SAML 2.0 Auth Module
A SAML 2.0 authentication module lets you configure YouTrack as a SAML Service Provider (SAML SP). SAML supports single sign-on (SSO) across multiple domains.
When you enable an SAML 2.0 authentication module in YouTrack:
Your users log in to YouTrack with the credentials that are managed in a specified third-party identity provider (SAML IdP).
Your YouTrack users have fewer accounts and passwords to remember.
New users with accounts in the connected service can create their own accounts in YouTrack.
YouTrack can also be set up as a SAML IdP, however, the instructions for the identity provider setup are not described here. To learn how to use YouTrack as a SAML IdP, see SAML 2.0.
IdP-initiated SSO
The SAML 2.0 authentication module supports both service-provider (SP) and identity-provider (IdP) initiation for single-sign on (SSO). The login request is based on how the user signs in to YouTrack.
If the user signs in through an external login portal or access management provider (for example, OneLogin), the request is initiated by the IdP.
If the user signs in by clicking the button for the IdP in the YouTrack login page, the request is initiated by YouTrack as SP.
To support this behavior, the RelayState parameter for your SAML IdP must be empty. If you set a value for this parameter in the configuration for your IdP, the redirection to Hub results in a Can't restore state error.
Add a New SAML2.0 Authentication Module
To add a SAML2.0 Authentication module:
In a service that you plan to use as a SAML identity provider for YouTrack Standalone, retrieve its parameters as the IdP.
If the IdP service does not provide a fingerprint of their certificate, create it applying SHA256. For example, you can use SAML Tool
In YouTrack Standalone, open the page.
Click the New module button, then select SAML 2.0 from the list.
In the dialog, specify the parameters for the IdP service, then click the Create button.
The SAML 2.0 authentication modules is created and enabled.
Configure the auth module by providing the names of the SAML attributes for user accounts in the Attributes section of the page.
Sample Configurations
Use Okta as SAML Identity Provider in YouTrack
Configuring Okta as a SAML IdP in YouTrack is an easy but not a straight forward process. The trick is that to create an Auth module in YouTrack, you need to provide a unique URL for the IdP. However, in Okta, the IdP URL is specific for an application, and is generated when you create the application for the SAML SP. And to create an application for YouTrack as a SAML service provider in Okta, you need the unique URL that is generated in YouTrack only when you create the Auth module for Okta. This "URLs loop" results in the loop in the configuration procedure: You create an application in Okta with a fake URL for YouTrack to generate the IdP URL, then you create an auth module in YouTrack to generate the SP URL, and after that you can provide the actual SP URL from YouTrack in the Okta application.
To use Okta as IdP for YouTrack Standalone:
In Okta, create a new application for YouTrack Standalone service. Use any URLs for YouTrack Standalone as the SP. You need to correct it later. See the Okta documentation for setting up SAML application.
When you created the application, click the View Setup Instructions button to open a page with the parameters of your Okta IdP:
Download the certificate of your Okta IdP.
Create a fingerprint for the Okta certificate applying SHA256. For example, you can use SAML Developer Tools.
In YouTrack Standalone, open page.
Click the New module button, then select SAML 2.0 in the drop-down list.
A New Module dialog is displayed in the right side-panel.
In the displayed dialog, specify the parameters of your Okta IdP. Click Create.
Configure the new module: Set up the SAML attributes.
Switch back to Okta. In Okta, edit the YouTrack application: Provide URLs that are generated during the creation of the new auth module.
Assign the YouTrack application to groups and users that should be able to log in to YouTrack with Okta credentials.
That's it. Now the users can log in to YouTrack and connected services with their Okta credentials.
Use YouTrack as SAML Identity Provider in YouTrack
If you have two YouTrack services, you can use one of them as a SAML Identity Provider and another one — as the service provider.
In the YouTrack Standalone that you use as SAML IdP, open page. For details about YouTrack as a SAML 2.0 Identity Provide, see Parameters of YouTrack as SAML 2.0 Identity Provider.
In YouTrack that you use as SAML service provider, open Auth Modules page.
Click New module, then, select SAML 2.0....
A New Module dialog is displayed in the right side-panel.
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In the dialog, enter the parameters of the YouTrack service that you use as IdP, then click the Create button.
The new module is created.
The settings page for the new SAML auth module opens.
Configure SAML attributes:
In the IdP, open tab. Register the YouTrack SAML service provider: As SAML Attributes, provide the same values that you have set up in the Attributes section of the auth module settings page. For more details, see Register a Service Provider.
You are all set! Now your users can log into the YouTrack SP with the credentials from the YouTrack service that you use as SAML IdP.