SAP NetWeaver

Demo

Configure Principal Propagation

using Logon tickets in Net weaver
Process Integration 7.1

Applied To :
SAP Net Weaver Process Integration 7.1x and higher

Topic Area:
SOA Middleware
Capability:
Security

Version 1.0
March 2009

Applied To :
SAP Netweaver Process Integration 7.1
SAP Application Server ABAP 7.1
SAP Application Server ABAP 7.0 SP14

Summary :
Single Sign On has been one of the most popular security mechanisms wherever transport level
security is required.This document describes how Principal Propagation can be done for PI 7.1
systems.
Author : Neha Khasgiwale
Company : SAP GDC , Gurgaon
Created On : 17 Feb 2009

Author Bio
Neha Khasgiwale is working in SAP GD in SAP PI from 2007-2009.Prior to that she has also worked
in IBM from 2005-2006

Table of Contents
1.

2.

Business Scenario ..........................................................................................................1

1.1

Introduction...............................................................................................................1

1.2

Scenario Description.................................................................................................2

Background Information .................................................................................................3

2.1

Software ...................................................................................................................3
2.1.1

3.

Supported releases.......................................................................................3

Configuration Steps in Detail..........................................................................................4

3.1

Enabling Principal Propagation .................................................................................4

3.2

Enabling the Sender .................................................................................................4

3.3

Issue Logon tickets from the sender system..............................................................5

3.4

Configure the System to accept login tickets .............................................................6

3.5

Install Certificates in Client and Server system ..........................................................7

3.6

Directory Configurations..........................................................................................15

How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

1. Business Scenario
1.1 Introduction
Principal propagation means the ability to forward the user context of a message unchanged from the
sender to the receiver .This implies that the receiver interface runs under the same identity as the
sender. SAP Logon tickets act as a flexible central authentication token used in the SAP world and
can be used for SSO to all SAP products in the back end.
SAP logon tickets provide authentication for various client and server components of the AS ABAP
system .The user is authenticated using the Logon Ticket as the authentication Token. The user only
needs to be authenticated once (for eg: using a valid User and Password) and the system can issue
the Logon ticket to the user. This SAP logon ticket is stored as per session cookie or the client
browser .The authenticity and integrity is protected using digital signatures whereas the confidentiality
of the token protected through the use of SSL protocol while in the transport. As a third measure the
SAP Logon Ticket contains a validity period that can be configured in the security settings of the SAP
Application server.
This security system is highly beneficial in a complex system environment where there are many
different types of SAP systems in the system landscape .With the logon ticket the user can enter
subsequent system without the need to reenter the user or Password.
For SAP Logon Authentication with client components ( for example , SAP GUI for Windows ) ,users
must have the same user ID in all of the systems they need to access and their Web Browsers must
accept cookies.
For server authentication between server components, both the accepting systems and issuing server
must have the synchronized system clocks. The issuing server must process a public and private key
pair so that it can digitally sign the Logon Ticket. And the accepting systems must be in the same
Domain Name Server (DNS) domain as the issuing servers and the systems must have the public key
certificate top verify the digital signature of the logon ticket.
It is recommended that you identify one system in your system landscape as the ticket-issuing system
before you configure other systems to accept tickets from this system. By default, the Personal
security Environment (PSE) is used to store the certificates. You can configure the AS ABAP system
to issue log-on tickets by setting profile parameter login/create_sso2_ticket to 2.
In the AS ABAP system needs to accept Logon tickets from a J2EE Engine, then you need to install
SAP Cryptographic library and set the same profile parameter on AS ABAP system .In addition you
also need to manually import the J2EE engine public key certificate into the PSE using transaction
STRUST or STRUSTSSO2 (Trust Manager) .Use transaction STRUSTSSO2 to add J2EE Engines
system ID and its Distinguished Name to the access control list .
You would like to use this feature in your SAP Netweaver PI 7.1 system.

Note
SAP Net Weaver PI 7.1 system is referred to as PI system, WS provider system as
Provider and WS consumer system as Consumer in the remainder of this document.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

1.2 Scenario Description

Now lets us configure a test case to understand it better:
Principal propagation means the ability to forward the user context of a message unchanged from the
sender to the receiver. It enables the authentication of a message in the receiver system with the
same user that issued the message in the corresponding sender system. Thus, the receiver
application is virtually part of the sender application, and the permissions and audit functions of the
receiver application can be applied to the original user of the sender application.
Principal Propagation is implemented using authentication via SAP assertion tickets between the
involved messaging components. Each communication step along the way from the sender to the
receiver requires a separate authentication for each messaging component before the message is
executed Wherever you want to use an SAP assertion ticket for authentication between a sending and
a receiving messaging component, you have to configure a trust relationship between the underlying
application servers first.
In the following, we describe the processes when the issuing or accepting server is the SAP J2EE
Engine. Note however, depending on the scenario you use, other server components may act as the
issuer or acceptor. The entire scenario can be expressed as a two step scenario :
Receiving a Logon Ticket from the SAP J2EE Engine
AS Java client configuration
AS ABAP client configuration
Using the Logon Ticket to Access the SAP J2EE Engine as an Accepting System
AS ABAP server configuration
AS Java server configuration
If an Adapter Engine (SOAP adapter or RFC adapter) is involved, a trust relationship must also be
established between this Adapter Engine and the Integration Server. Therefore, the Adapter Engine
(based on AS Java) and the Integration Server (based on AS ABAP) both act as server [S] and client
[C], as shown in the following diagram:

Figure 1: Overview of the process

[S]Adapter Engine[C]

[S]IS[C]

[S]Adapter Engine[C]

The user that is executing the message equals the user that is to be propagated.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

2. Background Information
This security guide explains the security features included in SAP Net weaver included in PI and
recommends how to apply these features to protect data through Principal Propagation through SAP
Logon Tickets.

