SSO and LDAP

CVAT Enterprise supports Single Sign-On (SSO) and LDAP integration for centralized authentication. These features are available in the Enterprise edition.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

CVAT supports SSO using both OpenID Connect (OIDC) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) protocols.

Supported Identity Providers

Microsoft Azure (OIDC and SAML)
Okta (OIDC and SAML)
Auth0 (OIDC and SAML)
Keycloak (OIDC and SAML)
Any OIDC or SAML compliant provider

Configuration Overview

To configure SSO:

Configure your Identity Provider (IdP) application
Create an SSO configuration file (auth_config.yml)
Set environment variables
Start or restart CVAT

SSO Configuration File

Create an auth_config.yml file with your SSO settings:

OpenID Connect Example

sso:
  enabled: true
  selection_mode: email_address
  enable_pkce: false
  identity_providers:
    - id: company-oidc
      protocol: OIDC
      name: Company SSO
      server_url: https://login.company.com/
      client_id: cvat-client-id
      client_secret: your-client-secret
      email_domain: company.com
      token_auth_method: client_secret_post  # Optional

SAML Example

sso:
  enabled: true
  selection_mode: email_address
  identity_providers:
    - id: company-saml
      protocol: SAML
      name: Company SAML
      entity_id: https://sso.company.com
      metadata_url: https://sso.company.com/saml/metadata
      
      attribute_mapping:
        uid: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/nameidentifier
        username: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/name
        email: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/emailaddress
        first_name: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/givenname
        last_name: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/surname
        email_verified: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/emailverified
      
      email_domain: company.com
      weight: 1

SSO Settings Reference

Setting	Description
`enabled`	Enable or disable SSO functionality
`selection_mode`	How to select IdP: `email_address` (by email domain) or `lowest_weight` (by weight value)
`enable_pkce`	Enable Proof Key for Code Exchange for OIDC (default: false)

Identity Provider Configuration

Required Fields

Field	Description
`id`	Unique URL-safe identifier for the IdP (used in callback URLs)
`name`	Human-readable name displayed to users
`protocol`	Authentication protocol: `OIDC` or `SAML`

Optional Fields

Field	Description
`email_domain`	Company email domain (for `email_address` selection mode)
`weight`	Priority value (for `lowest_weight` selection mode, default: 10)

OIDC-Specific Fields

Field	Required	Description
`client_id`	Yes	OAuth client ID from IdP
`client_secret`	Yes	OAuth client secret from IdP
`server_url`	Yes	OIDC discovery URL (should have `/.well-known/openid-configuration` endpoint)
`token_auth_method`	No	Token authentication method: `client_secret_basic` or `client_secret_post`

SAML-Specific Fields

Field	Required	Description
`entity_id`	Yes	IdP entity ID
`metadata_url`	No*	SAML metadata URL
`x509_cert`	No*	SAML X.509 certificate
`sso_url`	No*	SAML Single Sign-On service URL
`attribute_mapping`	Yes	Mapping of user attributes

*Either metadata_url OR both x509_cert and sso_url are required.

Callback URLs

When configuring your IdP, use these callback URL patterns: OIDC Redirect URI:

https://your-cvat-domain.com/api/auth/oidc/<idp-id>/login/callback/

SAML Assertion Consumer Service (ACS) URL:

https://your-cvat-domain.com/api/auth/saml/<idp-id>/acs/

SAML Entity ID/Metadata URL:

https://your-cvat-domain.com/api/auth/saml/<idp-id>/metadata/

Replace <idp-id> with your identity provider’s id from the configuration file.

Environment Variables

Set these environment variables before starting CVAT:

export AUTH_CONFIG_PATH="/path/to/auth_config.yml"
export CVAT_HOST="cvat.company.com"
export CVAT_BASE_URL="https://cvat.company.com"

Update your docker-compose.override.yml:

services:
  cvat_server:
    environment:
      AUTH_CONFIG_PATH: /auth_config.yml
      CVAT_BASE_URL: https://cvat.company.com
    volumes:
      - ./auth_config.yml:/auth_config.yml:ro

Starting CVAT with SSO

docker compose up -d

The login page will now display a “Continue with SSO” button.

LDAP Authentication

LDAP integration allows users to authenticate against Active Directory, FreeIPA, or other LDAP servers. Source: site/content/en/docs/administration/community/advanced/ldap.md

Prerequisites

Install the Python LDAP library in your CVAT container:

RUN pip install django-auth-ldap

Or build a custom Docker image with this dependency.

