Configuring Synapse to authenticate against an OpenID Connect provider

Synapse can be configured to use an OpenID Connect Provider (OP) for authentication, instead of its own local password database.

Any OP should work with Synapse, as long as it supports the authorization code flow. There are a few options for that:

start a local OP. Synapse has been tested with Hydra and Dex. Note that for an OP to work, it should be served under a secure (HTTPS) origin. A certificate signed with a self-signed, locally trusted CA should work. In that case, start Synapse with a SSL_CERT_FILE environment variable set to the path of the CA.
set up a SaaS OP, like Google, Auth0 or Okta. Synapse has been tested with Auth0 and Google.

It may also be possible to use other OAuth2 providers which provide the authorization code grant type, such as Github.

Preparing Synapse

The OpenID integration in Synapse uses the authlib library, which must be installed as follows:

The relevant libraries are included in the Docker images and Debian packages provided by matrix.org so no further action is needed.
If you installed Synapse into a virtualenv, run /path/to/env/bin/pip install matrix-synapse[oidc] to install the necessary dependencies.
For other installation mechanisms, see the documentation provided by the maintainer.

To enable the OpenID integration, you should then add a section to the oidc_providers setting in your configuration file (or uncomment one of the existing examples). See sample_config.yaml for some sample settings, as well as the text below for example configurations for specific providers.

Sample configs

Here are a few configs for providers that should work with Synapse.

Microsoft Azure Active Directory

Azure AD can act as an OpenID Connect Provider. Register a new application under App registrations in the Azure AD management console. The RedirectURI for your application should point to your matrix server: [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

Go to Certificates & secrets and register a new client secret. Make note of your Directory (tenant) ID as it will be used in the Azure links. Edit your Synapse config file and change the oidc_config section:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: microsoft
    idp_name: Microsoft
    issuer: "https://login.microsoftonline.com/<tenant id>/v2.0"
    client_id: "<client id>"
    client_secret: "<client secret>"
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    authorization_endpoint: "https://login.microsoftonline.com/<tenant id>/oauth2/v2.0/authorize"
    token_endpoint: "https://login.microsoftonline.com/<tenant id>/oauth2/v2.0/token"
    userinfo_endpoint: "https://graph.microsoft.com/oidc/userinfo"

    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username.split('@')[0] }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Dex

Dex is a simple, open-source, certified OpenID Connect Provider. Although it is designed to help building a full-blown provider with an external database, it can be configured with static passwords in a config file.

Follow the Getting Started guide to install Dex.

Edit examples/config-dev.yaml config file from the Dex repo to add a client:

staticClients:
- id: synapse
  secret: secret
  redirectURIs:
  - '[synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback'
  name: 'Synapse'

Run with dex serve examples/config-dev.yaml.

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: dex
    idp_name: "My Dex server"
    skip_verification: true # This is needed as Dex is served on an insecure endpoint
    issuer: "http://127.0.0.1:5556/dex"
    client_id: "synapse"
    client_secret: "secret"
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.name }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name|capitalize }}"

Keycloak

Keycloak is an opensource IdP maintained by Red Hat.

Follow the Getting Started Guide to install Keycloak and set up a realm.

Click Clients in the sidebar and click Create
Fill in the fields as below:

Field	Value
Client ID	`synapse`
Client Protocol	`openid-connect`

Click Save
Fill in the fields as below:

Field	Value
Client ID	`synapse`
Enabled	`On`
Client Protocol	`openid-connect`
Access Type	`confidential`
Valid Redirect URIs	`[synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback`

Click Save
On the Credentials tab, update the fields:

Field	Value
Client Authenticator	`Client ID and Secret`

Click Regenerate Secret
Copy Secret

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: keycloak
    idp_name: "My KeyCloak server"
    issuer: "https://127.0.0.1:8443/auth/realms/{realm_name}"
    client_id: "synapse"
    client_secret: "copy secret generated from above"
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Auth0

Auth0 is a hosted SaaS IdP solution.

Create a regular web application for Synapse
Set the Allowed Callback URLs to [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

Add a rule to add the preferred_username claim.

Code sample

function addPersistenceAttribute(user, context, callback) {
  user.user_metadata = user.user_metadata || {};
  user.user_metadata.preferred_username = user.user_metadata.preferred_username || user.user_id;
  context.idToken.preferred_username = user.user_metadata.preferred_username;

  auth0.users.updateUserMetadata(user.user_id, user.user_metadata)
    .then(function(){
        callback(null, user, context);
    })
    .catch(function(err){
        callback(err);
    });
}

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: auth0
    idp_name: Auth0
    issuer: "https://your-tier.eu.auth0.com/" # TO BE FILLED
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

GitHub

GitHub is a bit special as it is not an OpenID Connect compliant provider, but just a regular OAuth2 provider.

The /user API endpoint can be used to retrieve information on the authenticated user. As the Synapse login mechanism needs an attribute to uniquely identify users, and that endpoint does not return a sub property, an alternative subject_claim has to be set.

Create a new OAuth application: https://github.com/settings/applications/new.
Set the callback URL to [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback.

