5 Core Concepts of Spring Security

1. Authentication and Authorization
   – Authentication – Who are you – Answer by showing ID(Facebook, LinkedIn for ID which uniquely identifies you)
   – Authorization – What you want – State what you want

   Knowledge Based Authentication – Providing details you know about you to prove its you. Downside is details can be stolen.
   Possession Based Authentication – Key Cards for accessing Building Doors, Phone OTP. Authenticates by checking the user posses something which
   realuser should posses.

   Multi Factor Authentication – Enter password and enter OTP(KBA + PBA)

2. Authorization – Checks whether the person is allowed to do something. For Authorization, Authentication is needed at first place.
3. Principal
   – Person identified through process of Authentication
   – Person who has logged in. Currently logged in user (or) account.
   – App remembers the principal in context as currently loggedin user.
4. Granted Authority
   – Authority includes whether the user is allowed to Read, Write, Update and Delete at permission level
5. Role
   – Group of Authorities assigned together forms a role

Formbased Authentication
pom.xml

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

Basic Auth

1. Client Sends a request without username and password and gets 401 Unauthorized as Response
2. Now Client Sends a request with username and password with Base64 Encoding
3. Server validates whether user exists in DB
4. Server replies with 200 Ok if user authentication is successful
5. Basic ENCODED-BASE64-USERIDPASSWORD is the one sent in header to server from client
6. In postman basic auth can be done by adding Authorization and base64 encoded user and password to header

   Header : Authorization
   Value : Basic base64('YourOrgName:YourAPIKEY');
   

7. Base64 encoded text can be got from JS Console in browser as below

   "username:password!" // Here I used basic Auth string format
   
   // Encode the plain string to base64
   btoa("username:password!"); // output: "dXNlcm5hbWU6cGFzc3dvcmQh"
   
   
   // Decode the base64 to plain string
   atob("dXNlcm5hbWU6cGFzc3dvcmQh"); // output: "username:password!"
   

8. Using Authorization Tab in post man does the same thing of adding base64 encoded UserName and Password to Header prepending Basic

The Difference between FormAuth and BasicAuth is in BasicAuth UserName and Password would be sent everytime when making a request to the server in the header as base64 encoded character.

Form-based authentication
Form-based authentication is not formalized by any RFC.They don’t use the formal HTTP authentication techniques.They use the standard HTML form fields to pass the username and password values to the server.The server validates the credentials and then creates a “session” that is tied to a unique key that is passed between the client and server on each http put and get request.When the user clicks “log off” or the server logs the user off (for example after certain idle time), the server will invalidate the session key, which makes any subsequent communication between the client and server require re-validation

Basic Auth

Basic Auth with Authorization in Headers as seen in DevTool

Creating the below class in Spring Boot project would enable the Basic auth(httpAuth) instead of default formbased auth which we get after adding spring security starter dependency to pom.xml

ApplicationSecurityConfig.java
Using Custom Username and Password for Inmemory Authentication

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.authorizeRequests()
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

ApplicationSecurityConfig.java

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.authorizeRequests()
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

Whitelisting some URLs(index, js and CSS files)

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.authorizeRequests()
                    //Whitelisting URLS
                    .antMatchers("/", "index", "/css/*", "/js/*").permitAll()
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

Authentication with password with no encryption

@Override
@Bean
 protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
       UserDetails mugilUsrBuilder = User.builder()
              .username("Mugil")
              .password("{noop}password")
              .roles("ADMIN")
              .build();

      return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(mugilUsrBuilder);
}

If {noop} is not used in password Spring security would throw an error asking to encode the password with password encoder as below.
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: There is no PasswordEncoder mapped for the id “null”

Using Password Simple Encoder
PasswordConfig.java

@Configuration
public class PasswordConfig {
    @Bean
    public PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder()
    {
        return new BCryptPasswordEncoder(10);
    }
}

ApplicationSecurityConfig.java

1. Inject the passwordEncoder from PasswordConfig class to ApplicationSecurityConfig
2. Encode the password using instance of injected encoder in ApplicationSecurityConfig

