Spec for MSC4341: Support for RFC 8628 Device Authorization Grant (#2320)
Some checks are pending
Spec / 🔎 Validate OpenAPI specifications (push) Waiting to run
Spec / 🔎 Check Event schema examples (push) Waiting to run
Spec / 🔎 Check OpenAPI definitions examples (push) Waiting to run
Spec / 🔎 Check JSON Schemas inline examples (push) Waiting to run
Spec / ⚙️ Calculate baseURL for later jobs (push) Waiting to run
Spec / 🐍 Build OpenAPI definitions (push) Blocked by required conditions
Spec / 📢 Run towncrier for changelog (push) Waiting to run
Spec / 📖 Build the spec (push) Blocked by required conditions
Spec / 🔎 Validate generated HTML (push) Blocked by required conditions
Spec / 📖 Build the historical backup spec (push) Blocked by required conditions
Spec / Create release (push) Blocked by required conditions
Spell Check / Spell Check with Typos (push) Waiting to run

* MSC4341

* Don't use TV as an example

* verification_uri_complete clarification

Co-authored-by: Quentin Gliech <quenting@element.io>

* Add context about use on desktop applications

* Iterate

* Update data/api/client-server/oauth_server_metadata.yaml

* Update content/client-server-api/_index.md

Co-authored-by: Kévin Commaille <76261501+zecakeh@users.noreply.github.com>

* Address review feedback

---------

Co-authored-by: Quentin Gliech <quenting@element.io>
Co-authored-by: Kévin Commaille <76261501+zecakeh@users.noreply.github.com>
This commit is contained in:
Hugh Nimmo-Smith 2026-03-17 16:13:44 +00:00 committed by GitHub
parent 22f3cc009b
commit 4f079f8a9c
No known key found for this signature in database
GPG key ID: B5690EEEBB952194
3 changed files with 216 additions and 21 deletions

View file

@ -0,0 +1 @@
Add the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant (RFC 8628) as a supported grant type, as per [MSC4341](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4341).

