@authx/http-proxy-resource v3.1.0-alpha.35

HTTP Proxy - Resource

The AuthX proxy for resources is a flexible HTTP proxy designed to sit in front of a resource.

Example

Here is a typical use case:

We have a resource – often an API – which is accessed by a client. The route /something is special, and we only want to give access to authorized users.

new AuthXProxy({
  authxUrl: "https://authx.example.com/",

  rules: [
    // We want to make sure any GET request to /something has been authorized
    // for the `example.resource:something:read` scope:
    {
      test({ url, method }) {
        return method === "GET" && /^\/something\/.+$/.test(url);
      },
      behavior: {
        proxyOptions: { target: "http://127.0.0.1:3000" },
        sendTokenToTarget: false,
        requireScopes: ["example.resource:something:read"],
      },
    },

    // We want to make sure any POST or PUT request to /something has been
    // authorized for the `example.resource:something:write` scope:
    {
      test({ url, method }) {
        return (
          (method === "POST" || method === "PUT") &&
          /^\/something\/.+$/.test(url)
        );
      },
      behavior: {
        proxyOptions: { target: "http://127.0.0.1:3000" },
        sendTokenToTarget: false,
        requireScopes: ["example.resource:something:write"],
      },
    },

    // For all other paths, we want to let all requests through, but validate
    // any tokens that are present. Here we use the `resource-augment` behavior:
    {
      test() {
        return true;
      },
      behavior: {
        proxyOptions: { target: "http://127.0.0.1:3000" },
        sendTokenToTarget: false,
      },
    },
  ],
});

Configuration

The proxy is configured with an array of rules, which are checked in order against the request URL until a match is found. If no match is found, the proxy will respond with a status of 404.

Config

interface Config {
  /**
   * The root URL to AuthX server.
   */
  readonly authxUrl: string;

  /**
   * The number of seconds between successful attempts at refreshing public keys
   * from the AuthX server.
   *
   * @defaultValue `60`
   */
  readonly authxPublicKeyRefreshInterval?: number;

  /**
   * The number of seconds to wait before aborting and retrying a request for
   * public keys from the AuthX server.
   *
   * @defaultValue `30`
   */
  readonly authxPublicKeyRefreshRequestTimeout?: number;

  /**
   * The number of seconds between failed attempts at refreshing public keys
   * from the AuthX server.
   *
   * @defaultValue `10`
   */
  readonly authxPublicKeyRetryInterval?: number;

  /**
   * The pathname at which the proxy will provide a readiness check.
   *
   * @remarks
   * Requests to this path will return a 200 with the body "READY" when the
   * proxy is ready to accept incoming connections, and a 503 with the body
   * "NOT READY" otherwise.
   *
   * When closing the proxy, readiness checks will immediately begin failing,
   * even before the proxy stops accepting requests.
   *
   * @defaultValue `"/_ready"`
   */
  readonly readinessEndpoint?: string;

  /**
   * The rules the proxy will use to handle a request.
   */
  readonly rules: Rule[];
}

Rule

interface Rule {
  /**
   * Each rule is tested in order, with the first to return `true` used to
   * handle the request. This function MUST NOT manipulate the `request` object.
   */
  readonly test: (request: IncomingMessage) => boolean;

  /**
   * The behavior to use for a matching request.
   *
   * @remarks
   * If the request must be modified, such as to change the URL path, a custom
   * function can be used here. This function will be called _after_ the
   * `X-OAuth-Scopes` headers have been set or removed.
   *
   * If the function handles the request (such as returning an error), it must
   * return `undefined` to prevent the proxy from also attempting to handle it;
   * otherwise, it should return a `Behavior` config.
   */
  readonly behavior:
    | Behavior
    | ((
        request: IncomingMessage,
        response: ServerResponse
      ) => Behavior | undefined);
}

Behavior

interface Behavior {
  /**
   * The options to pass to node-proxy.
   *
   * @remarks
   * The HTTP header `X-OAuth-Scopes` will be set on both the request and
   * response, containing a space-deliminated list of authorized scopes from a
   * valid token.
   *
   * If a valid token contains no scopes, the `X-OAuth-Scopes` will be an empty
   * string.
   *
   * If no token exists, or the token is invalid, the `X-OAuth-Scopes` will be
   * removed from both the request and response.
   */
  readonly proxyOptions: ServerOptions;

  /**
   * If set to true, proxied requests will retain the token in their HTTP
   * `Authorization` header. Only valid tokens will be sent to the target.
   *
   * @defaultValue `false`
   */
  readonly sendTokenToTarget?: boolean;

  /**
   * The minimum scopes required for a request to be proxied.
   *
   * @remarks
   * If one or more scopes are configured, the proxy will ensure that they are
   * provided by a valid token, returning a 401 for a missing or invalid token,
   * and a 403 for a valid token that is missing required scopes. The header
   * `X-OAuth-Required-Scopes` will be set on both the request and response,
   * containing a space-deliminated list of the required scopes.
   *
   * To ensure that a valid token is present, use an empty array.
   *
   * If this option is not set, all requests will be proxied to the target.
   */
  readonly requireScopes?: string[];
}

Details

The resource proxy accepts two kinds of access tokens from AuthX.

Revocable

A revocable token is passed as HTTP Basic credentials in the Authorization header. The authorization ID is used as the "username" and the authoriztion secret is used as the "password". For each request with this type of token, the proxy makes a request to AuthX to get a list of applicable scopes, using the same header. For this to be possible, the authorization must include the scopes authx:v2.authorization..*.{current_client_id}..{current_grant_id}..{current_user_id}:*..*...

Self-Contained

A self-contained token is passed as an HTTP Bearer token in the Authorization header. The signature is verified using the AuthX instance's public keys, which are cached for at least the configured authxPublicKeyRefreshInterval. Note that if attempts to refresh the public keys fail, the proxy will continue to use its cached public keys to avoid downtime.

The sub field of the JWT payload must be the user ID, and authorized scopes must be present as an array of strings in the scopes field.

Development

Scripts

These scripts can be run using npm run <script> or yarn <script>.

format

Use prettier to format the code in this package.

lint

Check the contents of this package against prettier and eslint rules.

prepare

Build the files from /src to the /dist directory with optimizations.

prepare:development

Build the files from /src to the /dist directory, and re-build as changes are made to source files.

test

Run all tests from the /dist directory.

test:development

Run all tests from the /dist directory, and re-run a test when it changes.

Files

/src

This holds the source code for the proxy.

/dist

The compiled and bundled code ends up here for distribution. This is ignored by git.

FAQ / Errata

Why does my client continue to repeat the OAuth flow without resolving the request? Is this some sort of infinite redirect?

Check to make sure your service is not issuing a 401 error. Clients will see this code and assume that the token needs to be refreshed. If you're using the proxy, you're probably going to want to let it handle the determination of whether a user is authenticated or not.