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: github
    idp_name: Github
    idp_brand: "github"  # optional: styling hint for clients
    discover: false
    issuer: "https://github.com/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    authorization_endpoint: "https://github.com/login/oauth/authorize"
    token_endpoint: "https://github.com/login/oauth/access_token"
    userinfo_endpoint: "https://api.github.com/user"
    scopes: ["read:user"]
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        subject_claim: "id"
        localpart_template: "{{ user.login }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Google

Google is an OpenID certified authentication and authorisation provider.

Set up a project in the Google API Console (see https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/oauth2/openid-connect#appsetup).
Add an "OAuth Client ID" for a Web Application under "Credentials".

Copy the Client ID and Client Secret, and add the following to your synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: google
    idp_name: Google
    idp_brand: "google"  # optional: styling hint for clients
    issuer: "https://accounts.google.com/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.given_name|lower }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Back in the Google console, add this Authorized redirect URI: [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback.

Twitch

Setup a developer account on Twitch
Obtain the OAuth 2.0 credentials by creating an app
Add this OAuth Redirect URL: [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: twitch
    idp_name: Twitch
    issuer: "https://id.twitch.tv/oauth2/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

GitLab

Create a new application.
Add the read_user and openid scopes.
Add this Callback URL: [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: gitlab
    idp_name: Gitlab
    idp_brand: "gitlab"  # optional: styling hint for clients
    issuer: "https://gitlab.com/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
    scopes: ["openid", "read_user"]
    user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: '{{ user.nickname }}'
        display_name_template: '{{ user.name }}'

Facebook

Like Github, Facebook provide a custom OAuth2 API rather than an OIDC-compliant one so requires a little more configuration.

You will need a Facebook developer account. You can register for one here.
On the apps page of the developer console, "Create App", and choose "Build Connected Experiences".
Once the app is created, add "Facebook Login" and choose "Web". You don't need to go through the whole form here.
In the left-hand menu, open "Products"/"Facebook Login"/"Settings".
- Add [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback as an OAuth Redirect URL.
In the left-hand menu, open "Settings/Basic". Here you can copy the "App ID" and "App Secret" for use below.

Synapse config:

  - idp_id: facebook
    idp_name: Facebook
    idp_brand: "facebook"  # optional: styling hint for clients
    discover: false
    issuer: "https://facebook.com"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    scopes: ["openid", "email"]
    authorization_endpoint: https://facebook.com/dialog/oauth
    token_endpoint: https://graph.facebook.com/v9.0/oauth/access_token
    user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
    userinfo_endpoint: "https://graph.facebook.com/v9.0/me?fields=id,name,email,picture"
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        subject_claim: "id"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Relevant documents:

https://developers.facebook.com/docs/facebook-login/manually-build-a-login-flow
Using Facebook's Graph API: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/graph-api/using-graph-api/
Reference to the User endpoint: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/graph-api/reference/user

Gitea

Gitea is, like Github, not an OpenID provider, but just an OAuth2 provider.

Create a new application.
Add this Callback URL: [synapse public baseurl]/_synapse/client/oidc/callback

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: gitea
    idp_name: Gitea
    discover: false
    issuer: "https://your-gitea.com/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_secret: "your-client-secret" # TO BE FILLED
    client_auth_method: client_secret_post
    scopes: [] # Gitea doesn't support Scopes
    authorization_endpoint: "https://your-gitea.com/login/oauth/authorize"
    token_endpoint: "https://your-gitea.com/login/oauth/access_token"
    userinfo_endpoint: "https://your-gitea.com/api/v1/user"
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        subject_claim: "id"
        localpart_template: "{{ user.login }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.full_name }}"

XWiki

Install OpenID Connect Provider extension in your XWiki instance.

Synapse config:

oidc_providers:
  - idp_id: xwiki
    idp_name: "XWiki"
    issuer: "https://myxwikihost/xwiki/oidc/"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # TO BE FILLED
    client_auth_method: none
    scopes: ["openid", "profile"]
    user_profile_method: "userinfo_endpoint"
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        localpart_template: "{{ user.preferred_username }}"
        display_name_template: "{{ user.name }}"

Apple

Configuring "Sign in with Apple" (SiWA) requires an Apple Developer account.

You will need to create a new "Services ID" for SiWA, and create and download a private key with "SiWA" enabled.

As well as the private key file, you will need:

Client ID: the "identifier" you gave the "Services ID"
Team ID: a 10-character ID associated with your developer account.
Key ID: the 10-character identifier for the key.

https://help.apple.com/developer-account/?lang=en#/dev77c875b7e has more documentation on setting up SiWA.

The synapse config will look like this:

  - idp_id: apple
    idp_name: Apple
    issuer: "https://appleid.apple.com"
    client_id: "your-client-id" # Set to the "identifier" for your "ServicesID"
    client_auth_method: "client_secret_post"
    client_secret_jwt_key:
      key_file: "/path/to/AuthKey_KEYIDCODE.p8"  # point to your key file
      jwt_header:
        alg: ES256
        kid: "KEYIDCODE"   # Set to the 10-char Key ID
      jwt_payload:
        iss: TEAMIDCODE    # Set to the 10-char Team ID
    scopes: ["name", "email", "openid"]
    authorization_endpoint: https://appleid.apple.com/auth/authorize?response_mode=form_post
    user_mapping_provider:
      config:
        email_template: "{{ user.email }}"