How to: Access a WSE 3.0 Service with a WCF Client

Article
09/15/2021

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) clients are wire-level compatible with Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 for Microsoft .NET services when WCF clients are configured to use the August 2004 version of the WS-Addressing specification. However, WSE 3.0 services do not support the metadata exchange (MEX) protocol, so when you use the ServiceModel Metadata Utility Tool (Svcutil.exe) to create a WCF client class, the security settings are not applied to the generated WCF client. Therefore, you must specify the security settings that the WSE 3.0 service requires after the WCF client is generated.

You can apply these security settings by using a custom binding to take into account the WSE 3.0 service's requirements and the interoperable requirements between a WSE 3.0 service and a WCF client. These interoperability requirements include the aforementioned use of the August 2004 WS-Addressing specification and the WSE 3.0default message protection of SignBeforeEncrypt. The default message protection for WCF is SignBeforeEncryptAndEncryptSignature. This topic details how to create a WCF binding that interoperates with a WSE 3.0 service. WCF also provides a sample that incorporates this binding. For more information about this sample, see Interoperating with ASMX Web Services.

To access a WSE 3.0 Web service with a WCF client

Run the ServiceModel Metadata Utility Tool (Svcutil.exe) to create a WCF client for the WSE 3.0 Web service.

For a WSE 3.0 Web service, a WCF client is created. Because WSE 3.0 does not support the MEX protocol, you cannot use the tool to retrieve the security requirements for the Web service. The application developer must add the security settings for the client.

For more information about creating a WCF client, see the How to: Create a Client.

Create a class that represents a binding that can communicate with WSE 3.0 Web services.

The following class is part of the Interoperating with WSE sample:

Create a class that derives from the Binding class.

The following code example creates a class named WseHttpBinding that derives from the Binding class.
```
public class WseHttpBinding : Binding
{
```
```
Public Class WseHttpBinding
    Inherits Binding
```

Add properties to the class that specify the WSE turnkey assertion used by the WSE service, whether derived keys are required, whether secure sessions are used, whether signature confirmations are required, and the message protection settings. In WSE 3.0, a turnkey assertion specifies the security requirements for a client or Web service—similar to the authentication mode of a binding in WCF.

The following code example defines the SecurityAssertion, RequireDerivedKeys, EstablishSecurityContext, and MessageProtectionOrder properties that specify the WSE turnkey assertion, whether derived keys are required, whether secure sessions are used, whether signature confirmations are required, and the message protection settings, respectively.


private WseSecurityAssertion assertion;
public WseSecurityAssertion SecurityAssertion
{
    get { return assertion; }
    set { assertion = value; }
}

private bool requireDerivedKeys;
public bool RequireDerivedKeys
{
    get { return requireDerivedKeys; }
    set { requireDerivedKeys = value; }
}

private bool establishSecurityContext;
public bool EstablishSecurityContext
{
    get { return establishSecurityContext; }
    set { establishSecurityContext = value; }
}

private bool requireSignatureConfirmation;
public bool RequireSignatureConfirmation
{
    get { return requireSignatureConfirmation; }
    set { requireSignatureConfirmation = value; }
}

private MessageProtectionOrder messageProtectionOrder;
public MessageProtectionOrder MessageProtectionOrder
{
    get { return messageProtectionOrder; }
    set { messageProtectionOrder = value; }
}

Public Property SecurityAssertion() As WseSecurityAssertion

    Get

        Return assertion

    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As WseSecurityAssertion)

        assertion = value

    End Set

End Property

Private m_requireDerivedKeys As Boolean
Public Property RequireDerivedKeys() As Boolean

    Get

        Return m_requireDerivedKeys

    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As Boolean)

        m_requireDerivedKeys = value

    End Set

End Property

Private m_establishSecurityContext As Boolean
Public Property EstablishSecurityContext() As Boolean

    Get

        Return m_establishSecurityContext

    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As Boolean)

        m_establishSecurityContext = value

    End Set

End Property

Private m_requireSignatureConfirmation As Boolean
Public Property RequireSignatureConfirmation() As Boolean

