field to configure the Hot Rod endpoint.

    1. Add an authentication element or field.
    2. Specify SASL authentication mechanisms for the Hot Rod endpoint to use with the sasl mechanisms attribute.
    3. If applicable, specify SASL quality of protection settings with the qop attribute.
    4. Specify the Data Grid Server identity with the server-name attribute if necessary.

  4. Add a rest-connector element or field to configure the REST endpoint.

    1. Add an authentication element or field.
    2. Specify HTTP authentication mechanisms for the REST endpoint to use with the mechanisms attribute.
  5. Save the changes to your configuration.

Authentication mechanism configuration

The following configuration specifies SASL mechanisms for the Hot Rod endpoint to use for authentication:

XML

<server xmlns="urn:infinispan:server:14.0">
  <endpoints>
    <endpoint socket-binding="default"
              security-realm="my-realm">
      <hotrod-connector>
        <authentication>
           <sasl mechanisms="SCRAM-SHA-512 SCRAM-SHA-384 SCRAM-SHA-256
                             SCRAM-SHA-1 DIGEST-SHA-512 DIGEST-SHA-384
                             DIGEST-SHA-256 DIGEST-SHA DIGEST-MD5 PLAIN"
                 server-name="infinispan"
                 qop="auth"/>
        </authentication>
      </hotrod-connector>
      <rest-connector>
        <authentication mechanisms="DIGEST BASIC"/>
      </rest-connector>
    </endpoint>
  </endpoints>
</server>

JSON

{
  "server": {
    "endpoints": {
      "endpoint": {
        "socket-binding": "default",
        "security-realm": "my-realm",
        "hotrod-connector": {
          "authentication": {
            "security-realm": "default",
            "sasl": {
              "server-name": "infinispan",
              "mechanisms": ["SCRAM-SHA-512", "SCRAM-SHA-384", "SCRAM-SHA-256", "SCRAM-SHA-1", "DIGEST-SHA-512", "DIGEST-SHA-384", "DIGEST-SHA-256", "DIGEST-SHA", "DIGEST-MD5", "PLAIN"],
              "qop": ["auth"]
            }
          }
        },
        "rest-connector": {
          "authentication": {
            "mechanisms": ["DIGEST", "BASIC"],
            "security-realm": "default"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

YAML

server:
  endpoints:
    endpoint:
      socketBinding: "default"
      securityRealm: "my-realm"
      hotrodConnector:
        authentication:
          securityRealm: "default"
          sasl:
            serverName: "infinispan"
            mechanisms:
              - "SCRAM-SHA-512"
              - "SCRAM-SHA-384"
              - "SCRAM-SHA-256"
              - "SCRAM-SHA-1"
              - "DIGEST-SHA-512"
              - "DIGEST-SHA-384"
              - "DIGEST-SHA-256"
              - "DIGEST-SHA"
              - "DIGEST-MD5"
              - "PLAIN"
            qop:
              - "auth"
      restConnector:
        authentication:
          mechanisms:
            - "DIGEST"
            - "BASIC"
          securityRealm: "default"

3.2.1. Disabling authentication

In local development environments or on isolated networks you can configure Data Grid to allow unauthenticated client requests. When you disable user authentication you should also disable authorization in your Data Grid security configuration.

Procedure

  1. Open your Data Grid Server configuration for editing.
  2. Remove the security-realm attribute from the endpoints element or field.
  3. Remove any authorization elements from the security configuration for the cache-container and each cache configuration.
  4. Save the changes to your configuration.

XML

<server xmlns="urn:infinispan:server:14.0">
  <endpoints socket-binding="default"/>
</server>

JSON

{
  "server": {
    "endpoints": {
      "endpoint": {
        "socket-binding": "default"
      }
    }
  }
}

YAML

server:
  endpoints:
    endpoint:
      socketBinding: "default"

3.3. Data Grid Server authentication mechanisms

Data Grid Server automatically configures endpoints with authentication mechanisms that match your security realm configuration. For example, if you add a Kerberos security realm then Data Grid Server enables the GSSAPI and GS2-KRB5 authentication mechanisms for the Hot Rod endpoint.

Important

Currently, you cannot use the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) protocol with the DIGEST or SCRAM authentication mechanisms, because these mechanisms require access to specific hashed passwords.

Hot Rod endpoints

Data Grid Server enables the following SASL authentication mechanisms for Hot Rod endpoints when your configuration includes the corresponding security realm:

Security realmSASL authentication mechanism

Property realms and LDAP realms

SCRAM-*, DIGEST-*, SCRAM-*

Token realms

OAUTHBEARER

Trust realms

EXTERNAL

Kerberos identities

GSSAPI, GS2-KRB5

SSL/TLS identities

PLAIN

REST endpoints

Data Grid Server enables the following HTTP authentication mechanisms for REST endpoints when your configuration includes the corresponding security realm:

Security realmHTTP authentication mechanism

Property realms and LDAP realms

DIGEST

Token realms

BEARER_TOKEN

Trust realms

CLIENT_CERT

Kerberos identities

SPNEGO

SSL/TLS identities

BASIC

3.3.1. SASL authentication mechanisms

Data Grid Server supports the following SASL authentications mechanisms with Hot Rod endpoints:

Authentication mechanismDescriptionSecurity realm typeRelated details

PLAIN

Uses credentials in plain-text format. You should use PLAIN authentication with encrypted connections only.

Property realms and LDAP realms

Similar to the BASIC HTTP mechanism.

DIGEST-*

Uses hashing algorithms and nonce values. Hot Rod connectors support DIGEST-MD5, DIGEST-SHA, DIGEST-SHA-256, DIGEST-SHA-384, and DIGEST-SHA-512 hashing algorithms, in order of strength.

