Is there a way to add the sam_account_name of a user in the id_token claims?

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06-10-2024

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Adding sam_account_name to Azure AD ID Tokens: A Guide

Problem: You need to include a user's sam_account_name (often referred to as the "username") in the ID token issued by Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). This information is crucial for your application to uniquely identify users, especially in scenarios where the preferred_username claim might not be sufficient.

Rephrased: You want your Azure AD application to be able to easily identify users by their "username" (the one they use to log in), not just their display name.

Scenario and Code:

Let's assume you're using the Microsoft Identity Platform (Azure AD) to authenticate users in your application. You're currently receiving an ID token with claims like preferred_username, email, and name, but you need the sam_account_name.

Here's an example of a code snippet demonstrating this scenario:

// Assuming you're using the MSAL library in JavaScript
const response = await msalInstance.acquireTokenSilent({
  scopes: ['user.read'],
  account: account
});

const idTokenClaims = response.idToken.claims;
console.log(idTokenClaims); // Missing sam_account_name

Analysis and Solutions:

There's no direct way to include the sam_account_name in the ID token by default. However, you have a few options to achieve this:

1. Custom Claims:

   • Azure AD allows you to define custom claims that are added to the ID token. You can create a custom claim named sam_account_name and map it to the corresponding attribute in your Azure AD directory.
   • Benefits: Provides a dedicated claim for the sam_account_name, improving code clarity and maintainability.
   • Implementation: This involves creating a custom application claim in your Azure AD application registration and configuring it to map to the samAccountName attribute.

2. On-Premise Active Directory (AD):

   • If your organization uses on-premise Active Directory, you can enable the synchronization of the samAccountName attribute to Azure AD.
   • Benefits: Leverages existing infrastructure for user management and simplifies the integration process.
   • Implementation: Requires configuring your Azure AD Connect tool to synchronize the samAccountName attribute.

3. API Call to Graph API:

   • While not ideal for all scenarios, you can make an API call to the Microsoft Graph API to retrieve the samAccountName for a user after receiving the ID token.
   • Benefits: Offers flexibility and allows you to access other user details if needed.
   • Implementation: Requires handling additional API calls and parsing the response data.

Example using Custom Claims:

1. In the Azure portal, navigate to your application registration.

2. Under Manifest, click Edit and add a new claim:

   "claimsMappingPolicy": {
     "builtInClaims": ["id", "preferred_username"],
     "extensionClaims": [
       {
         "name": "sam_account_name",
         "source": "user",
         "sam_claim": "samAccountName"
       }
     ]
   },
   

3. Update your code to access the sam_account_name claim:

   console.log(idTokenClaims.sam_account_name); 
   

Key Considerations:

• Data Security: Ensure proper security measures are in place to protect sensitive information like sam_account_name.
• Application Logic: Understand how your application utilizes the sam_account_name to design appropriate access control and user management strategies.

Additional Resources:

• Azure AD Application Manifest: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/reference-app-manifest
• Custom Claims in Azure AD: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/reference-app-manifest#claims-mapping-policy
• Microsoft Graph API: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/api/overview

By understanding the various approaches and choosing the most suitable option for your application, you can effectively add the sam_account_name to your Azure AD ID tokens and enhance your user management capabilities.