2.1 Software
This section provides the details of supported releases for the applications (Consumer, Integration
Server and Provider) and the version details of ABAP service pack, ABAP Kernel and Crypto library.
The technology stack of backend can be AS ABAP, AS Java, or external system.
This guide makes the following assumptions:
An ABAP back-end is used at the consumer .
SAP NetWeaver PI 7.1 is installed.

2.1.1 Supported releases

Consumer

AS ABAP 7.0 >= SP14

Integration Server

AS ABAP 7.1 and higher

Provider

AS ABAP 7.0 >= SP14

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

3. Configuration Steps in Detail

This chapter covers the configuration steps required in back-end systems and PI system for message
processing with Integration Server communication.

3.1

Enabling Principal Propagation

Go to sxmb_adm -> Configure Principal Propagation .Then Activate Principal Propagation .This needs
to be done on all the systems involved in Principal Propagation- Issuing system (Sender) ,
Intermediary system (PI System) , Receiver system .
This executes the report RSXMB_CONFIG_PP. This report creates the type 3 RFC
destination SAPXIPP<clnt>, where <clnt> represents the three-digit client of the
respective messaging component. In addition, it generates the system user PIPPUSER
with a random password and the role SAP_XI_APPL_SERV_USER.

Figure 1 : Enable Principal Propagation

3.2

Enabling the Sender

In the sender system maintain a Dialog user on EC6 System with role SAP_XI_APPL_SERV_USER
.This user will be propagated from one application to the other.

Enable RFC to Send Logon Tickets:

In transaction SM59 enable the RFC to Send SAP Logon tickets.
1. Go to Transaction sm59.
2. Go to Connection Type TCP/IP connections.
3. Enter a short description and go to the tab Logon and Security.
4. Click on the Check box Send SAP Logon Ticket

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 2 : RFC connections maintained to send SAP Logon Ticket

This RFC destination would be used when you trigger the Sender RFC .Whenever the RFC is
triggered a ticket is issued a Logon ticket is issued

3.3

Issue Logon tickets from the sender system

1. Go to RZ11
2. Enter the profile parameter login/create_sso2_ticket= 1 in case of CA certificates and
login/create_ssso2_ticket= 2 in case of self signed certificates.
3. Enter the Profile Value = 2
You need to create a logon ticket configuration once on the Ticket issuing side , and then on the PI
system as well .

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 3 : Profile parameter to create logon ticket

Note : The parameters change to default when the server is restarted

3.4

Configure the System to accept login tickets

Goto RZ11 add the parameter login/accept_sso2_ticket = 1 .Click on Change Value.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 4 : Maintain Profile parameter to accept the ticket

3.5

Install Certificates in Client and Server system

Export the Sender certificate system in AS ABAP client

1. On ABAP Client [C], call transaction STRUST and export the certificate as shown below:

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 5: Export WS Consumer system certificate

2. Choose Binary file format as shown below:

Figure 6: Export dialog

You have made the certificate available as a file, which you can later import into the ABAP
Server [S] system.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

3. On ABAP Server [S], call transaction STRUSTSSO2 and import the certificate as shown
below:

Figure 7: Import certificate into ABAP Server [S]

4. Select Binary file format and import the client certificate which is saved as file from step 2
5. Click on Add to Certificate List button to add this certificate to the list
6. Click on Add to ACL button to add the client system to Access Control List of server as
shown below:

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 8: Add to ACL

Save the data now and as a result, you will be able to see the ABAP Client [C] system added as
an entry to the Access Control List window as given below:

Figure 9: Access Control List window

You need to perform the above steps for every client-server combination as explained in the above
important note for establishing the SSO trust between all systems.
Install the AS Java server certificate
To issue SAP assertion tickets, the AS Java must sign them with a digital signature. For this purpose,
a private key must be created together with a certificate containing the public key and imported into
the AS Java keystore.
1. Start the AS Java configuration tool
2. Expand the nodes Configurations
workernode services

cluster_config

globals

clusternode_config

3. Expand the service com.sap.security.core.ume.service and choose the Propertysheet

properties.
Change to edit mode and set the following properties:

i. login.ticket_keyalias = SAPLogonTicketKeypair
ii. login.ticket_keystore = TicketKeystore
iii. login.ticket_client

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= <unique client>.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 9: Property adjustment in SAP Login Module

