WebApi with OWIN SelfHost and Windows Authentication

Question

I have a console application SERVER that hosts WebApi controllers using OWIN self-hosting, and runs under a custom account named "ServiceTest1".

In the same machine I have another console application CLIENT that runs under the account "ServiceTest2", and I want to capture in SERVER that "ServiceTest2" invoked a controller action. However:

• WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent() is always "ServiceTest1".
• Thread.CurrentPrincipal is an unauthenticated GenericIdentity.
• RequestContext.Principal is null.
• User is null.

What do I need to make this WebApi OWIN self-hosted to grab the Windows identity of the caller?

Answer 1

Your question is a little unclear on exactly how you've implemented the Windows authentication.

Enable Windows authentication:

public class Startup
{
    public void Configuration(IAppBuilder app)
    {
        HttpListener listener = (HttpListener)app.Properties["System.Net.HttpListener"];
        listener.AuthenticationSchemes = AuthenticationSchemes.IntegratedWindowsAuthentication;

        // ...
    }
}

Get the user in an OWIN middleware:

public async Task Invoke(IDictionary<string, object> env)
{
    OwinContext context = new OwinContext(env);
    WindowsPrincipal user = context.Request.User as WindowsPrincipal;

    //...
}

Get the user in a Web API Controller:

// In a web api controller function
WindowsPrincipal user = RequestContext.Principal as WindowsPrincipal;