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Nextcloud SAML authentication with Authentik

Nextcloud SAML authentication with Authentik

I will try to explain how to implement SAML authentication method using Authentik. To make this guide simple and short, I will not explain about Nextcloud and Authentik installation.

if you need guide on Authentik Installation, here it is

Setup Authentik SSO with Nginx-Proxy-Manager
This Article will explain how to setup SSO with Authentik and Nginx Proxy Manager
Geek's CircuitVineeth

let's get started

Prerequisites

  1. Nextcloud Installation https://cloud.example.com
  2. Authentik Installation https://auth.example.com

On Authentik

Download Self-signed Certificate

login to your authentik installation and go to admin panel and download the selfsigned certficate and private key. you can always create or generate new certificates. for this example I will be using self signed one

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Create SAML Provider

Now go to Provider tab and create a SAML Provider with below details.

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  • Name: nextcloud-saml
  • ACS URL: https://cloud.example.com/apps/user_saml/saml/acs
  • Issuer: https://cloud.example.com/apps/user_saml/saml/metadata
  • Service Provider Binding: POST
  • Audience: https://cloud.example.com/apps/user_saml/saml/metadata
  • Signing certificate: authentik self-signed certificate
  • Verification certificate: authentik self-signed certificate
  • Property mappings: select all entries (default)
  • NameID Property mapping: User ID
  • the rest of the fields you can leave as they are

Create Nextcloud Application

Now create an Application with provider nextcloud-saml

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  • Name: Nextcloud
  • Slug: nextcloud (do not change this)
  • Provider: nextcloud-saml

On NextCloud

HTTPS Redirect Settings

Before we make any changes on Nextcloud, make sure that the nextcloud instance is using https redirect pattern. Add the line 'overwriteprotocol' => 'https' to your Nextcloud’s config/config.php (see Nextcloud: Reverse Proxy Configuration)

SAML Configuration

go to Settings Locate the SSO & SAML authentication section in the left sidebar. and add below variables.

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  • General
  • Attribute to map UID to: http://schemas.goauthentik.io/2021/02/saml/username
  • Display name of Identity Provider: Authentik SSO
  • Service Provider Data
  • Choose X509 subject name and insert the authentik self-signed certificate certificate and private key you downloaded from Authentik
  • Identity Provider Data
  • Identifier of the IdP: https://cloud.example.com/apps/user_saml/saml/metadata
  • URL Target of the IdP where the SP will send the Authentication Request Message: https://auth.example.com/application/saml/nextcloud/sso/binding/redirect/
  • URL Location of IdP where the SP will send the SLO Request: https://auth.example.com/if/session-end/nextcloud/
  • URL Location of SLO Response: (empty)
  • Public X.509 certificate of the IdP: insert the certificate you downloaded from authentik self-signed certificate
  • Attribute mapping
  • Attribute to map the displayname to: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/name
  • Attribute to map the email address to: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/emailaddress
  • Attribute to map the users groups to: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/claims/Group

Finally, after you entered all these settings, a green Metadata valid box should appear at the bottom. Note that there is no Save button, Nextcloud automatically saves these settings.

Let's try it

Open a new incognito tab and go to https://cloud.example.com you should see the authentik page presented.

There it is, now you a Nextcloud installation with SAML authentication ;)