nextcloud / nextcloud/server

[Bug]: passkey / security key create --> randomly discoverable or non-discoverable passkey

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#60,717 3 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub

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0. Needs triage 32-feedback bug feature: authentication
Dominant language
PHP
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Description

⚠️ This issue respects the following points: ⚠️
Bug description

Open web browser, login to your Nextcloud (I tested in Hetzner)

From UI - Administration Settings - Personal - Security:

  • Security key - Add Security key
  • Passwordless Authentication - Add WebAuthn device

Behaviour of both buttons are unpredictable. Sometimes they (both!) seem to create non-discoverable FIDO2 credential and sometimes discoverable.

I was able first to create both into Bitwarden with some of my smartphones (android I think).

Now weeks later when I am trying again both seem to create device bound non-discoverable credential. I've done tests both when Bitwarden and Google are as autofill/passkey managers.

These both should be really tested thoroughly.

When creating FIDO2 security key in Nextcloud, what is the intention? Typically they are non-discovered credentials. Should it be as default like this or user have a choice as I WAS ABLE to save from this button to Bitwarden as discoverable credential.

In passwordless authentication typically peeps would want to save to password manager. But maybe not always?
When pressing Add security key or Add webauthn device buttons should there perhaps come a dialog where user can choose if he wants discoverable or non-discoverable credential to be saved...?

Also there is a bit related issue in windows Hello. It seems to be able to save only either one of them to TPM. It is version 25h2, not the latest one.

Steps to reproduce

1..
2.
3.

Expected behavior

.

Nextcloud Server version

32

Operating system

None

PHP engine version

None

Web server

None

Database engine version

None

Is this bug present after an update or on a fresh install?

None

Are you using the Nextcloud Server Encryption module?

None

What user-backends are you using?
  • Default user-backend (database)
  • LDAP/ Active Directory
  • SSO - SAML
  • Other
Configuration report
I don't know details of the server versions except I got from hetzner update that it should be 32.0.9
List of activated Apps
All defaults + Two-Factor TOTP Provider, Two-Factor WebAuthn
Nextcloud Signing status
No errors have been found.
Nextcloud Logs

Additional info

No response

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Begin with the two registration entry points under Administration Settings > Personal > Security: Add Security key and Add WebAuthn device. Reproduce their discoverable versus non-discoverable behavior with the reported passkey managers and devices, then establish the intended behavior; done means the result is consistent and covered for the relevant WebAuthn flows.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
php
Domain
authentication, security
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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