View file

@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ endpoint.
With the OAuth 2.0 API, a client can obtain an access token by using one of the With the OAuth 2.0 API, a client can obtain an access token by using one of the
[grant types](#grant-types) supported by the homeserver and authorizing the [grant types](#grant-types) supported by the homeserver and authorizing the
proper [scope](#scope), as demonstrated in the [login flow](#login-flow). To proper [scope](#scope), as demonstrated in the [login flows](#login-flows). To
invalidate the access token the client must use [token revocation](#token-revocation). invalidate the access token the client must use [token revocation](#token-revocation).
### Using access tokens ### Using access tokens
@ -1751,19 +1751,31 @@ authentication type.
1. [Discover the OAuth 2.0 server metadata](#server-metadata-discovery). 1. [Discover the OAuth 2.0 server metadata](#server-metadata-discovery).
2. [Register the client with the homeserver](#client-registration). 2. [Register the client with the homeserver](#client-registration).
3. [Obtain an access token](#login-flow) by authorizing a [scope](#scope) for the client with the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant). 3. [Obtain an access token](#login-flows) by authorizing a [scope](#scope) for
the client with the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant) or
[device authorization grant](#device-authorization-grant).
4. [Refresh the access token](#token-refresh-flow) with the [refresh token grant](#refresh-token-grant) when it expires. 4. [Refresh the access token](#token-refresh-flow) with the [refresh token grant](#refresh-token-grant) when it expires.
5. [Revoke the tokens](#token-revocation) when the users wants to log out of the client. 5. [Revoke the tokens](#token-revocation) when the users wants to log out of the client.
#### Login flow #### Login flows
Logging in with the OAuth 2.0 API should be done with the [authorization code Logging in and obtaining an access token with the OAuth 2.0 API should be done
grant](#authorization-code-grant). In the context of the Matrix specification, using either the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant) or
this means requesting a [scope](#scope) including full client-server API [device authorization grant](#device-authorization-grant). In the context of the
read/write access and allocating a device ID. Matrix specification, this means requesting a [scope](#scope) including full
client-server API read/write access and allocating a device ID.
Once the client has retrieved the [server metadata](#server-metadata-discovery), ##### Authorization code flow
it needs to generate the following values:
This login flow uses the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant)
and is suitable for clients where the following criteria are met:
- There is a web browser available for the user to complete authentication and
authorization.
- The client can receive the callback via a redirect from the web browser.
Once the client has retrieved the [server metadata](#server-metadata-discovery)
the client needs to generate the following values:
- `device_id`: a unique identifier for this device; see the - `device_id`: a unique identifier for this device; see the
[`urn:matrix:client:device:<device_id>`](#device-id-allocation) scope token. [`urn:matrix:client:device:<device_id>`](#device-id-allocation) scope token.
@ -1904,6 +1916,143 @@ Sample response:
Finally, the client can call the [`/whoami`](#get_matrixclientv3accountwhoami) Finally, the client can call the [`/whoami`](#get_matrixclientv3accountwhoami)
endpoint to get the user ID that owns the access token. endpoint to get the user ID that owns the access token.
##### Device authorization flow
{{% added-in v="1.18" %}}
This flow uses the [device authorization grant](#device-authorization-grant) to
allow clients to obtain an access token without needing to directly interact
with a web browser. Instead, the user completes authorization on a web browser
that can be a separate device.
This is useful for devices with limited input
capabilities (such as CLI applications or embedded devices) or where the
redirect handling may be unreliable (such as a desktop applications).
Once the client has retrieved the [server metadata](#server-metadata-discovery)
the client needs to generate following value:
- `device_id`: a unique identifier for this device; see the
[`urn:matrix:client:device:<device_id>`](#device-id-allocation) scope token.
**Device authorization request**
The client sends a `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` encoded `POST` request to
the `device_authorization_endpoint` as defined in
[RFC 8628 section 3.1](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628#section-3.1):
| Parameter | Value |
|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| `client_id` | The client ID returned from client registration. |
| `scope` | `urn:matrix:client:api:* urn:matrix:client:device:<device_id>` with the `device_id` generated previously. |
Sample device authorization request:
```
POST /oauth2/device HTTP/1.1
Host: account.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
client_id=s6BhdRkqt3&scope=urn%3Amatrix%3Aclient%3Aapi%3A%2A%20urn%3Amatrix%3Aclient%3Adevice%3AAABBBCCCDDD
```
**Device authorization response**
The server responds with a JSON object as defined in
[RFC 8628 section 3.2](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628#section-3.2),
containing:
| Parameter | |
|------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `device_code` | The device verification code. |
| `user_code` | An end-user verification code. |
| `verification_uri` | The end-user verification URI on the authorization server. |
| `verification_uri_complete` | Optionally, the URI which doesn't require the user to manually type the `user_code`, designed for non-textual transmission. |
| `expires_in` | The lifetime in seconds of the `device_code` and `user_code`. |
| `interval` | The minimum number of seconds the client should wait between polling requests to the token endpoint. If omitted, clients should default to 5. |
It is RECOMMENDED that the server provides a `verification_uri_complete` such
that the user does not need to type in the `user_code`.
Sample response:
```json
{
"device_code": "GmRhmhcxhwAzkoEqiMEg_DnyEysNkuNhszIySk9eS",
"user_code": "WDJB-MJHT",
"verification_uri": "https://account.example.com/link",
"verification_uri_complete": "https://account.example.com/link?user_code=WDJB-MJHT",
"expires_in": 1800,
"interval": 5
}
```
**User interaction**
The client conveys the `verification_uri_complete` (and/or `verification_uri`
and `user_code`) to the user. How the client does this depends on the
specific device characteristics and use case. For example:
- A CLI application could display the `verification_uri` and `user_code` as text
for the user to type into their browser on another device.
- An embedded device with a screen could encode the `verification_uri_complete`
(with fallback to `verification_uri`) as a QR code for the user to scan with
their phone.
- A desktop application running on a platform that does not support callbacks
could launch the `verification_uri_complete` (with fallback to
`verification_uri`) in the system browser.
The user opens the verification URI in a web browser, which may be on another
device, and completes authentication and authorization.
**Token polling**
While the user is completing authorization, the client polls the
`token_endpoint` for the outcome, at intervals no shorter than the `interval`
value from the device authorization response.
The poll request is a `POST` to the `token_endpoint` with the following
parameters, encoded as `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` in the body:
| Parameter | Value |
|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| `grant_type` | `urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code` |
| `device_code` | The `device_code` from the device authorization response. |
| `client_id` | The client ID returned from client registration. |
Sample token polling request:
```
POST /oauth2/token HTTP/1.1
Host: account.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
grant_type=urn%3Aietf%3Aparams%3Aoauth%3Agrant-type%3Adevice_code&device_code=GmRhmhcxhwAzkoEqiMEg_DnyEysNkuNhszIySk9eS&client_id=s6BhdRkqt3
```
The server responds as defined in [RFC 8628 section
3.5](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628#section-3.5):
- While authorization is pending, the server returns an `authorization_pending`
error (or `slow_down` if the client is polling too frequently).
- If authorization is denied, the server returns an `access_denied` error.
- If the device code expires, the server returns an `expired_token` error.
- On successful authorization, the server returns a JSON object containing the
access token, token type, expiration time, refresh token, and scope:
```json
{
"access_token": "2YotnFZFEjr1zCsicMWpAA",
"token_type": "Bearer",
"expires_in": 299,
"refresh_token": "tGz3JOkF0XG5Qx2TlKWIA",
"scope": "urn:matrix:client:api:* urn:matrix:client:device:AAABBBCCCDDD"
}
```
Finally, the client can call the [`/whoami`](#get_matrixclientv3accountwhoami)
endpoint to get the user ID that owns the access token.
#### Token refresh flow #### Token refresh flow
Refreshing a token with the OAuth 2.0 API should be done with the [refresh token Refreshing a token with the OAuth 2.0 API should be done with the [refresh token
@ -2234,6 +2383,7 @@ The client must also have obtained a `client_id` by [registering with the server
This specification supports the following grant types: This specification supports the following grant types:
- [Authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant) - [Authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant)
- {{% added-in v="1.18" %}} [Device authorization grant](#device-authorization-grant)
- [Refresh token grant](#refresh-token-grant) - [Refresh token grant](#refresh-token-grant)
##### Authorization code grant ##### Authorization code grant
@ -2258,18 +2408,34 @@ To use this grant, homeservers and clients MUST:
Encoding Practices](https://openid.net/specs/oauth-v2-multiple-response-types-1_0.html) Encoding Practices](https://openid.net/specs/oauth-v2-multiple-response-types-1_0.html)
for clients with an HTTPS redirect URI. for clients with an HTTPS redirect URI.
###### User registration ##### Device authorization grant
Clients can signal to the server that the user desires to register a new account {{% added-in v="1.18" %}}
by initiating the authorization code grant with the `prompt=create` parameter
set in the authorization request as defined in [Initiating User Registration via
OpenID Connect 1.0](https://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-prompt-create-1_0.html).
Whether the homeserver supports this parameter is advertised by the As per [RFC 8628](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628), the device
`prompt_values_supported` authorization server metadata. authorization grant lets clients on devices with limited input capabilities
obtain an access token by having the user complete authorization on a separate
device with a web browser.
Servers that support this parameter SHOULD show the account registration UI in This grant requires the client to know the following [authorization server
the browser. metadata](#server-metadata-discovery):
- `device_authorization_endpoint`
To use this grant, homeservers and clients MUST:
- Support the device authorization grant as per
[RFC 8628](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628).
- Support the [refresh token grant](#refresh-token-grant).
As with the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant), when
authorization is granted to a client, the homeserver MUST issue a refresh token
to the client in addition to the access token. The access token and refresh
token have the same lifetime constraints as described in the [refresh token
grant](#refresh-token-grant) section.
The full flow for using this grant is described in the
[device authorization flow](#device-authorization-flow).
##### Refresh token grant ##### Refresh token grant
@ -2376,6 +2542,22 @@ The server SHOULD return one of the following responses:
- For other errors, the server returns a `400 Bad Request` response with error - For other errors, the server returns a `400 Bad Request` response with error
details details
#### User registration
Clients can signal to the server that the user desires to register a new account
by initiating the [authorization code grant](#authorization-code-grant) with the `prompt=create` parameter
set in the authorization request as defined in [Initiating User Registration via
OpenID Connect 1.0](https://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-prompt-create-1_0.html).
Whether the homeserver supports this parameter is advertised by the
`prompt_values_supported` authorization server metadata.
Servers that support this parameter SHOULD show the account registration UI in
the browser.
The `prompt=create` parameter is not supported when using the [device
authorization grant](#device-authorization-grant).
#### Account management {id="oauth-20-account-management"} #### Account management {id="oauth-20-account-management"}
{{% added-in v="1.18" %}} {{% added-in v="1.18" %}}