    Get

        Return m_requireSignatureConfirmation

    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As Boolean)

        m_requireSignatureConfirmation = value

    End Set

End Property

Private m_messageProtectionOrder As MessageProtectionOrder
Public Property MessageProtectionOrder() As MessageProtectionOrder

    Get

        Return m_messageProtectionOrder

    End Get
    Set(ByVal value As MessageProtectionOrder)

        m_messageProtectionOrder = value

    End Set

End Property

Override the CreateBindingElements method to set the binding properties.

The following code example specifies the transport, message encoding, and message protection settings by getting the values of the SecurityAssertion and MessageProtectionOrder properties.

public override BindingElementCollection CreateBindingElements()
{
    //SecurityBindingElement sbe = bec.Find<SecurityBindingElement>();
    BindingElementCollection bec = new BindingElementCollection();
    // By default http transport is used
    SecurityBindingElement securityBinding;
    BindingElement transport;

    switch (assertion)
    {
        case WseSecurityAssertion.UsernameOverTransport:
            transport = new HttpsTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = (TransportSecurityBindingElement)SecurityBindingElement.CreateUserNameOverTransportBindingElement();
            if (establishSecurityContext == true)
                throw new InvalidOperationException("Secure Conversation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type");
            if (requireSignatureConfirmation == true)
                throw new InvalidOperationException("Signature Confirmation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type");
            break;
        case WseSecurityAssertion.MutualCertificate10:
            transport = new HttpTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = SecurityBindingElement.CreateMutualCertificateBindingElement(MessageSecurityVersion.WSSecurity10WSTrustFebruary2005WSSecureConversationFebruary2005WSSecurityPolicy11BasicSecurityProfile10);
            if (requireSignatureConfirmation == true)
                throw new InvalidOperationException("Signature Confirmation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type");
            ((AsymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
            break;
        case WseSecurityAssertion.UsernameForCertificate:
            transport = new HttpTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = (SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)SecurityBindingElement.CreateUserNameForCertificateBindingElement();
            // We want signatureconfirmation on the bootstrap process
            // either for the application messages or for the RST/RSTR
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).RequireSignatureConfirmation = requireSignatureConfirmation;
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
            break;
        case WseSecurityAssertion.AnonymousForCertificate:
            transport = new HttpTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = (SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)SecurityBindingElement.CreateAnonymousForCertificateBindingElement();
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).RequireSignatureConfirmation = requireSignatureConfirmation;
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
            break;
        case WseSecurityAssertion.MutualCertificate11:
            transport = new HttpTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = SecurityBindingElement.CreateMutualCertificateBindingElement(MessageSecurityVersion.WSSecurity11WSTrustFebruary2005WSSecureConversationFebruary2005WSSecurityPolicy11);
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).RequireSignatureConfirmation = requireSignatureConfirmation;
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
            break;
        case WseSecurityAssertion.Kerberos:
            transport = new HttpTransportBindingElement();
            securityBinding = (SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)SecurityBindingElement.CreateKerberosBindingElement();
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).RequireSignatureConfirmation = requireSignatureConfirmation;
            ((SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)securityBinding).MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
            break;
        default:
            throw new NotSupportedException("This supplied Wse security assertion is not supported");
    }
    //Set defaults for the security binding
    securityBinding.IncludeTimestamp = true;

    // Derived Keys
    // set the preference for derived keys before creating SecureConversationBindingElement
    securityBinding.SetKeyDerivation(requireDerivedKeys);

    //Secure Conversation
    if (establishSecurityContext == true)
    {
        SymmetricSecurityBindingElement secureconversation =
                (SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)SymmetricSecurityBindingElement.CreateSecureConversationBindingElement(
                                            securityBinding, false);
        // This is the default
        //secureconversation.DefaultProtectionLevel = ProtectionLevel.EncryptAndSign;