Configuration

Create a custom Django settings file (settings.py) that imports production settings and adds LDAP configuration.

Active Directory Example

# Overlay production settings
from cvat.settings.production import *

# Import LDAP modules
import ldap
from django_auth_ldap.config import LDAPSearch, NestedActiveDirectoryGroupType

# Set IAM type to LDAP
IAM_TYPE = 'LDAP'

# LDAP server configuration
AUTH_LDAP_SERVER_URI = "ldap://ad.example.com"
ldap.set_option(ldap.OPT_REFERRALS, 0)

_BASE_DN = "CN=Users,DC=ad,DC=example,DC=com"

# Bind credentials
AUTH_LDAP_BIND_DN = "CN=cvat_bind,%s" % _BASE_DN
# Alternative format: "cvat_bind@ad.example.com"
AUTH_LDAP_BIND_PASSWORD = "SuperSecurePassword^21"

# User search configuration
AUTH_LDAP_USER_SEARCH = LDAPSearch(
    _BASE_DN,
    ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE,
    "(sAMAccountName=%(user)s)"
)

# Group search configuration
AUTH_LDAP_GROUP_SEARCH = LDAPSearch(
    _BASE_DN,
    ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE,
    "(objectClass=group)"
)

# Map LDAP attributes to Django fields
AUTH_LDAP_USER_ATTR_MAP = {
    "user_name": "sAMAccountName",
    "first_name": "givenName",
    "last_name": "sn",
    "email": "mail",
}

# Group type
AUTH_LDAP_GROUP_TYPE = NestedActiveDirectoryGroupType()

# Register LDAP authentication backend
AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS += ['django_auth_ldap.backend.LDAPBackend']

# Map AD groups to CVAT roles
AUTH_LDAP_ADMIN_GROUPS = ['CN=CVAT Admins,%s' % _BASE_DN]
AUTH_LDAP_WORKER_GROUPS = ['CN=CVAT Workers,%s' % _BASE_DN]
AUTH_LDAP_USER_GROUPS = ['CN=CVAT Users,%s' % _BASE_DN]

DJANGO_AUTH_LDAP_GROUPS = {
    "admin": AUTH_LDAP_ADMIN_GROUPS,
    "user": AUTH_LDAP_USER_GROUPS,
    "worker": AUTH_LDAP_WORKER_GROUPS,
}

FreeIPA Example

from cvat.settings.production import *

import ldap
from django_auth_ldap.config import LDAPSearch, GroupOfNamesType

IAM_TYPE = 'LDAP'

_BASE_DN = "CN=Accounts,DC=ipa,DC=example,DC=com"

AUTH_LDAP_SERVER_URI = "ldap://ipa.example.com"
ldap.set_option(ldap.OPT_REFERRALS, 0)

AUTH_LDAP_BIND_DN = "UID=cvat_bind,CN=Users,%s" % _BASE_DN
AUTH_LDAP_BIND_PASSWORD = "SuperSecurePassword^21"

AUTH_LDAP_USER_SEARCH = LDAPSearch(
    "CN=Users,%s" % _BASE_DN,
    ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE,
    "(uid=%(user)s)"
)

AUTH_LDAP_GROUP_SEARCH = LDAPSearch(
    "CN=Groups,%s" % _BASE_DN,
    ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE,
    "(objectClass=groupOfNames)"
)

AUTH_LDAP_USER_ATTR_MAP = {
    "user_name": "uid",
    "first_name": "givenName",
    "last_name": "sn",
    "email": "mail",
}

AUTH_LDAP_GROUP_TYPE = GroupOfNamesType()

AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS += ['django_auth_ldap.backend.LDAPBackend']

AUTH_LDAP_ADMIN_GROUPS = ['CN=cvat_admins,CN=Groups,%s' % _BASE_DN]
AUTH_LDAP_WORKER_GROUPS = ['CN=cvat_workers,CN=Groups,%s' % _BASE_DN]
AUTH_LDAP_USER_GROUPS = ['CN=cvat_users,CN=Groups,%s' % _BASE_DN]

DJANGO_AUTH_LDAP_GROUPS = {
    "admin": AUTH_LDAP_ADMIN_GROUPS,
    "user": AUTH_LDAP_USER_GROUPS,
    "worker": AUTH_LDAP_WORKER_GROUPS,
}

Deploying LDAP Configuration

Update your docker-compose.override.yml:

services:
  cvat_server:
    environment:
      DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE: settings
    volumes:
      - ./settings.py:/home/django/settings.py:ro

Restart CVAT:

docker compose down
docker compose up -d

LDAP Group Mapping

CVAT roles are mapped to LDAP groups:

admin: Full administrative access
user: Standard annotation user
worker: Limited worker access

Users are assigned the highest priority role from their LDAP group memberships.