View file

@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ paths:
type: string type: string
format: uri format: uri
description: |- description: |-
URL of the token endpoint, necessary to use the authorization code grant and URL of the token endpoint, used by the grants.
the refresh token grant.
revocation_endpoint: revocation_endpoint:
type: string type: string
format: uri format: uri
@ -101,6 +100,10 @@ paths:
This array MUST contain at least the `authorization_code` and `refresh_token` This array MUST contain at least the `authorization_code` and `refresh_token`
values, for clients to be able to use the authorization code grant and refresh values, for clients to be able to use the authorization code grant and refresh
token grant, respectively. token grant, respectively.
{{% added-in v="1.18" %}} It MAY also contain
`urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code` to indicate support for the
[device authorization grant](/client-server-api/#device-authorization-grant).
items: items:
type: string type: string
description: A grant type that the server supports. description: A grant type that the server supports.
@ -165,6 +168,14 @@ paths:
- "org.matrix.account_deactivate" - "org.matrix.account_deactivate"
- "org.matrix.cross_signing_reset" - "org.matrix.cross_signing_reset"
description: An action that the account management URL supports. description: An action that the account management URL supports.
device_authorization_endpoint:
x-addedInMatrixVersion: "1.18"
type: string
format: uri
description: |-
URL of the device authorization endpoint, as defined in
[RFC 8628](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8628), necessary to use
the [device authorization grant](/client-server-api/#device-authorization-grant).
required: required:
- issuer - issuer
- authorization_endpoint - authorization_endpoint
@ -180,9 +191,10 @@ paths:
"authorization_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/auth", "authorization_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/auth",
"token_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/token", "token_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/token",
"registration_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/clients/register", "registration_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/clients/register",
"device_authorization_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/device",
"revocation_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/revoke", "revocation_endpoint": "https://account.example.com/oauth2/revoke",
"response_types_supported": ["code"], "response_types_supported": ["code"],
"grant_types_supported": ["authorization_code", "refresh_token"], "grant_types_supported": ["authorization_code", "refresh_token", "urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code"],
"response_modes_supported": ["query", "fragment"], "response_modes_supported": ["query", "fragment"],
"code_challenge_methods_supported": ["S256"], "code_challenge_methods_supported": ["S256"],
"account_management_uri": "https://account.example.com/manage", "account_management_uri": "https://account.example.com/manage",