Entra Id Aspire Authentication

Entra ID Authentication for .NET Aspire Applications

This skill helps you integrate Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) authentication into .NET Aspire distributed applications using Microsoft.Identity.Web.

When to Use This Skill

• Adding user authentication to Aspire apps
• Protecting APIs with JWT Bearer authentication
• Configuring OIDC sign-in for Blazor Server
• Setting up token acquisition for downstream API calls
• Implementing service-to-service authentication

Architecture Overview

User Browser → Blazor Server (OIDC) → Entra ID → Access Token → Protected API (JWT)

Key Components:

• Blazor Frontend: Uses AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApp for OIDC + MicrosoftIdentityMessageHandler for token attachment
• API Backend: Uses AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApi for JWT validation
• Aspire: Service discovery with https+http://servicename URLs

Pre-Implementation Checklist

Before starting, the agent MUST:

1. Detect Project Types

Scan each project's Program.cs to identify its type:

# Find all Program.cs files in solution
Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Filter "Program.cs" | ForEach-Object {
    $content = Get-Content $_.FullName -Raw
    $projectDir = Split-Path $_.FullName -Parent
    $projectName = Split-Path $projectDir -Leaf
    
    # Skip AppHost and ServiceDefaults
    if ($projectName -match "AppHost|ServiceDefaults") { return }
    
    $isWebApp = $content -match "AddRazorComponents|MapRazorComponents|AddServerSideBlazor"
    $isApi = $content -match "MapGet|MapPost|MapPut|MapDelete|AddControllers"
    
    if ($isWebApp) {
        Write-Host "WEB APP: $projectName (has Razor/Blazor components)"
    } elseif ($isApi) {
        Write-Host "API: $projectName (exposes endpoints)"
    }
}

Detection rules:

Note: APIs can call other APIs (downstream). The Aspire .WithReference() shows service dependencies, not necessarily web-to-API relationships.

2. Confirm with User

AGENT: Show detected topology and ask for confirmation:

"I detected:

• Web App (Blazor): {webProjectName}
• API: {apiProjectName}

The web app will authenticate users and call the API. Is this correct?"

3. Establish Workflow

AGENT: Explain the two-phase approach:

"I'll implement authentication in two phases:

Phase 1 (now): Add authentication code with placeholder values. The app will build but won't run until app registrations are configured.

Phase 2 (after): Use the entra-id-aspire-provisioning skill to create Entra ID app registrations and update the configuration with real values.

Ready to proceed with Phase 1?"

Implementation Checklist

CRITICAL: Complete ALL steps in order. Do not skip any step.

API Project Steps

• Step 1.1: Add Microsoft.Identity.Web package
• Step 1.2: Update appsettings.json with AzureAd section
• Step 1.3: Update Program.cs with JWT Bearer authentication
• Step 1.4: Add RequireAuthorization() to protected endpoints

Web/Blazor Project Steps

• Step 2.1: Add Microsoft.Identity.Web package
• Step 2.2: Update appsettings.json with AzureAd and scopes
• Step 2.3: Update Program.cs with OIDC, token acquisition, and BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler
• Step 2.4: Verify Microsoft.Identity.Web version includes Blazor helpers (v3.3.0+)
• Step 2.5: Create UserInfo.razor component (LOGIN BUTTON)
• Step 2.6: Update MainLayout.razor to include UserInfo
• Step 2.7: Update Routes.razor with AuthorizeRouteView
• Step 2.8: Store client secret in user-secrets
• Step 2.9: Add try/catch with ChallengeHandler on every page calling APIs

Step-by-Step Implementation

Prerequisites

1. .NET Aspire solution with API and Web (Blazor) projects
2. Azure AD tenant

Two-phase workflow:

• Phase 1: Add authentication code with placeholder values → App will build but not run
• Phase 2: Run entra-id-aspire-provisioning skill to create app registrations → App will run

Part 1: Protect the API with JWT Bearer

1.1 Add Package:

cd MyService.ApiService
dotnet add package Microsoft.Identity.Web

1.2 Configure appsettings.json:

{
  "AzureAd": {
    "Instance": "https://login.microsoftonline.com/",
    "TenantId": "<your-tenant-id>",
    "ClientId": "<your-api-client-id>",
    "Audiences": ["api://<your-api-client-id>"]
  }
}

1.3 Update Program.cs:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.JwtBearer;
using Microsoft.Identity.Web;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
builder.AddServiceDefaults();

// Add JWT Bearer authentication
builder.Services.AddAuthentication(JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme)
    .AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApi(builder.Configuration.GetSection("AzureAd"));

builder.Services.AddAuthorization();

var app = builder.Build();

app.UseAuthentication();
app.UseAuthorization();

// Protect endpoints
app.MapGet("/weatherforecast", () => { /* ... */ })
    .RequireAuthorization();

app.Run();

