How to view a SAML response in your browser for troubleshooting - Amazon Identity and Access Management
Google ChromeMozilla FirefoxApple SafariWhat to do with the Base64-encoded SAML response
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How to view a SAML response in your browser for troubleshooting

The following procedures describe how to view the SAML response from your service provider from in your browser when troubleshooting a SAML 2.0–related issue.

For all browsers, go to the page where you can reproduce the issue. Then follow the steps for the appropriate browser:

Google Chrome

To view a SAML response in Chrome

These steps were tested using version 106.0.5249.103 (Official Build) (arm64) of Google Chrome. If you use another version, you might need to adapt the steps accordingly.

  1. Press F12 to start the Developer Tools console.

  2. Select the Network tab, and then select Preserve log in the upper left of the Developer Tools window.

  3. Reproduce the issue.

  4. (Optional) If the Method column is not visible in the Developer Tools Network log pane, right-click on any column label and choose Method to add the column.

  5. Look for a SAML Post in the Developer Tools Network log pane. Select that row, and then view the Payload tab at the top. Look for the SAMLResponse element that contains the encoded request. The associated value is the Base64-encoded response.

Mozilla Firefox

To view a SAML response in Firefox

This procedure was tested on version 105.0.3 (64-bit) of Mozilla Firefox. If you use another version, you might need to adapt the steps accordingly.

  1. Press F12 to start the Web Developer Tools console.

  2. Select the Network tab.

  3. In the upper right of the Web Developer Tools window, choose options (the small gear icon). Select Persist logs.

  4. Reproduce the issue.

  5. (Optional) If the Method column is not visible in the Web Developer Tools Network log pane, right-click on any column label and choose Method to add the column.

  6. Look for a POST SAML in the table. Select that row, and then view the Request tab and find the SAMLResponse element. The associated value is the Base64-encoded response.

Apple Safari

To view a SAML response in Safari

These steps were tested using version 16.0 (17614.1.25.9.10, 17614) of Apple Safari. If you use another version, you might need to adapt the steps accordingly.

  1. Enable Web Inspector in Safari. Open the Preferences window, select the Advanced tab, and then select Show Develop menu in the menu bar.

  2. Now you can open Web Inspector. Choose Develop in the menu bar, then select Show Web Inspector.

  3. Select the Network tab.

  4. In the upper left of the Web Inspector window, choose options (the small circle icon containing three horizontal lines). Select Preserve Log.

  5. (Optional) If the Method column is not visible in the Web Inspector Network log pane, right-click on any column label and choose Method to add the column.

  6. Reproduce the issue.

  7. Look for a POST SAML in the table. Select that row, and then view the Headers tab.

  8. Look for the SAMLResponse element that contains the encoded request. Scroll down to find Request Data with the name SAMLResponse. The associated value is the Base64-encoded response.

What to do with the Base64-encoded SAML response

Once you find the Base64-encoded SAML response element in your browser, copy it and use your favorite Base-64 decoding tool to extract the XML tagged response.

Security tip

Because the SAML response data that you are viewing might contain sensitive security data, we recommend that you do not use an online base64 decoder. Instead use a tool installed on your local computer that does not send your SAML data over the network.

Built-in option for Windows systems (PowerShell):

PS C:\> [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString([System.Convert]::FromBase64String("base64encodedtext"))

Built-in option for MacOS and Linux systems:

$ echo "base64encodedtext" | base64 --decode
Review the values in the decoded file

Review the values in the decoded SAML response file.

  • Verify that the value for the saml:NameID attribute matches the username for the authenticated user.

  • Review the value for https://aws.amazon.com/SAML/Attributes/Role. The ARN and SAML provider are case sensitive, and the ARN must match the resource in your account.

  • Review the value for https://aws.amazon.com/SAML/Attributes/RoleSessionName. The value must match the value in the claim rule.

  • If you configure the attribute value for an email address or an account name, then make sure that the values are correct. The values must correspond to the email address or account name of the authenticated user.

Check for errors and confirm the configuration

Check whether the values contain errors, and confirm that the following configurations are correct.