 @Autowired
    private PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder;

    @Autowired
    public ApplicationSecurityConfig(PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder) {
        this.passwordEncoder = passwordEncoder;
    }

    @Override
    @Bean
    protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
        UserDetails mugilUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("Mugil")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .roles("ADMIN")
                .build();

        return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(mugilUsrBuilder);
    }

Allowing Access to API based on Role – Authorization
ApplicationSecurityConfig.java

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
.
.
 @Override
    @Bean
    //Authentication
    protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
        UserDetails adminUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("admin")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .roles("ADMIN")
                .build();

        UserDetails regularUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("user")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .roles("USER")
                .build();

        return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(adminUsrBuilder, regularUsrBuilder);  
    }

    @Override
    //Authorization
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.authorizeRequests()
                     //Whitelisting URLS
                    .antMatchers("/", "index", "/css/*", "/js/*").permitAll()
                    .antMatchers("/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
.
.

1. In the above code we have added two roles – ADMIN and USER
2. Both were authenticated to access the application.But to access the API the role should be ADMIN

     antMatchers("/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
   

3. If the user with Role USER try to access API then it would end up in 403 – Forbidden Error

Access Allowed

Forbidden Access

Allowing Access based on 2 Different Role
ApplicationSecurityConfig.java

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {
.
.

    @Override
    @Bean
    protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
        UserDetails adminUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("admin")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .roles("ADMIN")
                .build();

        UserDetails regularUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("user")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .roles("USER")
                .build();

        return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(adminUsrBuilder, regularUsrBuilder);
    }

    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.csrf().disable()
                     .authorizeRequests()
                     //Whitelisting URLS
                    .antMatchers("/", "index", "/css/*", "/js/*").permitAll()
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.GET,"/api/**").permitAll()
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.DELETE,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.PUT,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.POST,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

1. In the above piece of code we have defined two roles ADMIN and USER
2. Those with USER role can access the API with HTTP Get Method. That means both ADMIN and USER role could access all the API using GET method

   .
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.GET,"/api/**").permitAll()
   .
   

3. Those with ADMIN role can access the API with HTTP POST, DELETE and PUT Method which corresponds to Create, Delete and Update as per Open API Specifiaction.

   .
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.DELETE,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.PUT,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.POST,"/api/**").hasRole("ADMIN")
   .
   

4. The above could be cross checked by changing postman call with HttpMethods and Credentials

StudentsService.java

@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api/v1/students")
public class StudentsService {
    @Autowired
    StudentRepo studentRepo;

    @GetMapping(path="{studentId}")
    public Student getStudentById(@PathVariable("studentId") String studentId){
        return studentRepo.getStudentById(studentId);
    }

    @GetMapping
    public List<Student> getStudentList(){
        return studentRepo.getStudentsList();
    }

    @PutMapping
    public String updateStudent(@RequestBody Student student){
        return studentRepo.updateStudent(student);
    }

    @PostMapping
    public String addStudent(@RequestBody Student student){
        if(studentRepo.addStudents(student))
            return  "Student with Id " + student.getStudentId() + " added successfully";
        else
            return  "Error:Unable to create Student";
    }

    @DeleteMapping(path="{studentId}")
    public String deleteStudent(@PathVariable("studentId") String studentId){
        studentRepo.deleteStudent(studentId);
        return "Student Deleted Successfully";
    }
}

Allowing Access based on 2 Different Authority(or)Permission

1. In the below code instead of using ROLES to authorize users to do something we use AUTHORITIES to allow user
2. There are two ways to do this. One is by using hasAuthority in configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) method as below

3. .
   @EnableGlobalMethodSecurity(prePostEnabled = true)
   .
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.POST,"/api/v1/students/").hasAuthority("WRITE")
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.DELETE,"/api/v1/students/**").hasAuthority("WRITE")
   .antMatchers(HttpMethod.PUT,"/api/v1/students/").hasAuthority("WRITE")
   .
   