Troubleshooting LDAP

Test LDAP Connection

docker exec -it cvat_server bash
ldapsearch -x -H ldap://your-ldap-server -D "CN=cvat_bind,CN=Users,DC=ad,DC=example,DC=com" -W -b "CN=Users,DC=ad,DC=example,DC=com"

Enable LDAP Debug Logging

Add to your settings.py:

LOGGING['loggers']['django_auth_ldap'] = {
    'level': 'DEBUG',
    'handlers': ['console'],
}

Common Issues

Connection refused: Check firewall rules and LDAP server accessibility
Bind failed: Verify bind DN and password
User not found: Check user search base DN and filter
No groups assigned: Verify group search configuration and group DNs

IAM Type Configuration

Set the IAM type in your Django settings:

IAM_TYPE = 'BASIC'   # Default username/password authentication
IAM_TYPE = 'LDAP'    # LDAP authentication

See cvat/settings/base.py:224 for the IAM_TYPE setting.

Additional Resources

SSO Resources

Microsoft LDAP Distinguished Names
Django-allauth OIDC Documentation
Django-allauth SAML Documentation
Source: site/content/en/docs/account_management/sso.md

LDAP Resources

Django LDAP Reference Manual
Django LDAP with Active Directory Guide
Source: site/content/en/docs/administration/community/advanced/ldap.md

Enterprise Support

For enterprise deployments requiring SSO or LDAP integration, contact CVAT.ai:

Website: cvat.ai/pricing/on-prem
Email: support@cvat.ai

Enterprise features include:

SSO with OIDC and SAML
LDAP/Active Directory integration
Advanced analytics
Priority support with 24-hour SLA
Training and onboarding

Installation

Administration

Serverless Functions

SSO and LDAP

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Supported Identity Providers

Configuration Overview

SSO Configuration File

OpenID Connect Example

SAML Example

SSO Settings Reference

Identity Provider Configuration

Required Fields

Optional Fields

OIDC-Specific Fields

SAML-Specific Fields

Callback URLs

Environment Variables

Starting CVAT with SSO

LDAP Authentication

Prerequisites

Configuration

Active Directory Example

FreeIPA Example

Deploying LDAP Configuration

LDAP Group Mapping

Troubleshooting LDAP

Test LDAP Connection

Enable LDAP Debug Logging

Common Issues

IAM Type Configuration

Additional Resources

SSO Resources

LDAP Resources

Enterprise Support

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Installation

Administration

Serverless Functions

Documentation Index

​Single Sign-On (SSO)

​Supported Identity Providers

​Configuration Overview

​SSO Configuration File

​OpenID Connect Example

​SAML Example

​SSO Settings Reference

​Identity Provider Configuration

​Required Fields

​Optional Fields

​OIDC-Specific Fields

​SAML-Specific Fields

​Callback URLs

​Environment Variables

​Starting CVAT with SSO

​LDAP Authentication

​Prerequisites

​Configuration

​Active Directory Example

​FreeIPA Example

​Deploying LDAP Configuration

​LDAP Group Mapping

​Troubleshooting LDAP

​Test LDAP Connection

​Enable LDAP Debug Logging

​Common Issues

​IAM Type Configuration

​Additional Resources

​SSO Resources

​LDAP Resources

​Enterprise Support

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Supported Identity Providers

Configuration Overview

SSO Configuration File

OpenID Connect Example

SAML Example

SSO Settings Reference

Identity Provider Configuration

Required Fields

Optional Fields

OIDC-Specific Fields

SAML-Specific Fields

Callback URLs

Environment Variables

Starting CVAT with SSO

LDAP Authentication

Prerequisites

Configuration

Active Directory Example

FreeIPA Example

Deploying LDAP Configuration

LDAP Group Mapping

Troubleshooting LDAP

Test LDAP Connection

Enable LDAP Debug Logging

Common Issues

IAM Type Configuration

Additional Resources

SSO Resources

LDAP Resources

Enterprise Support