To allow query parameters in the redirect URL for Ory OAuth2 and OpenID Connect, you need to configure an allow list for the redirect URLs. This is done to prevent Open Redirect Attacks while still allowing certain domains or paths to be used as redirect targets. Here's how you can set it up: 1. Configure an allow list for redirect URLs in your Ory project. This list should include the domains and paths that you want to allow as redirect targets. 2. When initializing a flow (such as login or registration), you can use the

return_to

query parameter to specify the URL where the user should be redirected after the flow is completed. 3. The

return_to

URL must match one of the entries in your configured allow list. If it doesn't match, the redirect will fail. Here's an example of how you might use the

return_to

parameter:

curl -X GET 'http://<your-project>.<http://projects.oryapis.com/self-service/login/browser?return_to=https://myapp.com/protected|projects.oryapis.com/self-service/login/browser?return_to=https://myapp.com/protected>'

In this case,

<https://myapp.com/protected>

must be included in your allow list configuration. It's important to note that the

return_to

query parameter doesn't automatically persist across different flows. If you need to maintain the same redirect URL across multiple flows (e.g., from login to registration), you'll need to handle this in your application logic. For more detailed information on how to configure and use redirects in Ory, you can refer to the [Browser redirects and flow completion](https://www.ory.sh/docs/concepts/redirects) documentation.

I understand you want to include a variable query string parameter in the

return_to

URL. This is indeed possible with Ory, but you need to be careful with the configuration to ensure security while allowing the flexibility you need. To allow variable query string parameters in the

return_to

URL, you need to configure your allow list appropriately. Here's how you can do it: 1. In your Ory project configuration, set up the allow list to include the base URL and path structure you want to allow, but leave room for variable query parameters. 2. You can use wildcard patterns in your allow list to match URLs with variable query parameters. For example, you might configure your allow list like this:

yaml selfservice:   allowed_return_urls:     - <https://myapp.com/callback*>     - <https://sub.domain.myapp.com/only/path*>

This configuration would allow URLs like: -

<https://myapp.com/callback?param1=value1&param2=value2>

-

<https://sub.domain.myapp.com/only/path?custom=data&user=123>

When using the

return_to

parameter, you can then include your variable query string:

curl -X GET 'http://<your-project>.<http://projects.oryapis.com/self-service/login/browser?return_to=https://myapp.com/callback?param1=value1&param2=value2|projects.oryapis.com/self-service/login/browser?return_to=https://myapp.com/callback?param1=value1&param2=value2>'

It's important to note that you should be cautious when allowing wildcard patterns in your return URLs, as this can potentially open up security vulnerabilities if not handled carefully. Always ensure that the base domain and path structure are strictly controlled. For more detailed information on configuring redirects and the allow list, you can refer to the [Browser redirects and flow completion](https://www.ory.sh/docs/concepts/redirects) documentation. Remember, the exact implementation may depend on your specific Ory setup and security requirements. Always test thoroughly to ensure your configuration works as expected while maintaining security.

Based on the information provided in your question and the knowledge sources available, I can explain why you might be getting a

redirect_uri

error despite having

<http://localhost:3000/*>

and

<https://dev.pudgyworld.com/*>

set as valid redirect URIs. The issue is likely due to the query parameter in your

redirect_uri

. In the URL you provided, the

redirect_uri

is:

<http://localhost:3000?refCode=3bEJ2K11LCUJ3LAP39NrSv>

Even though you have

<http://localhost:3000/*>

set as a valid redirect URI, Ory performs an exact match on the redirect URI, including query parameters. The wildcard

*

in your configuration doesn't allow for arbitrary query parameters to be added to the redirect URI. According to the [OAuth2 first aid documentation](https://www.ory.sh/docs/hydra/debug): "A likely cause of your request failing is that you are using the wrong redirect URL. ... The redirect URL

<http://my-url/callback>

must be whitelisted in your client configuration. The URLs must match. URL

<http://my-url/callback>

and

<http://my-url/callback?foo=bar>

are different URLs!" To resolve this issue, you have a few options: 1. Add the exact redirect URI with the query parameter to your allowed redirect URIs list:

<http://localhost:3000?refCode=3bEJ2K11LCUJ3LAP39NrSv>

However, this is not ideal if the

refCode

is dynamic. 2. Instead of including the

refCode

in the redirect URI, you could include it in the

state

parameter of the OAuth2 request. The

state

parameter is designed to carry application-specific data through the authorization process. 3. If you need to support dynamic query parameters in your redirect URI, you might need to adjust your Ory configuration. However, this should be done cautiously as it can have security implications. For a more detailed explanation and potential solutions, I recommend checking the [OAuth2 first aid](https://www.ory.sh/docs/hydra/debug) and [Browser redirects and flow completion](https://www.ory.sh/docs/concepts/redirects) documentation. Remember, it's crucial to balance flexibility with security when configuring redirect URIs. Always ensure that your configuration doesn't open up potential vulnerabilities.

