Wrong Thread.CurrentPrincipal in async WCF end-method

Question

I have a WCF service which has its Thread.CurrentPrincipal set in the ServiceConfiguration.ClaimsAuthorizationManager.

When I implement the service asynchronously like this:

    public IAsyncResult BeginMethod1(AsyncCallback callback, object state)
    {
        // Audit log call (uses Thread.CurrentPrincipal)

        var task = Task<int>.Factory.StartNew(this.WorkerFunction, state);

        return task.ContinueWith(res => callback(task));
    }

    public string EndMethod1(IAsyncResult ar)
    {
        // Audit log result (uses Thread.CurrentPrincipal)

        return ar.AsyncState as string;
    }

    private int WorkerFunction(object state)
    {
        // perform work
    }

I find that the Thread.CurrentPrincipal is set to the correct ClaimsPrincipal in the Begin-method and also in the WorkerFunction, but in the End-method it's set to a GenericPrincipal.

I know I can enable ASP.NET compatibility for the service and use HttpContext.Current.User which has the correct principal in all methods, but I'd rather not do this.

Is there a way to force the Thread.CurrentPrincipal to the correct ClaimsPrincipal without turning on ASP.NET compatibility?

Answer 1

Starting with a summary of WCF extension points, you'll see the one that is expressly designed to solve your problem. It is called a CallContextInitializer. Take a look at this article which gives CallContextInitializer sample code.

If you make an ICallContextInitializer extension, you will be given control over both the BeginXXX thread context AND the EndXXX thread context. You are saying that the ClaimsAuthorizationManager has correctly established the user principal in your BeginXXX(...) method. In that case, you then make for yourself a custom ICallContextInitializer which either assigns or records the CurrentPrincipal, depending on whether it is handling your BeginXXX() or your EndXXX(). Something like:

public object BeforeInvoke(System.ServiceModel.InstanceContext instanceContext, System.ServiceModel.IClientChannel channel, System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message request){
    object principal = null;
    if (request.Properties.TryGetValue("userPrincipal", out principal))
    {
        //If we got here, it means we're about to call the EndXXX(...) method.
        Thread.CurrentPrincipal = (IPrincipal)principal;
    }
    else
    {
        //If we got here, it means we're about to call the BeginXXX(...) method.
        request.Properties["userPrincipal"] = Thread.CurrentPrincipal;            
    }
    ...
 }

To clarify further, consider two cases. Suppose you implemented both an ICallContextInitializer and an IParameterInspector. Suppose that these hooks are expected to execute with a synchronous WCF service and with an async WCF service (which is your special case).

Below are the sequence of events and the explanation of what is happening:

Synchronous Case

ICallContextInitializer.BeforeInvoke();
IParemeterInspector.BeforeCall();
//...service executes...
IParameterInspector.AfterCall();
ICallContextInitializer.AfterInvoke();

Nothing surprising in the above code. But now look below at what happens with asynchronous service operations...

Asynchronous Case

ICallContextInitializer.BeforeInvoke();  //TryGetValue() fails, so this records the UserPrincipal.
IParameterInspector.BeforeCall();
//...Your BeginXXX() routine now executes...
ICallContextInitializer.AfterInvoke();

//...Now your Task async code executes (or finishes executing)...

ICallContextInitializercut.BeforeInvoke();  //TryGetValue succeeds, so this assigns the UserPrincipal.
//...Your EndXXX() routine now executes...
IParameterInspector.AfterCall();
ICallContextInitializer.AfterInvoke();

As you can see, the CallContextInitializer ensures you have opportunity to initialize values such as your CurrentPrincipal just before the EndXXX() routine runs. It therefore doesn't matter that the EndXXX() routine assuredly is executing on a different thread than did the BeginXXX() routine. And yes, the System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message object which is storing your user principal between Begin/End methods, is preserved and properly transmitted by WCF even though the thread changed.

Overall, this approach allows your EndXXX(IAsyncresult) to execute with the correct IPrincipal, without having to explicitly re-establish the CurrentPrincipal in the EndXXX() routine. And as with any WCF behavior, you can decide if this applies to individual operations, all operations on a contract, or all operations on an endpoint.