Using SimpleSAMLphp with Shibboleth SSO

This doc covers the installation and configuration of SimpleSAMLphp for Pantheon sites. For a simpler SSO service provider solution, jump to Alternatives.

Start by following the SimpleSAMLphp's service provider quickstart instructions. This documentation contains only the necessary extra steps to get SimpleSAMLphp working on Pantheon with Drupal or WordPress.

Install SimpleSAMLphp

• Download Method
• Composer Method

.
├── private
│   └── simplesamlphp
|       ├── config 
│       │   ├── authsources.php
|       |   └── config.php
|       └── metadata (optional)
│           ├── saml20-idp-remote.php
|           └── saml20-sp-remote.php
├── vendor
│   └── simplesamlphp
│       └── simplesamlphp
│           └── config -> ../../../private/simplesamlphp/config
└── web
    └── simplesaml -> ../vendor/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/www

Configure SimpleSAMLphp

Set up your SimpleSAMLphp config.php as follows:

1. Enable local sessions to ensure that SimpleSAMLphp can keep a session when used in standalone mode:

   config.php

   if (!ini_get('session.save_handler')) {
       ini_set('session.save_handler', 'file');
   }

2. Load necessary environmental data.

   config.php

   $host = $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'];
   $db = array(
       'host'      => $_ENV['DB_HOST'],
       'database'  => $_ENV['DB_NAME'],
       'username'  => $_ENV['DB_USER'],
       'password'  => $_ENV['DB_PASSWORD'],
       'port'      => $_ENV['DB_PORT'],
   );

3. Set up the base config with the basic variables defined:

   config.php

   $config = [
        'baseurlpath' => 'https://'. $host .':443/simplesaml/', // SAML should always connect via 443
        'certdir' => 'cert/',
        'logging.handler' => 'errorlog',
        'datadir' => 'data/',
        'tempdir' => $_ENV['HOME'] . '/tmp/simplesaml',
   
        // Your $config array continues for a while...
        // until we get to the "store.type" value, where we put in DB config...
        'store.type' => 'sql',
        'store.sql.dsn' => 'mysql:host='. $db['host'] .';port='. $db['port'] .';dbname='. $db['database'],
        'store.sql.username' => $db['username'],
        'store.sql.password' => $db['password'],
   ]

   A custom SimpleSAML/Logger/LoggingHandlerInterface implementation is required for persistent and centralized logging.

    Note

   Some SSO providers will fail to connect when the port number (443) is specified in baseurlpath. To troubleshoot, remove :443 from the line.

4. Commit the changes to your SimpleSAMLphp files:

   git add private/simplesamlphp
   git commit -am "Adding SimpleSaml config files."

You can now visit the subdirectory /simplesaml on your development site and complete your metadata configuration.

Drupal Configuration

If you are using the simpleSAMLphp Authentication module, follow the instructions listed in the README. These instructions cover both Composer and non-Composer implementations for Drupal sites.

Composer settings.php File

Configuration of the setting.php file is not needed if you are using Composer.

Non-Composer settings.php File

Non-Composer implementations must add the following lines to the settings.php file to allow the Drupal module to locate SimpleSAMLphp:

Drupal 7 Example

# Provide universal absolute path to the installation.
$conf['simplesamlphp_auth_installdir'] = $_ENV['HOME'] .'/code/private/simplesamlphp';

Drupal (Latest)

Drupal 10 includes Symfony 6. The SimpleSAMLphp library is not currently compatible with Symfony 6 unless you use the dev-master branch. There is a new simplesamlphp_auth branch (4.x) that you can use if you require a compatibility workaround. Note that this workaround requires you to use dev versions at your own risk.

You must require the Drupal module like this:

composer require drupal/simplesamlphp_auth:"^4"

WordPress Multisite Issues

WordPress Multisite users have reported a possible solution to enable SSO on their site; modify inc/class-wp-saml-auth.php to include:

//$redirect_to = filter_input( INPUT_GET, 'redirect_to', FILTER_SANITIZE_URL );
//$redirect_to = $redirect_to ? : $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
// added to resolve multisite SSO issues
$redirect_to = get_admin_url();
$this->provider->login( $redirect_to );

Troubleshooting

Varnish Not Working/Cookie Being Set for Anonymous Users

There is a known issue with the Drupal 7 version of the SimpleSAMLphp Authentication module. The module attempts to load a session on every page, as reported in https://drupal.org/node/2020009 in the official issue queue. Although there are two patches you can try in an effort to improve site performance; at this time, https://drupal.org/node/2020009#comment-7845537 is the recommended solution until the fix is accepted into an official project release.

SimpleSAMLphp Error: can't find metadata

Generate the required identity provider connections files through the modules, or follow the steps in SimpleSAMLphp for Adding IdPs to the SP.

The files must be added under the /private/simplesamlphp/metadata directory and symlinked into the vendor directory, if you are using Composer. This is similar to the config setup for Composer.

Other SSO Options

Other plugins and modules provide SSO provider services with less configuration.

SAML SP 2.0 Single Sign On (SSO) - SAML Service Provider

Drupal: The module SAML SP 2.0 Single Sign On (SSO) - SAML Service Provider provides a simple drop-in alternative way to configure SAML with a variety of IdPs.

The Support team has tested this module on Pantheon using Okta.

WordPress: The WordPress version of SAML SP Single Sign On – SSO login works in exactly the same way as the Drupal module, but has not been tested by Pantheon Support.

OAuth

OAuth is an open authorization standard that Pantheon customers have reported success using. Refer to SSO and Identity Federation on Pantheon for more information.

WP SAML Auth with Google Apps

WP SAML Auth lets your users sign into WordPress using their Google Account if your organization uses Google's G Suite. Refer to our Using WP SAML Auth with Google Apps guide for more information.

WordPress SSO Plugins

You can consult this list of WordPress SSO plugins for more options.

Drupal SSO Modules

You can consult this list of Drupal SSO modules for more options.

More Resources

• Secure Your Site with Two-Factor Authentication
• Quicksilver Secrets Script