# ForwardAuth

Using an External Service to Check for Credentials
{: .subtitle }

![AuthForward](../assets/img/middleware/authforward.png)

The ForwardAuth middleware delegate the authentication to an external service.
If the service response code is 2XX, access is granted and the original request is performed.
Otherwise, the response from the authentication server is returned.

## Configuration Examples

```yaml tab="Docker"
# Forward authentication to example.com
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
# Forward authentication to example.com
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
# Forward authentication to example.com
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address": "https://example.com/auth"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
# Forward authentication to example.com
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
# Forward authentication to example.com
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
# Forward authentication to example.com
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
```

## Forward-Request Headers

The following request properties are provided to the forward-auth target endpoint as `X-Forwarded-` headers.

| Property          | Forward-Request Header |
|-------------------|------------------------|
| HTTP Method       | X-Forwarded-Method     |
| Protocol          | X-Forwarded-Proto      |
| Host              | X-Forwarded-Host       |
| Request URI       | X-Forwarded-Uri        |
| Source IP-Address | X-Forwarded-For        |

## Configuration Options

### `address`

The `address` option defines the authentication server address.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth 
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address": "https://example.com/auth"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.address=https://example.com/auth"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
```

### `trustForwardHeader`

Set the `trustForwardHeader` option to `true` to trust all the existing `X-Forwarded-*` headers.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.trustForwardHeader=true"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    trustForwardHeader: true
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.trustForwardHeader=true"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.trustForwardHeader": "true"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.trustForwardHeader=true"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    trustForwardHeader = true
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        trustForwardHeader: true
```

### `authResponseHeaders`

The `authResponseHeaders` option is the list of the headers to copy from the authentication server to the request. All incoming request's headers in this list are deleted from the request before any copy happens.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeaders=X-Auth-User, X-Secret"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    authResponseHeaders:
      - X-Auth-User
      - X-Secret
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeaders=X-Auth-User, X-Secret"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeaders": "X-Auth-User,X-Secret"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeaders=X-Auth-User, X-Secret"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    authResponseHeaders = ["X-Auth-User", "X-Secret"]
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        authResponseHeaders:
          - "X-Auth-User"
          - "X-Secret"
```

### `authResponseHeadersRegex`

The `authResponseHeadersRegex` option is the regex to match the headers that should be copied from the authentication server to the request. All incoming request's headers matching this regex are deleted from the request before any copy happens.
It allows partial matching of the regular expression against the header's key.
You should use start of string (`^`) and end of string (`$`) anchors to ensure a full match against the header's key.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeadersRegex=^X-"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    authResponseHeadersRegex: ^X-
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeadersRegex=^X-"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeadersRegex": "^X-"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authResponseHeadersRegex=^X-"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    authResponseHeadersRegex = "^X-"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        authResponseHeadersRegex: "^X-"
```

### `authRequestHeaders`

The `authRequestHeaders` option is the list of the headers to copy from the request to the authentication server.
It allows to prevent passing headers that have not to be passed to the authentication server.
If not set or empty then all request headers will be passed.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authRequestHeaders=Accept,X-CustomHeader"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    authRequestHeaders:
      - "Accept"
      - "X-CustomHeader"
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authRequestHeaders=Accept,X-CustomHeader"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authRequestHeaders": "Accept,X-CustomHeader"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.authRequestHeaders=Accept,X-CustomHeader"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    authRequestHeaders = "Accept,X-CustomHeader"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        authRequestHeaders:
          - "Accept"
          - "X-CustomHeader"
```

### `tls`

The `tls` option is the TLS configuration from Traefik to the authentication server.

#### `tls.ca`

Certificate Authority used for the secured connection to the authentication server.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.ca=path/to/local.crt"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    tls:
      caSecret: mycasercret

---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Secret
metadata:
  name: mycasercret
  namespace: default

data:
  ca: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCi0tLS0tRU5EIENFUlRJRklDQVRFLS0tLS0=
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.ca=path/to/local.crt"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.ca": "path/to/local.crt"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.ca=path/to/local.crt"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth.tls]
      ca = "path/to/local.crt"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        tls:
          ca: "path/to/local.crt"
```

#### `tls.caOptional`

Policy used for the secured connection with TLS Client Authentication to the authentication server.
Requires `tls.ca` to be defined.

- `true`: VerifyClientCertIfGiven
- `false`: RequireAndVerifyClientCert
- if `tls.ca` is undefined NoClientCert

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.caOptional=true"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    tls:
      caOptional: true
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.caOptional=true"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.caOptional": "true"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.caOptional=true"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth.tls]
      caOptional = true
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        tls:
          caOptional: true
```

#### `tls.cert`

Public certificate used for the secured connection to the authentication server.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    tls:
      certSecret: mytlscert

---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Secret
metadata:
  name: mytlscert
  namespace: default

data:
  tls.crt: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCi0tLS0tRU5EIENFUlRJRklDQVRFLS0tLS0=
  tls.key: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBQUklWQVRFIEtFWS0tLS0tCi0tLS0tRU5EIFBSSVZBVEUgS0VZLS0tLS0=
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert": "path/to/foo.cert",
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key": "path/to/foo.key"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth.tls]
      cert = "path/to/foo.cert"
      key = "path/to/foo.key"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        tls:
          cert: "path/to/foo.cert"
          key: "path/to/foo.key"
```

!!! info
    For security reasons, the field doesn't exist for Kubernetes IngressRoute, and one should use the `secret` field instead.

#### `tls.key`

Private certificate used for the secure connection to the authentication server.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    tls:
      certSecret: mytlscert

---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Secret
metadata:
  name: mytlscert
  namespace: default

data:
  tls.crt: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCi0tLS0tRU5EIENFUlRJRklDQVRFLS0tLS0=
  tls.key: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBQUklWQVRFIEtFWS0tLS0tCi0tLS0tRU5EIFBSSVZBVEUgS0VZLS0tLS0=
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert": "path/to/foo.cert",
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key": "path/to/foo.key"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.cert=path/to/foo.cert"
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.key=path/to/foo.key"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth.tls]
      cert = "path/to/foo.cert"
      key = "path/to/foo.key"
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        tls:
          cert: "path/to/foo.cert"
          key: "path/to/foo.key"
```

!!! info
    For security reasons, the field doesn't exist for Kubernetes IngressRoute, and one should use the `secret` field instead.

#### `tls.insecureSkipVerify`

If `insecureSkipVerify` is `true`, TLS for the connection to authentication server accepts any certificate presented by the server and any host name in that certificate.

```yaml tab="Docker"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.insecureSkipVerify=true"
```

```yaml tab="Kubernetes"
apiVersion: traefik.containo.us/v1alpha1
kind: Middleware
metadata:
  name: test-auth
spec:
  forwardAuth:
    address: https://example.com/auth
    tls:
      insecureSkipVerify: true
```

```yaml tab="Consul Catalog"
- "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.InsecureSkipVerify=true"
```

```json tab="Marathon"
"labels": {
  "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.insecureSkipVerify": "true"
}
```

```yaml tab="Rancher"
labels:
  - "traefik.http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardauth.tls.InsecureSkipVerify=true"
```

```toml tab="File (TOML)"
[http.middlewares]
  [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth]
    address = "https://example.com/auth"
    [http.middlewares.test-auth.forwardAuth.tls]
      insecureSkipVerify: true
```

```yaml tab="File (YAML)"
http:
  middlewares:
    test-auth:
      forwardAuth:
        address: "https://example.com/auth"
        tls:
          insecureSkipVerify: true
```