Part 2: Configure Blazor Frontend

2.1 Add Package:

cd MyService.Web
dotnet add package Microsoft.Identity.Web

2.2 Configure appsettings.json:

{
  "AzureAd": {
    "Instance": "https://login.microsoftonline.com/",
    "Domain": "<your-tenant>.onmicrosoft.com",
    "TenantId": "<tenant-guid>",
    "ClientId": "<web-app-client-id>",
    "CallbackPath": "/signin-oidc",
    "ClientCredentials": [
      {
        "SourceType": "ClientSecret",
        "ClientSecret": "<your-client-secret>"
      }
    ]
  },
  "WeatherApi": {
    "Scopes": ["api://<api-client-id>/.default"]
  }
}

2.3 Update Program.cs:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.OpenIdConnect;
using Microsoft.Identity.Web;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
builder.AddServiceDefaults();

// Authentication + token acquisition
builder.Services.AddAuthentication(OpenIdConnectDefaults.AuthenticationScheme)
    .AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApp(builder.Configuration.GetSection("AzureAd"))
    .EnableTokenAcquisitionToCallDownstreamApi()
    .AddInMemoryTokenCaches();

builder.Services.AddCascadingAuthenticationState();
builder.Services.AddRazorComponents().AddInteractiveServerComponents();

// Add Blazor authentication challenge handler for incremental consent and Conditional Access
builder.Services.AddScoped<BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler>();

// HttpClient with automatic token attachment
builder.Services.AddHttpClient<WeatherApiClient>(client =>
{
    client.BaseAddress = new("https+http://apiservice"); // Aspire service discovery
})
.AddMicrosoftIdentityMessageHandler(builder.Configuration.GetSection("WeatherApi").Bind);

var app = builder.Build();

app.UseAuthentication();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.UseAntiforgery();

app.MapRazorComponents<App>().AddInteractiveServerRenderMode();
app.MapGroup("/authentication").MapLoginAndLogout();

app.Run();

2.4 Blazor authentication helpers:

These helpers ship in the Microsoft.Identity.Web NuGet package (version 3.3.0+). Simply add using Microsoft.Identity.Web; — no file copying required.

AGENT: The LoginLogoutEndpointRouteBuilderExtensions class provides the MapLoginAndLogout() extension method with support for incremental consent and Conditional Access. The BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler class handles authentication challenges in Blazor Server components. Both are now included in Microsoft.Identity.Web and are automatically available once you reference the package.

2.6 Create UserInfo Component (Components/UserInfo.razor) — THE LOGIN BUTTON:

CRITICAL: This step is frequently forgotten. Without this, users have no way to log in!

@using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Authorization

<AuthorizeView>
    <Authorized>
        <span class="nav-item">Hello, @context.User.Identity?.Name</span>
        <form action="/authentication/logout" method="post" class="nav-item">
            <AntiforgeryToken />
            <input type="hidden" name="returnUrl" value="/" />
            <button type="submit" class="btn btn-link nav-link">Logout</button>
        </form>
    </Authorized>
    <NotAuthorized>
        <a href="/authentication/login?returnUrl=/" class="nav-link">Login</a>
    </NotAuthorized>
</AuthorizeView>

2.7 Update MainLayout.razor to include UserInfo:

Find the <main> or navigation section in Components/Layout/MainLayout.razor and add the UserInfo component:

@inherits LayoutComponentBase

<div class="page">
    <div class="sidebar">
        <NavMenu />
    </div>

    <main>
        <div class="top-row px-4">
            <UserInfo />  @* <-- ADD THIS LINE *@
        </div>

        <article class="content px-4">
            @Body
        </article>
    </main>
</div>

2.8 Update Routes.razor for AuthorizeRouteView:

Replace RouteView with AuthorizeRouteView in Components/Routes.razor:

@using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Authorization

<Router AppAssembly="typeof(Program).Assembly">
    <Found Context="routeData">
        <AuthorizeRouteView RouteData="routeData" DefaultLayout="typeof(Layout.MainLayout)">
            <NotAuthorized>
                <p>You are not authorized to view this page.</p>
                <a href="/authentication/login">Login</a>
            </NotAuthorized>
        </AuthorizeRouteView>
        <FocusOnNavigate RouteData="routeData" Selector="h1" />
    </Found>
</Router>

2.9 Store Client Secret in User Secrets:

Never commit secrets to source control!

cd MyService.Web
dotnet user-secrets init
dotnet user-secrets set "AzureAd:ClientCredentials:0:ClientSecret" "<your-client-secret>"

Then update appsettings.json to reference user secrets (remove the hardcoded secret):

{
  "AzureAd": {
    "ClientCredentials": [
      {
        // For more options see https://aka.ms/ms-id-web/credentials
        "SourceType": "ClientSecret"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Common Patterns

Protect Blazor Pages

@page "/weather"
@attribute [Authorize]

Scope Validation in API

app.MapGet("/weatherforecast", () => { /* ... */ })
    .RequireAuthorization()
    .RequireScope("access_as_user");

