Using attributes in C# to check authorization of user

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I would like to check authorization on a method for the current user to check if he/she has the right to perform this action.

Here is the example of the attribute I have in place:

C#

[AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Method)]
    public class IsAuthorized : Attribute
    {
        public IsAuthorized(Rights right)
        {
            bool isAuthorized = false;

            if (right == Rights.None)
                isAuthorized = true;
            else
            {
                DataAccessLayer.IDAL dal = new DataAccessLayer.DAL();
                string userName = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name;
                Guid userID = dal.GetUserIDFromUserName(userName);

                isAuthorized = dal.HasRight(userID, right.ToString());
            }

            if (!isAuthorized)
                throw new SecurityException("You don't have the rights to perform this action");
        }
    }

And this is how I how like to check if the user has the authority to access the method:

C#

[IsAuthorized(Rights.CreateUserGroup)]
    public string Ping()
    {
       return "The service is online";
    }

Posted 8-Jul-13 23:12pm

Stiaan Jacobs

Add a Solution

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Fredrik Bornander · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-08T23:48:00

Something like this might point you in the right direction;

using System;
using System.Security;
using System.Security.Permissions;

namespace AccessThingie {

    [Serializable]
    [AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Method)]
    public class IsAuthorized  : CodeAccessSecurityAttribute {
        private static readonly PrincipalPermission Allowed = new PrincipalPermission(PermissionState.None);
        private static readonly PrincipalPermission NotAllowed = new PrincipalPermission(PermissionState.Unrestricted);

        public static class Rights
        {
            public const string None = "None";
            public const string CreateUserGroup = "CreateUserGroup";
        }

        public string Right { get; set; }

        public IsAuthorized(SecurityAction action)
            : base(action) 
        {
        }

        public override IPermission CreatePermission()
        {
            return IsAuthorised(Right) ? Allowed : NotAllowed;
        }

        private static bool IsAuthorised(string right)
        {
            if (right == Rights.None)
                return true;
            else {
                /* Enable this
                DataAccessLayer.IDAL dal = new DataAccessLayer.DAL();
                string userName = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name;
                Guid userID = dal.GetUserIDFromUserName(userName);
                return dal.HasRight(userID, right);
                */
                return false;
            }
        }
    }

    class Program {

        [IsAuthorized(SecurityAction.Demand, Right = IsAuthorized.Rights.CreateUserGroup)]
        public static string Ping()
        {
            return "The service is online";
        }

        private static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Ping();
        }
    }
}

Hope this helps,
Fredrik