Certainly! The

state

parameter is an important security feature in OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect flows, including those implemented by Ory. Let's discuss its usage and benefits in more detail. The

state

parameter serves several important purposes: 1. CSRF Protection: The primary use of the

state

parameter is to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. 2. Maintaining Application State: It can be used to carry application-specific data through the authorization process. 3. Request and Response Binding: It helps in binding the authorization request to the response. Here's how you can effectively use the

state

parameter: 1. Generate a Unique State: When initiating the OAuth2 flow, generate a unique, unguessable string to use as the

state

value. This could be a random string, a hash, or an encrypted value. 2. Include in Authorization Request: Add this

state

value to your authorization request. For example:

https://$<http://PROJECT_SLUG.projects.oryapis.com/oauth2/auth?response_type=code&client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=https://myapp.com/callback&scope=openid%20offline_access&state=YOUR_UNIQUE_STATE_VALUE|PROJECT_SLUG.projects.oryapis.com/oauth2/auth?response_type=code&client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=https://myapp.com/callback&scope=openid%20offline_access&state=YOUR_UNIQUE_STATE_VALUE>

As mentioned in the [OAuth2 authorization code flow documentation](https://www.ory.sh/docs/oauth2-oidc/authorization-code-flow):

state: A random value that is generated by the requesting application to prevent cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.

3. Store the State: Store this

state

value on your client-side, typically in the session or local storage. 4. Verify on Callback: When Ory redirects back to your application after authentication, it will include the same

state

value in the response. Your application should verify that this returned

state

matches the one you originally sent. 5. Using State for Application Data: You can encode additional data into the

state

parameter. For example, you could include the original URL the user was trying to access:

javascript
   const state = encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify({
     random: generateRandomString(),
     returnTo: '/dashboard?refCode=3bEJ2K11LCUJ3LAP39NrSv'
   }));

Then, in your callback handler, you can parse this data and use it to redirect the user appropriately. It's important to note that while the

state

parameter can carry application data, it should not contain sensitive information as it's passed in the URL and could potentially be logged or exposed. By effectively using the

state

parameter, you can enhance the security of your OAuth2 flow and maintain application state across the authentication process. This is particularly useful when you need to pass dynamic data (like your

refCode

) through the authentication flow without modifying the registered redirect URIs.

Certainly! The

state

parameter is an important security feature in OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect flows, including those implemented by Ory. Let's discuss its usage and benefits in more detail. The

state

parameter serves several important purposes: 1. CSRF Protection: The primary use of the

state

parameter is to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. 2. Maintaining Application State: It can be used to carry application-specific data through the authorization process. 3. Request and Response Binding: It helps in binding the authorization request to the response. Here's how you can effectively use the

state

parameter: 1. Generate a Unique State: When initiating the OAuth2 flow, generate a unique, unguessable string to use as the

state

value. This could be a random string, a hash, or an encrypted value. 2. Include in Authorization Request: Add this

state

value to your authorization request. For example:

https://$<http://PROJECT_SLUG.projects.oryapis.com/oauth2/auth?response_type=code&client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=https://myapp.com/callback&scope=openid%20offline_access&state=YOUR_UNIQUE_STATE_VALUE|PROJECT_SLUG.projects.oryapis.com/oauth2/auth?response_type=code&client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=https://myapp.com/callback&scope=openid%20offline_access&state=YOUR_UNIQUE_STATE_VALUE>

As mentioned in the [OAuth2 authorization code flow documentation](https://www.ory.sh/docs/oauth2-oidc/authorization-code-flow):

state: A random value that is generated by the requesting application to prevent cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.

3. Store the State: Store this

state

value on your client-side, typically in the session or local storage. 4. Verify on Callback: When Ory redirects back to your application after authentication, it will include the same

state

value in the response. Your application should verify that this returned

state

matches the one you originally sent. 5. Using State for Application Data: You can encode additional data into the

state

parameter. For example, you could include the original URL the user was trying to access:

javascript    const state = encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify({      random: generateRandomString(),      returnTo: '/dashboard?refCode=3bEJ2K11LCUJ3LAP39NrSv'    }));

Then, in your callback handler, you can parse this data and use it to redirect the user appropriately. It's important to note that while the

state

parameter can carry application data, it should not contain sensitive information as it's passed in the URL and could potentially be logged or exposed. By effectively using the

state

parameter, you can enhance the security of your OAuth2 flow and maintain application state across the authentication process. This is particularly useful when you need to pass dynamic data (like your

refCode

) through the authentication flow without modifying the registered redirect URIs. For more detailed information on implementing OAuth2 flows with Ory, including the use of the

state

parameter, you can refer to the [OAuth2 authorization code flow documentation](https://www.ory.sh/docs/oauth2-oidc/authorization-code-flow).