Note
The system ID and client combination must be unique when tickets are accepted by an AS
ABAP
system. Therefore, in a combined ABAP and Java installation, where the system IDs are the same, you
must change the default client for the AS Java (000) to a client that does not exist on the AS ABAP
system.Here in this case the client has been changed to 007.
4. Use the SAP NetWeaver Administrator and choose Configuration Management
Management Key Storage

Security

5. Select the TicketKeyStore view and then the SAPLogonTicketKeypaircertificate.

6. In a dual-stack system where the SIDs for both the AS ABAP and the AS Java are the same,
you must replace one of the key pairs so that the Distinguished Names are unique.
7. Select a TicketKeystore View.
8. Delete the SAPLogonTicketKeypair and SAPLogonTicketKeypair-cert entries.
9. Create a Key Pair and a Public-Key Certificate with the following properties.
For more information about creating key pairs in a key store view
a. Enter SAPLogonTicketKeypair as the key pair Entry Name.
b. Choose DSA as the algorithm to use.
c. Select the options to store the public key certificate
Enter the Subject Properties in the corresponding fields.
The entries in these fields build a Distinguished Name in the form:
CN=<Common Name>, OU=<Organization Unit Name>, O=<Organization
Name>, L=< Locality Name >, ST=<State/Province>, C=DE
The AS Java uses this public-key certificate to digitally sign logon tickets.

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 10 : Property adjustment in SAP Login Module

d. Go to Import from File and import this certificate to all the ticket accepting systems.

Figure 11: Import certificate from the Ticketkeystore

Configuring the AS Java to Accept Logon Tickets

The AS Java uses EvaluateTicketLoginModule to accept logon tickets for SSO. After receiving the
logon ticket from the users Web browser, the AS Java verifies the ticket signature based on the

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

established trust relationship with the issuing system. Based on the ticket validity, the AS Java
authenticates the user.
1. Go to NWA -> Trusted Systems

SSO Wizard

There are two ways to add a trusted system 1.) By connecting to the system and requesting its
certificate.2.) By manually uploading the certificate of the system.
2. In the Trusted Systems section, choose Add Trusted System
By Querying Trusted System.
The System Landscape Directory (SLD) opens automatically and lets you select the system
you want to add. Select the system and choose OK. The connection details for the selected
system are displayed automatically.
3. Enter your user name and password in the provided fields and choose Next.
4. The details about the selected systems certificate appear. To add the system, choose Finish.
If you want to make changes, choose Back.
5. After you complete the wizard the ticket issuing system is shown in the trusted system list .
The AS java issues logon tickets that have been issued by the corresponding server.

Figure 12: Add the trusted system

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Figure 13: Final screen of the accepted trusted system

Manual AS Java Configuration for Accepting Logon Tickets

1. Export the ticket-issuing servers public-key certificate. Note the following:
If the ticket-issuing server is a AS Java or a SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal 6.0 SP3 and
higher:
i.

Using the Keystore Management functions in the NWA for the ticket-issuing AS
Java, select the TicketKeystore view and the SAPLogonTicketKeypair-cert entry.

ii.

Choose Export.

iii.

Specify a file name. Use the file type X.509 Certificate with the extension .crt and
choose OK.

2. Maintain the logon ticket access control list in the options for the login module
EvaluateTicketLoginModule (or EvaluateAssertionTicketLoginModule):
a. Using the authentication configuration functions of the NWA, open the configuration
options for the EvaluateTicketLoginModule (or EvaluateAssertionTicketLoginModule)
b. Make the following entries in the login module configuration options for each ticketissuing server from which the AS Java should accept logon tickets:

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Name

Value

trustedsys<x>

<SID>, <Client>

trustediss<x>

<Issuers_Distinguished_Name>

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trusteddn<x>

<Systems_Distinguished_Name>
Distinguished Name of the ticketissuing system.

ume.configuration.active

True

3.6Directory Configurations
In the PI system you need to maintain the configurations on the sender and the receiver side both.
After doing all the directory configurations maintain the sender RFC configurations in the sender
communication and then go to the sender agreement and enable Principal Propagation.

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Sender Communication Channel

Sender Agreement

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Receiver Agreement:

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

Receiver Communication Channel

1.Enter the Adapter Type as SOAP
2.Enter the URL thats picked up from the WSDL provided in SOAMANAGER of the receiving system .
3.Give the Keystore Entry and the Keystore View

In SOAMANAGER of EC6 system:

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

On configuring the end point check the Logon Ticket option under Authentication Mechanism, with no
Transport Guarantee.

Results

1. User PPUSER maintained in all systems for Principal Propagation .Trigger the RFC .Result ID is
obtained under ID .

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How To Configure SAML Authentication Using PI 7.1 systems

3. Go to the Runtime workbench Adapter Monitor .The sender RFC shows green signal i.e the
sender is successfully authenticated.

4. Go to the PI system in the transaction sxmb_moni :

5. Also as you had activated the principal propagation in the sender and receiver communication
channel you find that the ppActivated option equals to true.

6. As the sales order has been created and the user name has been propagated from the sender
to the receiver you would be able to see that the user has been propagated in the table

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