        //Set defaults for the secure conversation binding
        secureconversation.DefaultAlgorithmSuite = SecurityAlgorithmSuite.Basic256;
        // We do not want signature confirmation on the application level messages
        // when secure conversation is enabled.
        secureconversation.RequireSignatureConfirmation = false;
        secureconversation.MessageProtectionOrder = messageProtectionOrder;
        secureconversation.SetKeyDerivation(requireDerivedKeys);
        securityBinding = secureconversation;
    }

    // Add the security binding to the binding collection
    bec.Add(securityBinding);

    // Add the message encoder.
    TextMessageEncodingBindingElement textelement = new TextMessageEncodingBindingElement();
    textelement.MessageVersion = MessageVersion.Soap11WSAddressingAugust2004;
    //These are the defaults required for WSE
    //textelement.MessageVersion = MessageVersion.Soap11Addressing1;
    //textelement.WriteEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;
    bec.Add(textelement);

    // Add the transport
    bec.Add(transport);

    // return the binding elements
    return bec;
}

Public Overloads Overrides Function CreateBindingElements() As BindingElementCollection

    'SecurityBindingElement sbe = bec.Find<SecurityBindingElement>();
    Dim bec As New BindingElementCollection()
    ' By default http transport is used
    Dim securityBinding As SecurityBindingElement
    Dim transport As BindingElement

    Select Case assertion

        Case WseSecurityAssertion.UsernameOverTransport
            transport = New HttpsTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = DirectCast(SecurityBindingElement.CreateUserNameOverTransportBindingElement(), TransportSecurityBindingElement)
            If m_establishSecurityContext = True Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException("Secure Conversation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type")
            End If
            If m_requireSignatureConfirmation = True Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException("Signature Confirmation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type")
            End If
            Exit Select
        Case WseSecurityAssertion.MutualCertificate10
            transport = New HttpTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = SecurityBindingElement.CreateMutualCertificateBindingElement(MessageSecurityVersion.WSSecurity10WSTrustFebruary2005WSSecureConversationFebruary2005WSSecurityPolicy11BasicSecurityProfile10)
            If m_requireSignatureConfirmation = True Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException("Signature Confirmation is not supported for this Security Assertion Type")
            End If
            DirectCast(securityBinding, AsymmetricSecurityBindingElement).MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
            Exit Select
        Case WseSecurityAssertion.UsernameForCertificate
            transport = New HttpTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = DirectCast(SecurityBindingElement.CreateUserNameForCertificateBindingElement(), SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)
            ' We want signatureconfirmation on the bootstrap process
            ' either for the application messages or for the RST/RSTR
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).RequireSignatureConfirmation = m_requireSignatureConfirmation
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
            Exit Select
        Case WseSecurityAssertion.AnonymousForCertificate
            transport = New HttpTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = DirectCast(SecurityBindingElement.CreateAnonymousForCertificateBindingElement(), SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).RequireSignatureConfirmation = m_requireSignatureConfirmation
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
            Exit Select
        Case WseSecurityAssertion.MutualCertificate11
            transport = New HttpTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = SecurityBindingElement.CreateMutualCertificateBindingElement(MessageSecurityVersion.WSSecurity11WSTrustFebruary2005WSSecureConversationFebruary2005WSSecurityPolicy11)
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).RequireSignatureConfirmation = m_requireSignatureConfirmation
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
            Exit Select
        Case WseSecurityAssertion.Kerberos
            transport = New HttpTransportBindingElement()
            securityBinding = DirectCast(SecurityBindingElement.CreateKerberosBindingElement(), SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).RequireSignatureConfirmation = m_requireSignatureConfirmation
            DirectCast(securityBinding, SymmetricSecurityBindingElement).MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
            Exit Select
        Case Else
            Throw New NotSupportedException("This supplied Wse security assertion is not supported")

    End Select

    'Set defaults for the security binding
    securityBinding.IncludeTimestamp = True

