Access Control in ASP.NET Core FileManager control

20 Apr 2021 / 4 minutes to read

The FileManager allows you to define access permissions for folders and files using a set of access rules to user(s).

Access Rules
Permissions

Access Rules

The FileAccessController allows you to define security permissions for folders and files using a set of folder or file access rules.

To set up access rules for folders (including their files and sub-folders) and individual files, use the SetRules() method. The following table represents the AccessRule properties available for file and folder:

Properties	Applicable for file	Applicable for folder	Description
Copy	Yes	Yes	Allows access to copy a file or folder.
Read	Yes	Yes	Allows access to read a file or folder.
Write	Yes	Yes	Allows permission to write a file or folder.
WriteContents	No	Yes	Allows permission to write the content of folder.
Download	Yes	Yes	Allows permission to download a file or folder.
Upload	No	Yes	Allows permission to upload to the folder.
Path	Yes	Yes	Specifies the path to apply the rules, which are defined.
Role	Yes	Yes	Specifies the role to which the rule is applied.
IsFile	Yes	Yes	Specifies whether the rule is specified for folder or file.

The following syntax represents the access Rules for Administrator using file or folder.

//Adminstrator
//Access Rules for File
new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },

// Access Rules for folder
   new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },

The following syntax represent the access Rules for Default user using file or folder.

//Default User
//Access Rules for File
new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },

// Access Rules for folder
 new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },

Permissions

It helps to explain how to apply security permission to file manager file or folder using access rules. The following table represent the value that determines the permission.

Value	Description
Allow	Allows you to do read, write, copy, and download operations.
Deny	Denies you to do read, write, copy, and download operations.

Use the Role property to apply created roles to the file manager. After that, the file manager displays folder or file and allow permisssion based on assigned roles.

The following syntax represent how to apply permission based on assigned roles

Permission denied for administrator to write a file or folder.

// For file
 new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true},

// For folder
  new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false},

The following syntax represent how to allow or deny permission based on file or folder access rule.

“Examples”

Permission denied for writing except for particular file or folder.

// Deny writing for particular folder
 new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },

 // Deny writing for particular file
  new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/2.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },

Permission denied for writing and uploading in root folder.

// Folder Rule
 new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },

The following example demonstrate the file manager rendered with access control support.

tagHelper

HomeController_core.cs

HomeController_mvc.cs

<div class=" control-section">
    <div class="sample-container">
        <!-- Declare filemanager element -->
        <ejs-filemanager id="filemanager">
            <e-filemanager-ajaxsettings url="/Home/FileOperations"
                                        downloadUrl="/Home/Download"
                                        uploadUrl="/Home/Upload"
                                        getImageUrl="/Home/GetImage">
            </e-filemanager-ajaxsettings>
        </ejs-filemanager>
        <!-- end of filemanager element -->
    </div>
</div>

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
//File Manager's base functions are available in the below package
using Syncfusion.EJ2.FileManager.Base;
//File Manager's operations are available in the below package
using Syncfusion.EJ2.FileManager.PhysicalFileProvider;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
// For core use the package for hosting
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.Features;

namespace WebApplication.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        public PhysicalFileProvider operation;
        public string basePath;
        // Root Path in which files and folders are available.
        string root = "wwwroot\\Files";
        public HomeController(IHostingEnvironment hostingEnvironment)
        {
            // Map the path of the files to be accessed with the host
            this.basePath = hostingEnvironment.ContentRootPath;
            this.operation = new PhysicalFileProvider();
            // Assign the mapped path as root folder
            this.operation.RootFolder(this.basePath + "\\" + this.root);
            // Set Rules for folder and file Access
            this.operation.SetRules(GetRules());
        }

        public object FileOperations([FromBody] FileManagerDirectoryContent args)
        {
            if (args.Action == "delete" || args.Action == "rename")
            {
                if ((args.TargetPath == null) && (args.Path == ""))
                {
                    FileManagerResponse response = new FileManagerResponse();
                    ErrorDetails er = new ErrorDetails
                    {
                        Code = "401",
                        Message = "Restricted to modify the root folder."
                    };
                    response.Error = er;
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(response);
                }
            }
            switch (args.Action)
            {
                case "read":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.GetFiles(args.Path, args.ShowHiddenItems));
                case "delete":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Delete(args.Path, args.Names));
                case "copy":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Copy(args.Path, args.TargetPath, args.Names, args.RenameFiles, args.TargetData));
                case "move":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Move(args.Path, args.TargetPath, args.Names, args.RenameFiles, args.TargetData));
                case "details":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Details(args.Path, args.Names));
                case "create":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Create(args.Path, args.Name));
                case "search":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Search(args.Path, args.SearchString, args.ShowHiddenItems, args.CaseSensitive));
                case "rename":
                    return this.operation.ToCamelCase(this.operation.Rename(args.Path, args.Name, args.NewName));
            }
            return null;
        }

