GRPC (specifically Connect) With Authorization Is Broken

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Introduction

gRPC is a high-performance RPC framework that enables developers to build scalable and efficient APIs. However, when it comes to authorization, things can get a bit tricky. In this article, we'll explore the issue of gRPC with authorization being broken, specifically with the connect service. We'll delve into the problem, analyze the code, and provide a suggested solution to get authorization working correctly.

The Problem

When trying to run a gRPC service with the --authz flag, things don't quite work as expected. The issue lies in the common::Connect class, which takes a JWS token in its constructor and creates an authorizer object with it. However, the gRPC Connect service passes an empty string to the constructor, resulting in an error.

Code Analysis

Let's take a closer look at the code to understand what's going on. The common::Connect class has a constructor that takes a JWS token as an argument:

class Connect {
public:
    Connect(const std::string& jwsToken) {
        // Create an authorizer object with the JWS token
        authorizer_ = std::make_unique<Authorizer>(jwsToken);
    }

    // ...
};

Meanwhile, the gRPC Connect service passes an empty string to the constructor:

class ConnectService : public grpc::Service {
public:
    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, ConnectResponse* response) override {
        // ...
    }

    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, grpc::ServerWriter<ConnectResponse>* writer) override {
        // ...
    }
};

As you can see, the gRPC Connect service doesn't pass a JWS token to the constructor, which is why the common::Connect class throws an error.

Suggested Solution

To fix this issue, we can modify the common::Connect class to create the authorizer object in a separate function, createAuthz(jwsToken). This way, we can initialize the authorizer object whenever suitable, rather than in the constructor.

Here's the modified code:

class Connect {
public:
    Connect() {}

    void createAuthz(const std::string& jwsToken) {
        // Create an authorizer object with the JWS token
        authorizer_ = std::make_unique<Authorizer>(jwsToken);
    }

    // ...
};

In the gRPC Connect service, we can then call the createAuthz function with the JWS token:

class ConnectService : public grpc::Service {
public:
    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, ConnectResponse* response) override {
        // ...
        Connect connect;
        connect.createAuthz(request->jws_token());
        // ...
    }

    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, grpc::ServerWriter<ConnectResponse>* writer) override {
        // ...
        Connect connect;
        connect.createAuthz(request->jws_token());
 // ...
    }
};

By moving the creation of the authorizer object to a separate function, we can ensure that it's initialized correctly, even when the gRPC Connect service passes an empty string to the constructor.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of gRPC with authorization being broken, specifically with the connect service. We analyzed the code, identified the problem, and provided a suggested solution to get authorization working correctly. In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this issue.

Q: What is the issue with gRPC and authorization?

A: The issue lies in the common::Connect class, which takes a JWS token in its constructor and creates an authorizer object with it. However, the gRPC Connect service passes an empty string to the constructor, resulting in an error.

Q: Why is the gRPC Connect service passing an empty string to the constructor?

A: The gRPC Connect service is designed to get the JWS token and call the createAuthz function later. However, the common::Connect class is expecting the JWS token in its constructor, which is why it's throwing an error.

Q: How can I fix this issue?

A: To fix this issue, you can modify the common::Connect class to create the authorizer object in a separate function, createAuthz(jwsToken). This way, you can initialize the authorizer object whenever suitable, rather than in the constructor.

Q: What is the createAuthz function?

A: The createAuthz function is a new method in the common::Connect class that creates an authorizer object with the JWS token. This function is called whenever the JWS token is available.

Q: How do I call the createAuthz function?

A: You can call the createAuthz function in the gRPC Connect service by passing the JWS token to it. For example:

class ConnectService : public grpc::Service {
public:
    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, ConnectResponse* response) override {
        // ...
        Connect connect;
        connect.createAuthz(request->jws_token());
        // ...
    }

    grpc::Status Connect(grpc::ServerContext* context, const ConnectRequest* request, grpc::ServerWriter<ConnectResponse>* writer) override {
        // ...
        Connect connect;
        connect.createAuthz(request->jws_token());
 // ...
    }
};

Q: What are the benefits of using the createAuthz function?

A: The createAuthz function provides several benefits, including:

  • It allows you to initialize the authorizer object whenever suitable, rather than in the constructor.
  • It enables you to pass the JWS token to the createAuthz function, rather than passing it to the constructor.
  • It provides a more flexible and scalable way to handle authorization in your gRPC service.

Q: Are there any potential issues with using the createAuthz function?

A: Yes, there are a few potential issues to consider when using the createAuthz function:

You need to ensure that the JWS token is available before calling the createAuthz function.

  • You need to handle any errors that may occur when creating the authorizer object.
  • You need to ensure that the authorizer object is properly initialized and configured.

Conclusion

In this article, we've answered some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the issue of gRPC with authorization being broken, specifically with the connect service. We've provided a suggested solution to get authorization working correctly and highlighted the benefits and potential issues of using the createAuthz function.