Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Puppet
3.
Role-Based Access Control 
4.
RBAC API
5.
RBAC API Requests Creation 
6.
Token Authentication
7.
Certificate Authentication
8.
Authorizations Objects
9.
Errors in RBAC Service 
9.1.
Response Format Error 
9.2.
Common Error Messages 
10.
Frequently Asked Questions
10.1.
What does API RBAC mean? 
10.2.
What is RBAC and how does it work?
10.3.
What is an RBAC policy?
10.4.
What is an example of RBAC?
10.5.
What is RBAC symmetric? 
11.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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Concept of RBAC API in Puppet

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Introduction

Hello Ninja, Hope you are doing well. Here we are going to understand the concept of RBAC API in Puppet. We hope you that you will find this topic interesting while going through the blog. First, let's understand RBAC.

Introduction

Now, RBAC is a method for blocking access to a computer or network resources based on the tasks of particular users within your workplace. It is role-based access control. We will talk more about this in detail but first Let's talk about Puppet before moving on to the topic.

Puppet

Puppet is a free and open-source software control and deployment tool. OS like Linux and Windows is the most widely used OS for managing several application servers at once. But a wide range of systems, including Mac OS servers, Cisco routers, and IBM data centers, can also use Puppet. 

PuppetDB

After learning the following principles, you can see Advanced Concepts of RBAC API v1 in Puppet:

Role-Based Access Control 

RBAC is a method for managing network access based on the tasks of specific employees working for the company. 

RBAC’ ensures that employees only have access to the data they need to carry out their duties by blocking them from accessing information that is not relevant to them. 

RBAC

Because an employee's rights are decided by their level in the company, lower-level workers are not allowed to use sensitive information or perform high-level tasks. 

The role-based access control data model bases roles on a number of variables. Such as permission, duty, and work skill. Because of this, companies can identify a user as an admin, expert user, or end user. One example of how access to computer resources could be limited to specific tasks is the ability to read, create, or modify files.

RBAC API

Using POST requests, groups and roles can be managed using endpoints provided by the role-based access control API. Using the normal REST API functionality of CloudBees CI, it is also possible to access the data in several formats.

Use

  • An API authentication token is required in order to use the Role-based access control (RBAC) management API.
     
  • The endpoints and/or methods used for authorization.
     

Now we look at how to create requests through RBAC API.

RBAC API Requests Creation 

Queries made using the correct HTTPS syntax for the RBAC API are allowed. Token-based verification is important for most URLs. You can use allowed certificates or user login tokens to validate requests.

RBAC API requests must have a URI path with the following format. 

https://<DNS>:4433/rbac-api/<VERSION>/<ENDPOINT> 

The components of the variable route come from:
 

VERSION: Depending on the endpoint, either v1 or v2. 
 

DNS: The DNS name of your puppet enterprise console host. You can use a puppet command, localhost, or manually type the DNS name. 
 

ENDPOINT: A section or sections that specify the endpoint, like users or roles. Some APIs, like the POST /command/roles/add-users endpoint, demand extra portions.

Token Authentication

For most RBAC API endpoints, you must use user endpoint tokens to verify your requests. For details on how to create, design, cancel, and delete auth tokens in puppet enterprise, go to the Token-based endpoint.

Token authentication

Credit: www.puppet.com
 

By using code similar to this, you may use the puppet-access show to include a token in an RBAC API request. 

token in an RBAC API

Credit: www.puppet.com
 

If not, you can use the token right away like below.

using of token in an RBAC API

Credit: www.puppet.com

Certificate Authentication

You can use a certificate from the RBAC certificate allowlist to authenticate requests by going to

Certificate authentication

Credit: www.puppet.com

Authorizations Objects

As stated in Structure of user permissions, payloads that use JSON objects for permissions must reflect each of the three components: 

  • Object (instance). 
     
  • Permission (action).
     
  • Type (object type). 
     

Use the system names described in the Reference, not the display names. User Permissions and Names when making RBAC API calls.

Errors in RBAC Service 

Responses to errors from the RBAC API can be in CTEXT, HTML, or JSON object formats.

Response Format Error 

The following keys can be used in RBAC API error responses: 

KEY Definition
kind # The nature of the error made.
msg

# An error message that can be read by humans.

# The body is the information in this key for error responses formatted as TEXT or HTML.

details # Also details regarding the error situation may be machine-readable.

Common Error Messages 

These responses might be provided by RBAC API endpoints that accept a JSON body.

Response Code Description
malformed-request 400 The provided data is not legitimate JSON. An error message from the JSON parser can be seen in the details key.
inconsistent-id 400 The ID information in the request body does not correspond to the ID in the URI path. Both IDs are displayed in the details key.
invalid-id-filter 400 A filter on the ID in the request's URI path has an incorrect format. This error provides no further information.
invalid-UUID 400 A provided UUID was ineligible. This error provides no further information.
schema-violation 400

The structure of the given data is unexpected, for example, there are no or not enough essential fields. The details key is an object with the following contents, while the msg key specifies the issue.

  • Submitted: The data as it appeared after going through schema validation.
  • Schema: Expected structure of the data.
  • Error: Description of the error.
user-unauthenticated 401 An endpoint that needs authentication was tried to be accessed by an unauthenticated user.
user-revoked 401 An endpoint that needs authentication was accessed by a user whose access has been revoked.
api-user-login 401 Someone made an attempt to use a password to get in as the api user. The username/password authentication method is not supported by the api user.
remote-user-conflict 401

A local user with an identical login was already in use when a remote user who was not yet known to RBAC tried to authenticate.

 

Either the remote user's login or the local user's login in RBAC must be changed as a solution. Either the user lookup attribute value or the directory service itself can be changed to alter the login for the remote user.

permission-denied 403 A user tried to perform a function that they are not authorized to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does API RBAC mean? 

A method for limiting access to a computer or network resources based on the roles of certain users within your firm is known as role-based access control (RBAC).

What is RBAC and how does it work?

RBAC is a method for restricting access to a network based on the roles of particular users inside a company. RBAC ensures that employees only have access to the data they need to perform their jobs and prevents them from getting hold of unnecessary information.

What is an RBAC policy?

It is Role-based security, sometimes referred to as role-based access control (RBAC), is a method that limits system access. Setting rights and permissions is needed to give allowed users access.

What is an example of RBAC?

RBAC's typical applications include the Role of a software engineer. It has access to GitHub, GCP, and AWS. Has access to HubSpot, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, and Google Ads in the marketing role. Has access to Xero and ADP as a financial function.

What is RBAC symmetric? 

The auditing features added by symmetric RBAC enable the review of rights by user and role. The system is able to display each privilege a user has, both directly from given roles and indirectly from roles they have gained.

Conclusion

In this article, we have understood the Concept of RBAC API in Puppet. Also sub-topics like token authentication, certificate authentication, etc.

The following article same as ‘Concept of RBAC API in Puppet’ may help to have a better understanding:

If you face any doubt, please comment, and we will love to answer your questions.

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