Page History

...

• HTTP message handler that intercepts outgoing requests
• Location: Source/EGU.PartnerPortal.ApiService/Middleware/Handler/ServiceTokenHandler.cs
• Automatically gets tokens from Azure ADEntra ID
• Attaches tokens to requests going to IntegrationServiceAPI

3. Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD Tenant)

...

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│       SERVICE-TO-SERVICE AUTHENTICATION FLOW                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    ┌──────────────────┐
    │   ApiService     │
    │   (Needs to call │
    │   Integration)   │
    └────────┬─────────┘
             │
             │ Step 1: Make API call
             │ (e.g., send XML message)
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────────────┐
    │  ServiceTokenHandler     │
    │  (Middleware)            │
    └────────┬─────────────────┘
             │
             │ Step 2: Need token first!
             │ Request token from AzureEntra ADID
             │ Sends:
             │  - Client ID (stored as env. variable in container app)
             │  - Client Secret (stored as env. variable in container app)
             │  - Scope
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────────────────┐
    │  Microsoft Entra ID          │
    │  Token Endpoint              │
    └────────┬─────────────────────┘
             │
             │ Step 3: AzureEntra ADID validates
             │  ✓ Client ID exists
             │  ✓ Client secret matches
             │  ✓ Service has permission
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────────────────┐
    │  Entra Azure ADID Returns Token      │
    │  (for IntegrationServiceAPI) │
    └────────┬─────────────────────┘
             │
             │ Step 4: Token attached to request
             │ Authorization: Bearer eyJ...
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────────────────┐
    │  IntegrationServiceAPI       │
    │  Validates Token             │
    └────────┬─────────────────────┘
             │
             │ Step 5: Token validation
             │  ✓ Signature valid
             │  ✓ Issuer correct
             │  ✓ Audience correct
             │  ✓ Not expired
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────────────────┐
    │  ✅ Process Request           │
    │  Execute API logic           │
    │  Return Response             │
    └──────────────────────────────┘

...

Why Bidirectional?

ApiService calls IntegrationServiceAPI when:

• Sending work order to external system
• Sending completion notification
• Sending cancellation notice

IntegrationServiceAPI calls ApiService when:

...

Each service authenticates itself when making the call, proving its identity to the other service.

...

Step-by-Step Authentication Process

...

• Request intercepted by ServiceTokenHandler
• Handler recognizes authentication is needed

...

Step 2: ServiceTokenHandler Requests Token

What happens:

• ServiceTokenHandler checks if it has a valid cached token
• If no valid token, requests new one from

...

• Entra ID
• Sends client credentials to

...

• Entra ID token endpoint

Who's involved:

• ServiceTokenHandler
• Microsoft Entra ID

What's sent to

...

Entra ID:

• Client ID: ApiService's application ID (stored as env variable in container app)
• Client Secret: ApiService's secret key (stored

...

• as env variable in container app)
• Scope: .default (all permissions the app has)
• Grant Type: client_credentials

Result:

• Request sent to Azure AD for authentication

...

Step 3:

...

Entra ID Validates Client Credentials

What happens:

...

• Entra ID receives the token request
• Validates the client ID exists in the tenant
• Validates the client secret matches what's registered
• Checks if the app has permission to access IntegrationServiceAPI

Who's involved:

• Microsoft Entra ID

What

...

Entra ID checks:

• ✅ Does this client ID exist?
• ✅ Does the client secret match?
• ✅ Does this app have permission to call IntegrationServiceAPI?

Result:

• If all valid → Proceed to Step 4
• If any invalid → Return error (401 Unauthorized)

...

Step 4: Entra ID Issues Access Token

What happens:

• Entra ID generates an access token
• Token valid for 1 hour
• Token contains app identity (not user identity)
• Token returned to ServiceTokenHandler

Who's involved:

• Microsoft Entra ID
• ServiceTokenHandler

What's in the token:

• Issuer: Microsoft Entra ID
• Audience: IntegrationServiceAPI (who the token is for)
• App Identity: ApiService's application ID
• Permissions: What ApiService can do
• Expiration: 1 hour from now
• Signature: Cryptographic proof of authenticity

Result:

• ServiceTokenHandler receives access token
• Token cached for future requests (1 hour)

...

Step 5: Token Attached to Request

What happens:

• ServiceTokenHandler attaches token to the original request
• Token added as Authorization header: Bearer {token}
• Request continues to IntegrationServiceAPI

Who's involved:

• ServiceTokenHandler
• ApiService

Result:

• Request sent to IntegrationServiceAPI with authentication proof

...

Step 6: IntegrationServiceAPI Validates Token

What happens:

• IntegrationServiceAPI receives request with token
• Authentication middleware examines the token
• Validates token is authentic and valid (using cached Entra ID public keys - no Entra ID call needed)

Who's involved:

• IntegrationServiceAPI
• JWT Authentication Middleware
• Entra ID public keys (cached locally, refreshed every 30 minutes)

What's validated:

• Signature: Proves token came from Entra ID
• Issuer: Confirms it's from the correct Entra ID tenant
• Audience: Ensures it's for IntegrationServiceAPI
• Expiration: Checks it hasn't expired (1-hour lifetime)
• App Permissions: Verifies ApiService has permission

Result:

• ✅ Valid token → Request proceeds to controller
• ❌ Invalid token → Return 401 Unauthorized

...

Step 7: API Processes Request

What happens:

• Request validated successfully
• IntegrationServiceAPI processes the request
• Executes the requested operation
• Returns response to ApiService

Who's involved:

• IntegrationServiceAPI
• ApiService

Result:

• Operation completed
• Response returned to ApiService
• ApiService continues its workflow

...

Token Caching & Reuse

Token Caching

ServiceTokenHandler caches tokens to improve performance:

First request:

1. No cached token available
2. Request token from Entra ID (takes ~100-200ms)
3. Cache token for 1 hour
4. Use token for request

Subsequent requests (within 1 hour):

1. Check cache for valid token
2. Use cached token (takes ~1-5ms)
3. No Azure AD call needed

After 1 hour:

1. Cached token expired
2. Request new token from Entra ID
3. Update cache with new token

...

Configuration

ApiService Configuration

What's needed:

Where configured:

• Environment variables (in apiservice container app)
• appsettings.json (development only, with secrets.json)

...

IntegrationServiceAPI Configuration

What's needed:

Where configured:

• Environment variables (in integrationservice container app)
• appsettings.json (development only, with secrets.json)

...

Quick Reference

ApiService

...

IntegrationServiceAPI