Setting up an authentication journey in ForgeRock Access Management (AM) can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re new to Identity and Access Management (IAM). Trust me, I’ve debugged this 100+ times, and I’m here to save you some time. Let’s dive into creating your first authentication journey, complete with real-world examples and tips.

Understanding the Problem

Before we start, let’s clarify what we’re trying to achieve. An authentication journey in ForgeRock AM is a series of steps that a user goes through to prove their identity. This could involve entering a username and password, answering security questions, or using multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The challenge is configuring these steps correctly so that they work seamlessly and securely. Misconfigurations can lead to security vulnerabilities or a poor user experience.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

  • ForgeRock AM installed and running
  • Admin access to the ForgeRock AM console
  • Basic understanding of OAuth2 and OpenID Connect
  • Postman or similar tool for testing API requests
💡 Key Point: Make sure your AM instance is up and running before starting this tutorial.

Creating the Authentication Tree

ForgeRock AM uses authentication trees to define the steps in an authentication journey. Let’s create a simple tree that authenticates users via username and password.

Step 1: Create a New Authentication Tree

  1. Log in to the ForgeRock AM admin console.
  2. Navigate to Realms > Top Realm > Authentication > Trees.
  3. Click Create and name your tree, e.g., UsernamePasswordTree.

Step 2: Add Nodes to the Tree

  1. Click Add Node and search for UsernamePassword.
  2. Drag the UsernamePassword node into the tree.
  3. Configure the node:
    • Set Service to frRestAuthn.
    • Leave Realm as topRealm.
    • Set Module to DataStore.
    • Configure Prompt for Username and Prompt for Password as needed.

📋 Quick Reference

  • frRestAuthn - REST authentication service
  • DataStore - Module for storing user data

Step 3: Save and Test the Tree

  1. Click Save to create the tree.
  2. Test the tree by navigating to Realms > Top Realm > Authentication > Trees.
  3. Click on your tree and select Test.
  4. Enter a valid username and password to verify the setup.
⚠️ Warning: Ensure you test with a non-admin account to avoid security risks.

Configuring OAuth2 Provider

Now that we have our authentication tree, let’s configure an OAuth2 provider to use it.

Step 1: Create an OAuth2 Provider

  1. Navigate to Realms > Top Realm > Applications > OAuth2 > Providers.
  2. Click Create and name your provider, e.g., MyOAuthProvider.
  3. Configure the provider:
    • Set Redirect URI to a valid URL, e.g., http://localhost:8080/callback.
    • Set Scope to openid profile email.
    • Set Grant Types to authorization_code.

Step 2: Assign the Authentication Tree

  1. Go to the Advanced tab of your OAuth2 provider.
  2. Set Authentication Tree to UsernamePasswordTree.

Step 3: Register a Client

  1. Navigate to Realms > Top Realm > Applications > OAuth2 > Clients.
  2. Click Create and name your client, e.g., MyOAuthClient.
  3. Configure the client:
    • Set Redirect URIs to match the provider’s redirect URI.
    • Set Scopes to openid profile email.
    • Set Grant Types to authorization_code.

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • Ensure your redirect URIs match between the provider and client.
  • Use `openid` scope for basic user info.

Testing the Authentication Journey

Let’s test our setup using Postman.

Step 1: Obtain an Authorization Code

  1. Open Postman and create a new GET request.
  2. Set the URL to https://your-am-instance/am/oauth2/authorize.
  3. Add query parameters:
    • response_type=code
    • client_id=MyOAuthClient
    • redirect_uri=http://localhost:8080/callback
    • scope=openid profile email
  4. Execute the request.

You should be redirected to the login page defined in your UsernamePasswordTree. After logging in, you’ll receive an authorization code.

Step 2: Exchange the Authorization Code for an Access Token

  1. Create a new POST request in Postman.
  2. Set the URL to https://your-am-instance/am/oauth2/access_token.
  3. Add form data:
    • grant_type=authorization_code
    • code=<authorization_code>
    • redirect_uri=http://localhost:8080/callback
    • client_id=MyOAuthClient
    • client_secret=<client_secret>
  4. Execute the request.
Terminal
$ curl -X POST https://your-am-instance/am/oauth2/access_token \ -d "grant_type=authorization_code" \ -d "code=AUTHORIZATION_CODE" \ -d "redirect_uri=http://localhost:8080/callback" \ -d "client_id=MyOAuthClient" \ -d "client_secret=CLIENT_SECRET" {"access_token":"eyJ...", "token_type":"Bearer", "expires_in":3600}

Common Errors and Fixes

Here are some common errors you might encounter and how to fix them:

  • Invalid redirect URI: Ensure the redirect URI matches exactly between the provider and client.
  • Unauthorized client: Verify the client ID and secret are correct.
  • Invalid grant: Double-check the authorization code and its validity.
🚨 Security Alert: Never expose client secrets in public repositories or logs.

Customizing the Authentication Journey

ForgeRock AM allows extensive customization of authentication journeys. Let’s add MFA to our existing tree.

Step 1: Create an SMS Node

  1. Navigate to Realms > Top Realm > Authentication > Trees.
  2. Open your UsernamePasswordTree.
  3. Click Add Node and search for SMS.
  4. Drag the SMS node after the UsernamePassword node.
  5. Configure the SMS node:
    • Set Service to frRestAuthn.
    • Set Module to DataStore.
    • Configure Phone Attribute to the attribute storing phone numbers.

Step 2: Save and Test the Updated Tree

  1. Click Save to update the tree.
  2. Test the updated tree by navigating to Realms > Top Realm > Authentication > Trees.
  3. Click on your tree and select Test.
  4. Enter a valid username and password, then follow the SMS prompt.
💜 Pro Tip: Use a sandboxed SMS service for testing to avoid sending real messages.

Best Practices for Securing the Authentication Journey

Security is paramount in IAM. Here are some best practices:

  • Use HTTPS: Always use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
  • Strong Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies to prevent brute force attacks.
  • Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to protect against abuse.
  • Audit Logging: Enable audit logging to track authentication attempts.
  • Regular Updates: Keep ForgeRock AM and its dependencies up to date.

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • Always use HTTPS.
  • Enforce strong password policies.
  • Implement rate limiting.
  • Enable audit logging.
  • Keep software updated.

Conclusion

Creating your first authentication journey in ForgeRock AM involves setting up an authentication tree, configuring an OAuth2 provider, and testing the setup. With customization options and security best practices, you can build robust and secure authentication workflows.

That’s it. Simple, secure, works. Now go build your own authentication journeys and sleep better knowing your users are safe.

✅ Best Practice: Regularly review and update your authentication journeys to adapt to changing security threats.