4. Other is by using @preauthorize annotation to decide the methods
   which could be allowed access to

   .
   .
   @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('READ')")
   public List getStudentList(){
   .
   
   @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('WRITE')")
   public String updateStudent(@RequestBody Student student){
   .
   .
   

ApplicationSecurityConfig.java
Using hasAuthority

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {

    @Autowired
    private PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder;

    @Autowired
    public ApplicationSecurityConfig(PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder) {
        this.passwordEncoder = passwordEncoder;
    }

    @Override
    @Bean
    protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
        GrantedAuthority[] arrGrantedAuthAdmin = {new SimpleGrantedAuthority("READ"), new SimpleGrantedAuthority("WRITE")};
        GrantedAuthority[] arrGrantedAuthUser = {new SimpleGrantedAuthority("READ")};

        UserDetails adminUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("admin")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .authorities("READ", "WRITE")
                .build();

        UserDetails regularUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("user")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .authorities("READ")
                .build();

        return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(adminUsrBuilder, regularUsrBuilder);
    }

    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.csrf().disable()
                     .authorizeRequests()
                     .antMatchers("/", "index", "/css/*", "/js/*").permitAll()
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.POST,"/api/v1/students/").hasAuthority("WRITE")
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.DELETE,"/api/v1/students/**").hasAuthority("WRITE")
                    .antMatchers(HttpMethod.PUT,"/api/v1/students/").hasAuthority("WRITE")
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

ApplicationSecurityConfig.java
Using @PreAuthorize and EnableGlobalMethodSecurity

@Configuration
@EnableWebSecurity
@EnableGlobalMethodSecurity(prePostEnabled = true)
public class ApplicationSecurityConfig extends WebSecurityConfigurerAdapter {

    @Autowired
    private PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder;

    @Autowired
    public ApplicationSecurityConfig(PasswordEncoder passwordEncoder) {
        this.passwordEncoder = passwordEncoder;
    }

    @Override
    @Bean
    protected UserDetailsService userDetailsService() {
        GrantedAuthority[] arrGrantedAuthAdmin = {new SimpleGrantedAuthority("READ"), new SimpleGrantedAuthority("WRITE")};
        GrantedAuthority[] arrGrantedAuthUser = {new SimpleGrantedAuthority("READ")};

        UserDetails adminUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("admin")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .authorities("READ", "WRITE")
                .build();

        UserDetails regularUsrBuilder = User.builder()
                .username("user")
                .password(this.passwordEncoder.encode("password"))
                .authorities("READ")
                .build();

        return new InMemoryUserDetailsManager(adminUsrBuilder, regularUsrBuilder);
    }

    @Override
    protected void configure(HttpSecurity httpSecurity) throws Exception{
        httpSecurity.csrf().disable()
                     .authorizeRequests()
                    .antMatchers("/", "index", "/css/*", "/js/*").permitAll()
                    .anyRequest()
                    .authenticated()
                    .and()
                    .httpBasic();
    }
}

StudentsService.java

@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api/v1/students")
public class StudentsService {
    @Autowired
    StudentRepo studentRepo;

    @GetMapping(path="{studentId}")
    public Student getStudentById(@PathVariable("studentId") String studentId){
        return studentRepo.getStudentById(studentId);
    }

    @GetMapping
    @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('READ')")
    public List<Student> getStudentList(){
        return studentRepo.getStudentsList();
    }

    @PutMapping
    @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('WRITE')")
    public String updateStudent(@RequestBody Student student){
        return studentRepo.updateStudent(student);
    }

    @PostMapping
    @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('WRITE')")
    public String addStudent(@RequestBody Student student){
        if(studentRepo.addStudents(student))
            return  "Student with Id " + student.getStudentId() + " added successfully";
        else
            return  "Error:Unable to create Student";
    }

    @DeleteMapping(path="{studentId}")
    @PreAuthorize("hasAuthority('WRITE')")
    public String deleteStudent(@PathVariable("studentId") String studentId){
        studentRepo.deleteStudent(studentId);
        return "Student Deleted Successfully";
    }
}