SAML: A Fractal of Bad Design
SAML, the XML-based authentication protocol that birthed the SSO industry, is fundamentally flawed due to XML complexity, canonicalization issues, enveloped signatures, and design ossification, making it vulnerable to signature wrapping attacks and parser differentials that persist despite decades of awareness. Organizations should migrate to OpenID Connect (OIDC), which avoids these pitfalls through simpler JSON-based design, detached signatures, and agile evolution.
Summary
SAML’s design flaws, including XML complexity and security vulnerabilities, have led experts to recommend a shift to OpenID Connect (OIDC). The article discusses the specific issues with SAML and highlights the advantages of OIDC’s simpler and more secure approach.
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