    ' Derived Keys
    ' Set the preference for derived keys before creating the binding for SecureConversation.
    securityBinding.SetKeyDerivation(m_requireDerivedKeys)

    'Secure Conversation
    If m_establishSecurityContext = True Then

        Dim secureconversation As SymmetricSecurityBindingElement = DirectCast(SymmetricSecurityBindingElement.CreateSecureConversationBindingElement(securityBinding, False), SymmetricSecurityBindingElement)
        ' This is the default
        'secureconversation.DefaultProtectionLevel = ProtectionLevel.EncryptAndSign;

        'Set defaults for the secure conversation binding
        secureconversation.DefaultAlgorithmSuite = SecurityAlgorithmSuite.Basic256
        ' We do not want signature confirmation on the application level messages
        ' when secure conversation is enabled.
        secureconversation.RequireSignatureConfirmation = False
        secureconversation.MessageProtectionOrder = m_messageProtectionOrder
        secureconversation.SetKeyDerivation(m_requireDerivedKeys)
        securityBinding = secureconversation

    End If

    ' Add the security binding to the binding collection
    bec.Add(securityBinding)

    ' Add the message encoder.
    Dim textelement As New TextMessageEncodingBindingElement()
    textelement.MessageVersion = System.ServiceModel.Channels.MessageVersion.Soap11WSAddressingAugust2004
    'These are the defaults required for WSE
    'textelement.MessageVersion = MessageVersion.Soap11Addressing1;
    'textelement.WriteEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;
    bec.Add(textelement)

    ' Add the transport
    bec.Add(transport)

    ' return the binding elements
    Return bec

End Function

In the client application code, add code to set the binding properties.

The following code example specifies that the WCF client must use message protection and authentication as defined by the WSE 3.0 AnonymousForCertificate turnkey security assertion. Additionally, secure sessions and derived keys are required.

static void CallWseService(bool usePolicyFile)
{
    EndpointAddress address = new EndpointAddress(new Uri("http://localhost/WSSecurityAnonymousPolicy/WSSecurityAnonymousService.asmx"),
                                                  EndpointIdentity.CreateDnsIdentity("WSE2QuickStartServer"));

    WseHttpBinding binding = new WseHttpBinding();
    if (!usePolicyFile)
    {
        binding.SecurityAssertion = WseSecurityAssertion.AnonymousForCertificate;
        binding.EstablishSecurityContext = true;
        binding.RequireDerivedKeys = true;
        binding.MessageProtectionOrder = MessageProtectionOrder.SignBeforeEncrypt;
    }
    else
    {
        binding.LoadPolicy("..\\wse3policyCache.config", "ServerPolicy");
    }

    WSSecurityAnonymousServiceSoapClient client = new WSSecurityAnonymousServiceSoapClient(binding, address);

Private Shared Sub CallWseService(ByVal usePolicyFile As Boolean)

    Dim address As New EndpointAddress(New Uri("http://localhost/WSSecurityAnonymousPolicy/WSSecurityAnonymousService.asmx"), EndpointIdentity.CreateDnsIdentity("WSE2QuickStartServer"))

    Dim binding As New WseHttpBinding()
    If Not usePolicyFile Then

        binding.SecurityAssertion = WseSecurityAssertion.AnonymousForCertificate
        binding.EstablishSecurityContext = True
        binding.RequireDerivedKeys = True
        binding.MessageProtectionOrder = MessageProtectionOrder.SignBeforeEncrypt

    Else
        binding.LoadPolicy("..\wse3policyCache.config", "ServerPolicy")
    End If

    Dim client As New WSSecurityAnonymousServiceSoapClient(binding, address)

Example

The following code example defines a custom binding that exposes properties that correspond to the properties of a WSE 3.0 turnkey security assertion. That custom binding, which is named WseHttpBinding, is then used to specify the binding properties for a WCF client that communicates with the WSSecurityAnonymous WSE 3.0 QuickStart sample.

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How to: Access a WSE 3.0 Service with a WCF Client

To access a WSE 3.0 Web service with a WCF client

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