Validate the issuer of legacy authorization server metadata

## Motivation and Context

On the legacy 2025-03-26 path, taken when a server publishes no Protected Resource Metadata,
the authorization server metadata is fetched from the MCP server's origin, which that spec names
as the authorization base URL, but its `issuer` was never compared with that origin.
RFC 8414 Section 3.3 requires the comparison, the 2025-03-26 spec makes RFC 8414 a MUST for clients,
and the TypeScript and Python SDKs both compare on this path, tolerating only a trailing slash.
The flow nevertheless used the unverified `issuer` as the authorization server's identity everywhere:
tokens were stamped with it, stored client information was matched against it, the `private_key_jwt`
and ID-JAG assertions took it as their audience, and `authorization_request_validator` was shown it.

A server on that path could therefore claim any issuer. Claiming the one that minted the stored tokens made
`refresh!` send the refresh token and the stored client secret to the server's own token endpoint, claiming
the one that issued stored client information made the flow reuse those credentials there, and a validator
allow-listing the claimed issuer approved the request.

The legacy path now applies the same check as the modern one: the document's `issuer` must be the origin,
rendered with or without a trailing slash, and any other document is refused before registration, redirect,
or token request. A server without a metadata document still gets the spec's default endpoints.

## How Has This Been Tested?

New tests in `test/mcp/client/oauth/flow_test.rb` serve legacy metadata at the MCP server origin that claims
`https://auth.example.com` and check that the flow, a refresh of tokens issued by that server,
and a flow holding client information bound to it are all refused before any request, with the validator never asked
and the credentials never presented. Metadata naming the origin, with or without a trailing slash and with
endpoints under a path prefix, completes the flow, including the RFC 9207 `iss` check. The former test
of a path-prefix issuer now expects the refusal. The refusal tests fail against the previous library.

## Breaking Changes

A server without Protected Resource Metadata whose authorization server metadata names an issuer other than
its origin is refused instead of used. The TypeScript and Python SDKs already refuse such a server,
and the 2025-03-26 spec places the metadata at the origin.
This commit is contained in:
Koichi ITO 2026-09-17 12:30:05 +09:00
commit 47eb74aa7a
3 changed files with 169 additions and 11 deletions

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@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ pass an `MCP::Client::OAuth::Provider` to the transport instead of a static `Aut
- On a `401 Unauthorized`, parse the `WWW-Authenticate` header, discover the authorization server (Protected Resource Metadata + RFC 8414 Authorization Server Metadata),
perform Dynamic Client Registration if needed, run the OAuth 2.1 Authorization Code flow with PKCE (S256), and retry the failed request with the acquired token.
- Fall back to the legacy 2025-03-26 discovery when the server publishes no Protected Resource Metadata, matching the TypeScript and Python SDKs: the MCP server's origin acts
as the authorization base URL, its metadata is fetched from `<origin>/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server` without the RFC 8414 issuer byte-match (which the legacy spec predates),
as the authorization base URL, its metadata is fetched from `<origin>/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server` and must name that origin as its `issuer` (RFC 8414 Section 3.3),
and when even that is absent the spec's default endpoints `/authorize`, `/token`, and `/register` at the origin are used with PKCE S256 assumed.
- On subsequent 401s with a saved `refresh_token`, exchange it at the token endpoint before falling back to the full interactive flow (RFC 6749 Section 6).
- On a `403 Forbidden` whose `WWW-Authenticate` header carries `error="insufficient_scope"` (OAuth 2.0 step-up, RFC 6750 Section 3.1 and the MCP scope-selection-strategy),

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@ -361,16 +361,26 @@ module MCP
# Fetches and validates the authorization server's RFC 8414 metadata.
#
# On the modern path the metadata `issuer` must be byte-identical to the discovery URL (RFC 8414 Section 3.3).
# On the legacy 2025-03-26 path that validation is skipped: the legacy spec predates the requirement,
# and a pre-PRM server may host its OAuth endpoints under a path prefix whose `issuer` legitimately differs from
# the origin the metadata was discovered at (neither the TypeScript nor the Python SDK validates the issuer on this path).
# The metadata `issuer` must be byte-identical to the discovery URL (RFC 8414 Section 3.3) on both paths.
# On the legacy 2025-03-26 path the discovery URL is the MCP server's origin, which that spec names as
# the authorization base URL and which a document may render with a trailing slash; the TypeScript and Python SDKs
# accept the same slash-only difference. A document naming any other issuer is refused: an unverified `issuer`
# would otherwise become the identity tokens and client information are bound to, assertions are minted for,
# and the validator is shown, so a server could claim another authorization server and unlock the credentials
# bound to it.
# When even the metadata document is absent, the legacy spec's default endpoints are used.
def authorization_server_metadata(authorization_server:, legacy:, server_url:)
metadata = if legacy
begin
fetched = begin
fetch_authorization_server_metadata(issuer_url: authorization_server)
rescue AuthorizationError
nil
end
if fetched
ensure_legacy_issuer_matches!(expected: authorization_server, returned: fetched["issuer"])
fetched
else
default_legacy_metadata(authorization_server)
end
else
@ -415,6 +425,14 @@ module MCP
fetch_metadata_json(urls, label: "authorization server metadata")
end
# The legacy authorization base is an origin, which a document may render as `https://host/`;
# both name the same server, and nothing else does.
def ensure_legacy_issuer_matches!(expected:, returned:)
return if returned == "#{expected}/"
ensure_issuer_matches!(expected: expected, returned: returned)
end
# Reads `authorization_servers` from a PRM document and returns
# the first entry, raising `AuthorizationError` for any of the malformed
# shapes a non-compliant server could emit (missing field, non-Array