App-Only Tokens (Service-to-Service)

.AddMicrosoftIdentityMessageHandler(options =>
{
    options.Scopes.Add("api://<api-client-id>/.default");
    options.RequestAppToken = true;
});

Override Scopes Per Request

var request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Get, "/endpoint")
    .WithAuthenticationOptions(options =>
    {
        options.Scopes.Clear();
        options.Scopes.Add("api://<client-id>/specific.scope");
    });

Production: Use Managed Identity

{
  "AzureAd": {
    "ClientCredentials": [
      {
        "SourceType": "SignedAssertionFromManagedIdentity",
        "ManagedIdentityClientId": "<user-assigned-mi-client-id>"
      }
    ]
  }
}

On-Behalf-Of (API calling downstream APIs)

builder.Services.AddAuthentication(JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme)
    .AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApi(builder.Configuration.GetSection("AzureAd"))
    .EnableTokenAcquisitionToCallDownstreamApi()
    .AddInMemoryTokenCaches();

builder.Services.AddDownstreamApi("GraphApi", builder.Configuration.GetSection("GraphApi"));

Handle Conditional Access / MFA / Incremental Consent

This is NOT optional — Blazor Server requires explicit exception handling for Conditional Access and consent.

When calling APIs, Conditional Access policies or consent requirements can trigger MicrosoftIdentityWebChallengeUserException. You MUST handle this on every page that calls a downstream API.

Step 2.3 registers the handler — AddScoped<BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler>() makes the service available.

Each page calling APIs needs this pattern:

@page "/weather"
@attribute [Authorize]

@using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization
@using Microsoft.Identity.Web

@inject WeatherApiClient WeatherApi
@inject BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler ChallengeHandler

<PageTitle>Weather</PageTitle>

<h1>Weather</h1>

@if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(errorMessage))
{
    <div class="alert alert-warning">@errorMessage</div>
}
else if (forecasts == null)
{
    <p><em>Loading...</em></p>
}
else
{
    @* Display your data *@
}

@code {
    private WeatherForecast[]? forecasts;
    private string? errorMessage;

    protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
    {
        if (!await ChallengeHandler.IsAuthenticatedAsync())
        {
            // Not authenticated - redirect to login with required scopes
            await ChallengeHandler.ChallengeUserWithConfiguredScopesAsync("WeatherApi:Scopes");
            return;
        }

        try
        {
            forecasts = await WeatherApi.GetWeatherAsync();
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            // Handle incremental consent / Conditional Access
            if (!await ChallengeHandler.HandleExceptionAsync(ex))
            {
                errorMessage = $"Error loading data: {ex.Message}";
            }
        }
    }
}

Why this pattern?

1. IsAuthenticatedAsync() checks if user is signed in before making API calls
2. HandleExceptionAsync() catches MicrosoftIdentityWebChallengeUserException (or as InnerException)
3. If it is a challenge exception → redirects user to re-authenticate with required claims/scopes
4. If it is NOT a challenge exception → returns false so you can handle the error

Why is this not automatic? Blazor Server's circuit-based architecture requires explicit handling. The handler re-challenges the user by navigating to the login endpoint with the required claims/scopes.

Troubleshooting

Key Files to Modify

Note: LoginLogoutEndpointRouteBuilderExtensions and BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler are now included in the Microsoft.Identity.Web NuGet package (v3.3.0+). Simply reference the package and use using Microsoft.Identity.Web; — no file copying required.

Post-Implementation Verification

AGENT: After completing all steps, verify:

1. Build succeeds:

   dotnet build
   

2. Check all files were created/modified:

   • API Program.cs has AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApi
   • API appsettings.json has AzureAd section
   • Web Program.cs has AddMicrosoftIdentityWebApp and AddMicrosoftIdentityMessageHandler
   • Web Program.cs has AddScoped<BlazorAuthenticationChallengeHandler>()
   • Web appsettings.json has AzureAd and scope configuration
   • Web has Components/UserInfo.razor (LOGIN BUTTON)
   • Web MainLayout.razor includes <UserInfo />
   • Web Routes.razor uses AuthorizeRouteView
   • Every page calling protected APIs has try/catch with ChallengeHandler.HandleExceptionAsync(ex)
   • Microsoft.Identity.Web package version is 3.3.0 or higher

3. AGENT: Inform user of next step:

   "✅ Phase 1 complete! Authentication code is in place. The app will build but won't run until app registrations are configured.

   Next: Run the entra-id-aspire-provisioning skill to:

   • Create Entra ID app registrations
   • Update appsettings.json with real ClientIds
   • Store client secret securely

   Ready to proceed with provisioning?"

Resources

• 📖 Full Aspire Integration Guide - Comprehensive documentation with diagrams, detailed explanations, and advanced scenarios
• Microsoft.Identity.Web Documentation
• MicrosoftIdentityMessageHandler Guide
• .NET Aspire Service Discovery
• Credentials Guide