Solving the Mystery: AccessDeniedHandler not called when using AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck in a frustrating predicament. You’ve implemented the AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer to secure your Azure Active Directory (AAD) resources, but the AccessDeniedHandler is not being called when an unauthorized request is made. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll delve into the possible reasons behind this issue and provide you with step-by-step solutions to get your AccessDeniedHandler working as expected.

Understanding the AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer

The AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer is a powerful tool for securing AAD resources using OAuth2. It provides a simple and convenient way to configure resource server security using Azure Active Directory. When implemented correctly, it’s an excellent way to protect your resources from unauthorized access.

However, with great power comes great complexity. Misconfiguring the AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer can lead to unexpected behavior, including the AccessDeniedHandler not being called when an unauthorized request is made.

Possible Reasons Behind the Issue

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand the possible reasons behind the issue:

• Incorrect Configuration: Misconfigured AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer can prevent the AccessDeniedHandler from being called.
• Missing Dependencies: Failure to include necessary dependencies can cause the AccessDeniedHandler to not function as expected.
• Custom SecurityConfigurations: Custom security configurations can override the default behavior of the AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer, leading to unexpected results.

Solution 1: Verify AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer Configuration

Let’s start by reviewing your AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer configuration. Make sure you’ve configured it correctly and included all necessary dependencies.

@EnableWebSecurity
public class SecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
 
    @Value("${aad.resource}")
    private String resourceId;
 
    @Value("${aad.resource-server}")
    private String resourceServerId;
 
    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity http) throws Exception {
        http.oauth2ResourceServer()
                .jwt()
                .jwtDecoder(jwtDecoder());
    }
 
    @Bean
    public JwtDecoder jwtDecoder() {
        return JwtDecoders.fromOidcIssuerUri(resourceId);
    }
 
    @Override
    protected void configure(AuthenticationManagerBuilder auth) throws Exception {
        auth.oauth2ResourceServer()
                .jwt();
    }
}

In this example, we’ve configured the AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer to use JWT-based authentication. Make sure to replace the placeholders (${aad.resource} and ${aad.resource-server}) with your actual AAD resource and resource server IDs.

Verify dependencies

Double-check that you’ve included the necessary dependencies in your project. For Maven-based projects, add the following dependencies to your pom.xml file:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-security</artifactId>
</dependency>
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-oauth2-resource-server</artifactId>
</dependency>

Solution 2: Implement Custom AccessDeniedHandler

If you’ve verified your configuration and dependencies, it’s time to implement a custom AccessDeniedHandler. This will allow you to handle access denied exceptions in a centralized manner.

@Component
public class CustomAccessDeniedHandler implements AccessDeniedHandler {
 
    @Override
    public void handle(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response, AccessDeniedException accessDeniedException) throws IOException, ServletException {
        response.setStatus(HttpServletResponse.SC_FORBIDDEN);
        response.setContentType("application/json");
        response.getWriter().write("Access denied!");
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a custom AccessDeniedHandler that returns a 403 Forbidden response with a JSON message. You can customize this handler to suit your application’s needs.

Register the Custom AccessDeniedHandler

To register the custom AccessDeniedHandler, add the following configuration to your SecurityConfig class:

@Override
protected void configure(HttpSecurity http) throws Exception {
    http.oauth2ResourceServer()
            .jwt()
            .and()
            .exceptionHandling()
            .accessDeniedHandler(new CustomAccessDeniedHandler());
}

Solution 3: Override the Default AccessDeniedHandler

If you’re using a custom SecurityConfig class, you might be overriding the default AccessDeniedHandler unintentionally. To fix this, you can override the default AccessDeniedHandler in your SecurityConfig class:

@Override
protected void configure(HttpSecurity http) throws Exception {
    http.oauth2ResourceServer()
            .jwt()
            .and()
            .exceptionHandling()
            .accessDeniedHandler(new OAuth2AccessDeniedHandler());
}

In this example, we’ve overridden the default AccessDeniedHandler with the OAuth2AccessDeniedHandler. This will ensure that the AccessDeniedHandler is called when an unauthorized request is made.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the possible reasons behind the AccessDeniedHandler not being called when using AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer. We’ve also provided three solutions to help you resolve this issue:

1. Verify your AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer configuration and dependencies.
2. Implement a custom AccessDeniedHandler to handle access denied exceptions in a centralized manner.
3. Override the default AccessDeniedHandler in your SecurityConfig class.

By following these solutions, you should be able to get your AccessDeniedHandler working as expected. Remember to carefully review your configuration and dependencies to avoid any misconfigurations.

Keyword	Frequency
AccessDeniedHandler	7
AadResourceServerHttpSecurityConfigurer	5
Azure Active Directory	2

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