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@ -917,22 +917,22 @@ module MCP
stub_request(:get, "https://srv.example.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource").to_return(status: 404)
end
def test_run_falls_back_to_server_origin_metadata_without_prm
# Legacy 2025-03-26 shape: no PRM, AS metadata served from the MCP server origin,
# OAuth endpoints under a path prefix whose `issuer` differs from the discovery origin.
# The legacy path must not apply the RFC 8414 issuer byte-match (the legacy spec predates it).
# Legacy 2025-03-26 shape: no PRM, AS metadata served from the MCP server origin with the given `issuer`
# and the OAuth endpoints under a path prefix.
def stub_legacy_metadata_with_prefixed_endpoints(issuer:, iss_supported: false)
stub_prm_not_found
stub_request(:get, "https://srv.example.com/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server").to_return(
status: 200,
headers: { "Content-Type" => "application/json" },
body: JSON.generate(
issuer: "https://srv.example.com/oauth",
issuer: issuer,
authorization_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/oauth/authorize",
token_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/oauth/token",
registration_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/oauth/register",
response_types_supported: ["code"],
code_challenge_methods_supported: ["S256"],
token_endpoint_auth_methods_supported: ["none"],
authorization_response_iss_parameter_supported: iss_supported,
),
)
stub_request(:post, "https://srv.example.com/oauth/register").to_return(
@ -945,6 +945,11 @@ module MCP
headers: { "Content-Type" => "application/json" },
body: JSON.generate(access_token: "legacy-token", token_type: "Bearer", expires_in: 3600),
)
end
def test_run_falls_back_to_server_origin_metadata_without_prm
# The document names the origin, so the RFC 8414 Section 3.3 check passes and its prefixed endpoints are used.
stub_legacy_metadata_with_prefixed_endpoints(issuer: "https://srv.example.com")
holder = {}
provider = build_legacy_discovery_provider(holder)
@ -953,11 +958,54 @@ module MCP
assert_equal(:authorized, result)
assert_equal("legacy-token", provider.access_token)
assert_equal("https://srv.example.com", provider.tokens["issuer"])
assert_equal("/oauth/authorize", holder[:authorization_url].path)
assert_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/oauth/register")
assert_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/oauth/token")
end
def test_run_accepts_legacy_metadata_naming_the_origin_with_a_trailing_slash
# A root issuer rendered as `https://host/` names the same server; the TypeScript and Python SDKs accept it too,
# and the document's spelling is what the RFC 9207 `iss` and the recorded issuer carry.
stub_legacy_metadata_with_prefixed_endpoints(issuer: "https://srv.example.com/", iss_supported: true)
holder = {}
provider = Provider.new(
client_metadata: {
redirect_uris: ["http://localhost:0/callback"],
grant_types: ["authorization_code"],
response_types: ["code"],
token_endpoint_auth_method: "none",
},
redirect_uri: "http://localhost:0/callback",
redirect_handler: ->(url) { holder[:state] = URI.decode_www_form(url.query).to_h.fetch("state") },
callback_handler: -> { ["test-auth-code", holder[:state], "https://srv.example.com/"] },
)
result = Flow.new(provider: provider).run!(server_url: @server_url)
assert_equal(:authorized, result)
assert_equal("https://srv.example.com/", provider.tokens["issuer"])
end
def test_run_refuses_legacy_metadata_whose_issuer_is_not_the_origin
# RFC 8414 Section 3.3 applies on the legacy path as well: the 2025-03-26 spec places the metadata
# at the origin, so an issuer under a path prefix is a mismatch, as it is for the TypeScript and Python SDKs.
stub_legacy_metadata_with_prefixed_endpoints(issuer: "https://srv.example.com/oauth")
holder = {}
provider = build_legacy_discovery_provider(holder)
error = assert_raises(Flow::AuthorizationError) do
Flow.new(provider: provider).run!(server_url: @server_url)
end
assert_match(/`issuer` does not match/, error.message)
assert_nil(holder[:authorization_url])
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/oauth/register")
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/oauth/token")
end
def test_run_falls_back_to_default_endpoints_without_any_metadata
