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Integrate with WordPress

Support level: Community

What is WordPress​

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. Features include a plugin architecture and a template system, referred to within WordPress as Themes

-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress

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There are many different plugins for WordPress that allow you to setup SSO using different authentication methods. The plugin that is explained in this tutorial is "OpenID Connect Generic" version 3.8.5 by daggerhart. This plugin uses OpenID/OAUTH2 and is free without paywalls or subscriptions at the time of writing this. The plugin is available for free in the WordPress Plugin gallery.

Preparation​

The following placeholders are used in this guide:

  • wp.company is the FQDN of WordPress installation.
  • authentik.company is the FQDN of authentik installation.
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This documentation lists only the settings that you need to change from their default values. Be aware that any changes other than those explicitly mentioned in this guide could cause issues accessing your application.

authentik configuration​

To support the integration of WordPress with authentik, you need to create an application/provider pair in authentik.

Create an application and provider in authentik​

  1. Log in to authentik as an admin, and open the authentik Admin interface.
  2. Navigate to Applications > Applications and click Create with Provider to create an application and provider pair. (Alternatively you can first create a provider separately, then create the application and connect it with the provider.)
  • Application: provide a descriptive name, an optional group for the type of application, the policy engine mode, and optional UI settings.
  • Choose a Provider type: select OAuth2/OpenID Connect as the provider type.
  • Configure the Provider: provide a name (or accept the auto-provided name), the authorization flow to use for this provider, and the following required configurations.
    • Note the Client ID,Client Secret, and slug values because they will be required later.
    • Set a Strict redirect URI to https://wp.company/admin-ajax.php?action=openid-connect-authorize.
    • Select any available signing key.
    • Under Advanced Protocol Settings, add offline_access to the list of available scopes.
  • Configure Bindings (optional): you can create a binding (policy, group, or user) to manage the listing and access to applications on a user's My applications page.
  1. Click Submit to save the new application and provider.

WordPress configuration​

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Assumption is being made that you have successfully downloaded and activated the required plugin "OpenID Connect Generic" by daggerhart

In WordPress, under Settings, Select OpenID Connect Client

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Only settings that have been modified from default have been listed.

  • Login Type: OpenID Connect Button on Login (This option display a button to login using OpenID as well as local WP login)
  • Client ID: Client ID from step 1
  • Client Secret: Client Secret from step 1
  • OpenID Scope: email profile openid offline_access
  • Login Endpoint URL: https://authentik.company/application/o/authorize/
  • Userinfo Endpoint URL: https://authentik.company/application/o/userinfo/
  • Token Validation Endpoint URL: https://authentik.company/application/o/token/
  • End Session Endpoint URL: https://authentik.company/application/o/wordpress/end-session/
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Make sure to include the offline_access scope to ensure refresh tokens are generated. Otherwise your session will expire and force users to manually log in again. Refer to the OpenID Connect Core specification for more information.

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Review each setting and choose the ones that you require for your installation. Examples of popular settings are Link Existing Users, Create user if does not exist, and Enforce Privacy

Step 3 - authentik​

In authentik, create an application which uses this provider and directly launches WordPress' backend login-screen. Optionally apply access restrictions to the application using policy bindings.

Notes​

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OpenID Connect Generic Client Reference link: https://wordpress.org/plugins/daggerhart-openid-connect-generic/