MSC3824: OIDC aware clients

proposals/3824-oidc-aware-clients.md

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+# MSC3824: OIDC aware clients
+
+This proposal is part of the broader [MSC3861: Matrix architecture change to delegate authentication via OIDC](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2967).
+
+In the context of [MSC2964](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/2964) we can define four types of client:
+
+1. *OIDC native client* - This is a client that, where the homeserver supports it, talks to the specified OP in order to complete login and registration. e.g. Element X (WIP), Hydrogen (WIP)
+1. *OIDC aware client* - This is a client that is aware of OIDC but will still use existing auth types (e.g. `m.login.sso`) to auth with an OIDC enabled homeserver.
+1. *Legacy client with SSO support* - This is a client that is not aware of OIDC but does support `m.login.sso` flow. e.g. Element Web, iOS, Android, Fluffy, Nheko, Cinny
+1. *Legacy client without SSO support* - This is a client that is not aware of OIDC at all and nor does it support `m.login.sso` flow. Typically auth is done via `m.login.password` only. e.g. Fractal
+
+The purpose of differentiating #2 and #3 is that, for a Legacy client with SSO support, the user journey can be optimised with minimal modifications when talking to an OIDC enabled homeserver.
+
+This proposal outlines changes to facilitate clients in becoming OIDC aware.
+
+## Proposal
+
+Firstly, a client can specify which action the user is wanting to achieve at the point of SSO redirection. This allows the homeserver to display the most relevant UI to the user.
+
+Secondly, the homeserver can optionally specify which auth type is `delegated_oidc_compatibility` are supported for an authentication type.
+
+### Homeserver indicates that an `m.login.sso` flow is for compatibility
+
+Add an optional `delegated_oidc_compatibility` field to the response of `GET /_matrix/client/v3/login`:
+
+`"delegated_oidc_compatibility"?: boolean`
+
+For example, if a homeserver is advertising password login for legacy clients only then it could return the following:
+
+```
+{
+  "flows": [{
+    "type": "m.login.password"
+  }, {
+    "type": "m.login.sso",
+    "delegated_oidc_compatibility": true
+  }]
+}
+
+```
+
+If the client finds `delegated_oidc_compatibility` to be `true` then, assuming it supports that auth type, it should present this as the only login/registration method available to the user.
+
+### Client indicates `action` on SSO redirect
+
+Add an optional query parameter `action` to `GET /_matrix/client/v3/login/sso/redirect` and `GET /_matrix/client/v3/login/sso/redirect/{idpId}` with meaning:
+
+- `login` - the SSO redirect is for the purposes of signing an existing user in
+- `register` - the SSO redirect is for the purpose of registering a new user account
+
+e.g. `https://matrix-client.matrix.org/_matrix/client/v3/login/sso/redirect?action=register`
+
+n.b. we don't need to add this to the [Login Fallback](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.2/client-server-api/#login-fallback) as that isn't used for registration.
+
+### Definition of OIDC aware
+
+For a client to be considered *OIDC aware* it would:
+
+- support the `m.login.sso` auth flow
+- where a `delegated_oidc_compatibility` value of `true` is present on an `m.login.sso` then *only* offer that auth flow to the user
+- append `action=login` and `action=register` parameters to the SSO redirect URLs
+- sign post and link users to manage their account at the OP web UI given by [MSC2965](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2965)
+- RECOMMENDED: label the SSO button as "Continue"
+
+For an OIDC enabled homeserver to provide support for *OIDC aware* clients it would:
+
+- support OIDC delegation as per [MSC2964](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2964) and others
+- provide a compatibility layer for `m.login.password` and `m.login.sso` that wraps on to OIDC
+- indicate that the `m.login.sso` is preferred by setting `delegated_oidc_compatibility` to `true`
+- make use of the `action` param on the SSO redirect endpoints
+- RECOMMENDED:  advertise the account management UI in accordance with [MSC2965](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2965)
+
+## Potential issues
+
+None.
+
+## Alternatives
+
+Clients could assume that an `m.login.sso` is preferred directly from where [MSC2965](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2965) OP discovery indicates OIDC is being used. However, this might hamper some more custom configuration.
+
+The homeserver could only offer `m.login.sso` as the supported auth type but this would prevent non-SSO capable legacy clients from accessing the homeserver.
+
+[Capabilities negotiation](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.2/client-server-api/#capabilities-negotiation) could be used to indicate that `m.login.sso` is preferred.
+
+For the param on redirect: a `prompt` parameter with values [`create`](https://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-prompt-create-1_0.html#rfc.section.4) and [`login`](https://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-core-1_0.html#AuthRequest) exists in OIDC for use on the authorized endpoint. However, our use case is different and it might cause confusion to overload these terms.
+
+## Security considerations
+
+None relevant.
+
+## Unstable prefix
+
+While this feature is in development the following unstable prefixes should be used:
+
+* `delegated_oidc_compatibility` --> `org.matrix.msc3824.delegated_oidc_compatibility`
+* `action` query param --> `org.matrix.msc3824.action`
+
+## Dependencies
+
+This MSC depends on the following MSCs, which at the time of writing have not yet
+been accepted into the spec:
+
+* [MSC2964](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2964): Delegation of auth from homeserver to OIDC Provider
+* [MSC2965](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2965): OIDC Provider discovery