Property realms and LDAP realms

Similar to the Digest HTTP mechanism.

SCRAM-*

Uses salt values in addition to hashing algorithms and nonce values. Hot Rod connectors support SCRAM-SHA, SCRAM-SHA-256, SCRAM-SHA-384, and SCRAM-SHA-512 hashing algorithms, in order of strength.

Property realms and LDAP realms

Similar to the Digest HTTP mechanism.

GSSAPI

Uses Kerberos tickets and requires a Kerberos Domain Controller. You must add a corresponding kerberos server identity in the realm configuration. In most cases, you also specify an ldap-realm to provide user membership information.

Kerberos realms

Similar to the SPNEGO HTTP mechanism.

GS2-KRB5

Uses Kerberos tickets and requires a Kerberos Domain Controller. You must add a corresponding kerberos server identity in the realm configuration. In most cases, you also specify an ldap-realm to provide user membership information.

Kerberos realms

Similar to the SPNEGO HTTP mechanism.

EXTERNAL

Uses client certificates.

Trust store realms

Similar to the CLIENT_CERT HTTP mechanism.

OAUTHBEARER

Uses OAuth tokens and requires a token-realm configuration.

Token realms

Similar to the BEARER_TOKEN HTTP mechanism.

3.3.2. SASL quality of protection (QoP)

If SASL mechanisms support integrity and privacy protection (QoP) settings, you can add them to your Hot Rod endpoint configuration with the qop attribute.

QoP settingDescription

auth

Authentication only.

auth-int

Authentication with integrity protection.

auth-conf

Authentication with integrity and privacy protection.

3.3.3. SASL policies

SASL policies provide fine-grain control over Hot Rod authentication mechanisms.

Tip

Data Grid cache authorization restricts access to caches based on roles and permissions. Configure cache authorization and then set <no-anonymous value=false /> to allow anonymous login and delegate access logic to cache authorization.

PolicyDescriptionDefault value

forward-secrecy

Use only SASL mechanisms that support forward secrecy between sessions. This means that breaking into one session does not automatically provide information for breaking into future sessions.

false

pass-credentials

Use only SASL mechanisms that require client credentials.

false

no-plain-text

Do not use SASL mechanisms that are susceptible to simple plain passive attacks.

false

no-active

Do not use SASL mechanisms that are susceptible to active, non-dictionary, attacks.

false

no-dictionary

Do not use SASL mechanisms that are susceptible to passive dictionary attacks.

false

no-anonymous

Do not use SASL mechanisms that accept anonymous logins.

true

SASL policy configuration

In the following configuration the Hot Rod endpoint uses the GSSAPI mechanism for authentication because it is the only mechanism that complies with all SASL policies:

XML

<server xmlns="urn:infinispan:server:14.0">
  <endpoints>
    <endpoint socket-binding="default"
              security-realm="default">
      <hotrod-connector>
        <authentication>
          <sasl mechanisms="PLAIN DIGEST-MD5 GSSAPI EXTERNAL"
                server-name="infinispan"
                qop="auth"
                policy="no-active no-plain-text"/>
        </authentication>
      </hotrod-connector>
      <rest-connector/>
    </endpoint>
  </endpoints>
</server>

JSON

{
  "server": {
    "endpoints" : {
      "endpoint" : {
        "socket-binding" : "default",
        "security-realm" : "default",
        "hotrod-connector" : {
          "authentication" : {
            "sasl" : {
              "server-name" : "infinispan",
              "mechanisms" : [ "PLAIN","DIGEST-MD5","GSSAPI","EXTERNAL" ],
              "qop" : [ "auth" ],
              "policy" : [ "no-active","no-plain-text" ]
            }
          }
        },
        "rest-connector" : ""
      }
    }
  }
}

YAML

server:
  endpoints:
    endpoint:
      socketBinding: "default"
      securityRealm: "default"
      hotrodConnector:
        authentication:
          sasl:
            serverName: "infinispan"
            mechanisms:
              - "PLAIN"
              - "DIGEST-MD5"
              - "GSSAPI"
              - "EXTERNAL"
            qop:
              - "auth"
            policy:
              - "no-active"
              - "no-plain-text"
      restConnector: ~

3.3.4. HTTP authentication mechanisms

Data Grid Server supports the following HTTP authentication mechanisms with REST endpoints:

Authentication mechanismDescriptionSecurity realm typeRelated details

BASIC

Uses credentials in plain-text format. You should use BASIC authentication with encrypted connections only.

Property realms and LDAP realms

Corresponds to the Basic HTTP authentication scheme and is similar to the PLAIN SASL mechanism.

DIGEST

Uses hashing algorithms and nonce values. REST connectors support SHA-512, SHA-256 and MD5 hashing algorithms.

Property realms and LDAP realms

Corresponds to the Digest HTTP authentication scheme and is similar to DIGEST-* SASL mechanisms.

SPNEGO

Uses Kerberos tickets and requires a Kerberos Domain Controller. You must add a corresponding kerberos server identity in the realm configuration. In most cases, you also specify an ldap-realm to provide user membership information.

Kerberos realms

Corresponds to the Negotiate HTTP authentication scheme and is similar to the GSSAPI and GS2-KRB5 SASL mechanisms.

BEARER_TOKEN

Uses OAuth tokens and requires a token-realm configuration.

Token realms

Corresponds to the Bearer HTTP authentication scheme and is similar to OAUTHBEARER SASL mechanism.

CLIENT_CERT

Uses client certificates.

Trust store realms

Similar to the EXTERNAL SASL mechanism.

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