Single sign-on (SAML 2.0-based federated authentication)

AWS Client VPN supports identity federation with Security Assertion Markup Language 2.0 (SAML 2.0) for Client VPN endpoints. You can use identity providers (IdPs) that support SAML 2.0 to create centralized user identities. You can then configure a Client VPN endpoint to use SAML-based federated authentication, and associate it with the IdP. Users then connect to the Client VPN endpoint using their centralized credentials.

To enable your SAML-based IdP to work with a Client VPN endpoint, you must do the following.

1. Create a SAML-based app in your chosen IdP to use with AWS Client VPN, or use an existing app.

2. Configure your IdP to establish a trust relationship with AWS. For resources, see SAML-based IdP configuration resources.

3. In your IdP, generate and download a federation metadata document that describes your organization as an IdP. This signed XML document is used to establish the trust relationship between AWS and the IdP.

4. Create an IAM SAML identity provider in the same AWS account as the Client VPN endpoint. The IAM SAML identity provider defines your organization's IdP-to-AWS trust relationship using the metadata document generated by the IdP. For more information, see Creating IAM SAML Identity Providers in the IAM User Guide. If you later update the app configuration in the IdP, generate a new metadata document and update your IAM SAML identity provider.

   Note

   You do not need to create an IAM role to use the IAM SAML identity provider.

5. Create a Client VPN endpoint. Specify federated authentication as the authentication type, and specify the IAM SAML identity provider that you created. For more information, see Create a Client VPN endpoint.

6. Export the client configuration file and distribute it to your users. Instruct your users to download the latest version of the AWS provided client, and to use it to load the configuration file and connect to the Client VPN endpoint. Alternatively, if you enabled the self-service portal for your Client VPN endpoint, instruct your users to go to the self-service portal to get the configuration file and AWS provided client. For more information, see Access the self-service portal.

Authentication workflow

The following diagram provides an overview of the authentication workflow for a Client VPN endpoint that uses SAML-based federated authentication. When you create and configure the Client VPN endpoint, you specify the IAM SAML identity provider.

1. The user opens the AWS provided client on their device and initiates a connection to the Client VPN endpoint.

2. The Client VPN endpoint sends an IdP URL and authentication request back to the client, based on the information that was provided in the IAM SAML identity provider.

3. The AWS provided client opens a new browser window on the user's device. The browser makes a request to the IdP and displays a login page.

4. The user enters their credentials on the login page, and the IdP sends a signed SAML assertion back to the client.

5. The AWS provided client sends the SAML assertion to the Client VPN endpoint.

6. The Client VPN endpoint validates the assertion and either allows or denies access to the user.

Requirements and considerations for SAML-based federated authentication

The following are the requirements and considerations for SAML-based federated authentication.

• For quotas and rules for configuring users and groups in a SAML-based IdP, see Users and groups quotas.

• The SAML assertion and SAML documents must be signed.

• AWS Client VPN only supports "AudienceRestriction" and "NotBefore and NotOnOrAfter" conditions in SAML assertions.

• The maximum supported size for SAML responses is 128 KB.

• AWS Client VPN does not provide signed authentication requests.

• SAML single logout is not supported. Users can log out by disconnecting from the AWS provided client, or you can terminate the connections.

• A Client VPN endpoint supports a single IdP only.

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is supported when it's enabled in your IdP.

• Users must use the AWS provided client to connect to the Client VPN endpoint. They must use version 1.2.0 or later. For more information, see Connect using the AWS provided client.

• The following browsers are supported for IdP authentication: Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.

• The AWS provided client reserves TCP port 35001 on users' devices for the SAML response.

• If the metadata document for the IAM SAML identity provider is updated with an incorrect or malicious URL, this can cause authentication issues for users, or result in phishing attacks. Therefore, we recommend that you use AWS CloudTrail to monitor updates that are made to the IAM SAML identity provider. For more information, see Logging IAM and AWS STS calls with AWS CloudTrail in the IAM User Guide.

• AWS Client VPN sends an AuthN request to the IdP via an HTTP Redirect binding. Therefore, the IdP should support HTTP Redirect binding and it should be present in the IdP's metadata document.

• For the SAML assertion, you must use an email address format for the NameID attribute.

SAML-based IdP configuration resources

The following table lists the SAML-based IdPs that we have tested for use with AWS Client VPN, and resources that can help you configure the IdP.

IdP	Resource
Okta	Authenticate AWS Client VPN users with SAML
Microsoft Azure Active Directory	For more information, see Tutorial: Azure Active Directory single sign-on (SSO) integration with AWS ClientVPN on the Microsoft documentation website.
JumpCloud	Single Sign On (SSO) with AWS Client VPN
AWS IAM Identity Center	Using IAM Identity Center with AWS Client VPN for authentication and authorization

Service provider information for creating an app

To create a SAML-based app using an IdP that is not listed in the preceding table, use the following information to configure the AWS Client VPN service provider information.

• Assertion Consumer Service (ACS) URL: http://127.0.0.1:35001

• Audience URI: urn:amazon:webservices:clientvpn

At least one attribute must be included in the SAML response from the IdP. The following are example attributes.

Attribute	Description
FirstName	The first name of the user.
LastName	The last name of the user.
memberOf	The group or groups that the user belongs to.

Note

The memberOf attribute is required for using Active Directory or SAML IdP group-based authorization rules. It is also case-sensitive, and must be configured exactly as specified. See Network-based authorization and Authorization rules for more information.

Support for the self-service portal

If you enable the self-service portal for your Client VPN endpoint, users log into the portal using their SAML-based IdP credentials.

If your IdP supports multiple Assertion Consumer Service (ACS) URLs, add the following ACS URL to your app.

https://self-service.clientvpn.amazonaws.com/api/auth/sso/saml

If you are using the Client VPN endpoint in a GovCloud region, use the following ACS URL instead. If you use the same IDP app to authenticate for both standard and GovCloud regions, you can add both URLs.

https://gov.self-service.clientvpn.amazonaws.com/api/auth/sso/saml

If your IdP does not support multiple ACS URLs, do the following:

1. Create an additional SAML-based app in your IdP and specify the following ACS URL.

   https://self-service.clientvpn.amazonaws.com/api/auth/sso/saml

2. Generate and download a federation metadata document.

3. Create an IAM SAML identity provider in the same AWS account as the Client VPN endpoint. For more information, see Creating IAM SAML Identity Providers in the IAM User Guide.

   Note

   You create this IAM SAML identity provider in addition to the one you create for the main app.

4. Create the Client VPN endpoint, and specify both of the IAM SAML identity providers that you created.