# Legacy 2025-03-26 "Fallbacks for Servers without Metadata Discovery": with no PRM and no AS metadata,
# the client MUST use /authorize, /token, and /register at the authorization base URL, still sending PKCE S256.
@ -1032,6 +1080,98 @@ module MCP
assert_match(/`issuer` does not match/, error.message)
end
# Legacy metadata served at the MCP server origin that claims the identity of another authorization server,
# with every endpoint at the origin itself. The claim fails the RFC 8414 check, so none of these endpoints is reached.
def stub_legacy_metadata_claiming(issuer)
stub_prm_not_found
stub_request(:get, "https://srv.example.com/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server").to_return(
status: 200,
headers: { "Content-Type" => "application/json" },
body: JSON.generate(
issuer: issuer,
authorization_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/authorize",
token_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/token",
registration_endpoint: "https://srv.example.com/register",
code_challenge_methods_supported: ["S256"],
),
)
stub_request(:post, "https://srv.example.com/register").to_return(
status: 201,
headers: { "Content-Type" => "application/json" },
body: JSON.generate(client_id: "legacy-client"),
)
stub_request(:post, "https://srv.example.com/token").to_return(
status: 200,
headers: { "Content-Type" => "application/json" },
body: JSON.generate(access_token: "legacy-token", token_type: "Bearer", expires_in: 3600),
)
end
def test_run_refuses_legacy_metadata_claiming_another_authorization_server_before_the_validator
stub_legacy_metadata_claiming(@auth_base)
recorder = []
provider = Provider.new(
client_metadata: {
redirect_uris: ["http://localhost:0/callback"],
grant_types: ["authorization_code"],
response_types: ["code"],
token_endpoint_auth_method: "none",
},
redirect_uri: "http://localhost:0/callback",
redirect_handler: ->(_url) { recorder << :redirected },
callback_handler: -> { ["test-auth-code", "state"] },
authorization_request_validator: ->(request) {
recorder << request
true
},
)
error = assert_raises(Flow::AuthorizationError) do
Flow.new(provider: provider).run!(server_url: @server_url)
end
assert_match(/`issuer` does not match/, error.message)
assert_empty(recorder)
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/register")
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/token")
end
def test_refresh_refuses_legacy_metadata_claiming_the_issuer_that_minted_the_tokens
# The tokens came from https://auth.example.com; a PRM-less server claiming that issuer at its own origin
# must not receive them, so the refresh token stays for the server that issued it.
stub_legacy_metadata_claiming(@auth_base)
provider = build_legacy_discovery_provider({})
provider.save_client_information("client_id" => "conf-client", "client_secret" => "conf-secret")
provider.save_tokens("access_token" => "stale-at", "refresh_token" => "saved-rt", "issuer" => @auth_base)
error = assert_raises(Flow::AuthorizationError) do
Flow.new(provider: provider).refresh!(server_url: @server_url)
end
assert_match(/`issuer` does not match/, error.message)
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/token")
assert_equal("saved-rt", provider.tokens["refresh_token"])
end
def test_run_does_not_present_client_information_bound_elsewhere_when_legacy_metadata_claims_that_issuer
# Client information issued by https://auth.example.com is bound to it (SEP-2352); a PRM-less server claiming
# that issuer is refused before the credentials could be presented anywhere.
stub_legacy_metadata_claiming(@auth_base)
holder = {}
provider = build_legacy_discovery_provider(holder)
provider.save_client_information("client_id" => "conf-client", "client_secret" => "conf-secret", "issuer" => @auth_base)
assert_raises(Flow::AuthorizationError) do
Flow.new(provider: provider).run!(server_url: @server_url)
end
assert_nil(holder[:authorization_url])
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/register")
assert_not_requested(:post, "https://srv.example.com/token")
assert_equal("conf-secret", provider.client_information["client_secret"])
assert_equal(@auth_base, provider.client_information["issuer"])
end
def test_run_raises_when_prm_authorization_servers_is_not_an_array
# `authorization_servers` MUST be an Array per RFC 9728. A misbehaving
# PRM that returns a String would otherwise reach `.first` and raise