        public IActionResult Upload(string path, IList<IFormFile> uploadFiles, string action)
        {
            // Here we have restricted the upload operation for our online samples
            if (Response.HttpContext.Request.Host.Value == "ej2.syncfusion.com")
            {
                Response.Clear();
                Response.ContentType = "application/json; charset=utf-8";
                Response.StatusCode = 403;
                Response.HttpContext.Features.Get<IHttpResponseFeature>().ReasonPhrase = "File Manager's upload functionality is restricted in the online demo. If you need to test upload functionality, please install Syncfusion Essential Studio on your machine and run the demo";
            }
            // Use below code for performing upload operation
            else
            {
                FileManagerResponse uploadResponse;
                //Invoking upload operation with the required paramaters
                // path - Current path where the file is to uploaded; uploadFiles - Files to be uploaded; action - name of the operation(upload)
                uploadResponse = operation.Upload(path, uploadFiles, action, null);
            }
            return Content("");
        }

        public IActionResult Download(string downloadInput)
        {
            FileManagerDirectoryContent args = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<FileManagerDirectoryContent>(downloadInput);
            return this.operation.Download(args.Path, args.Names);
        }



        public IActionResult GetImage(FileManagerDirectoryContent args)
        {
            return this.operation.GetImage(args.Path, args.Id, true, null, args.Data);
        }

        public AccessDetails GetRules()
        {
            AccessDetails accessDetails = new AccessDetails();
            List<AccessRule> Rules = new List<AccessRule> {
                // FileRules For Default User
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                // FileRules For Administrator
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                // FileRules For Document Manager
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/2.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/2.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/2.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/2.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/text", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/text", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                // FolderRules For Default User
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                // FolderRules For Administrator
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                // FolderRules For Document Manager
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Music.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/Music.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
            };
            accessDetails.AccessRules = Rules;
            accessDetails.Role = "Document Manager";
            return accessDetails;
        }
        public IActionResult Index()
        {
            return View();
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web.Mvc;
//File Manager's base functions are available in the below package
using Syncfusion.EJ2.FileManager.Base;
//File Manager's operations are available in the below package
using Syncfusion.EJ2.FileManager.PhysicalFileProvider;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using System.Web.Hosting;


namespace WebApplication.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        // Accessing the File Operations from File Manager package
        PhysicalFileProvider operation = new PhysicalFileProvider();
        public HomeController()
        {
            // Map the path of the files to be accessed with the host
            var path = HostingEnvironment.MapPath("~/Content/Files");
            // Assign the mapped path as root folder
            operation.RootFolder(path);
            // Set Rules for folder and file Access
            operation.SetRules(GetRules());
        }

        public ActionResult FileOperations(FileManagerDirectoryContent args)
        {
            // Processing the File Manager operations
            switch (args.Action)
            {
                case "read":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.GetFiles(args.Path, args.ShowHiddenItems)));
                case "delete":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Delete(args.Path, args.Names)));
                case "copy":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Copy(args.Path, args.TargetPath, args.Names, args.RenameFiles, args.TargetData)));
                case "move":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Move(args.Path, args.TargetPath, args.Names, args.RenameFiles, args.TargetData)));
                case "details":
                    if (args.Names == null)
                    {
                        args.Names = new string[] { };
                    }
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Details(args.Path, args.Names)));
                case "create":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Create(args.Path, args.Name)));
                case "search":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Search(args.Path, args.SearchString, args.ShowHiddenItems, args.CaseSensitive)));
                case "rename":
                    return Json(operation.ToCamelCase(operation.Rename(args.Path, args.Name, args.NewName)));
            }
            return null;
        }

        public ActionResult Upload(string path, IList<System.Web.HttpPostedFileBase> uploadFiles, string action)
        {
            FileManagerResponse uploadResponse;
            uploadResponse = operation.Upload(path, uploadFiles, action, null);
            return Content("");
        }

        public ActionResult Download(string downloadInput)
        {
            FileManagerDirectoryContent args = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<FileManagerDirectoryContent>(downloadInput);
            return operation.Download(args.Path, args.Names);
        }



        public ActionResult GetImage(FileManagerDirectoryContent args)
        {
            return operation.GetImage(args.Path, args.Id, false, null, null);
        }

        public AccessDetails GetRules()
        {
            AccessDetails accessDetails = new AccessDetails();
            List<AccessRule> Rules = new List<AccessRule> {
                // FileRules For Default User
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                // FileRules For Administrator
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                // FileRules For Document Manager
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/*.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/2.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/2.*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/2.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/2.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/text", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = true },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/text", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = true },
                // FolderRules For Default User
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Default User", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                // FolderRules For Administrator
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Administrator", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                // FolderRules For Document Manager
                new AccessRule { Path = "*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Deny, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Deny, WriteContents = Permission.Deny, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Deny, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/*", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Music.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Allow, Download = Permission.Allow, IsFile = false },
                new AccessRule { Path = "/Documents/Music.png", Role = "Document Manager", Read = Permission.Allow, Write = Permission.Allow, Copy = Permission.Allow, WriteContents = Permission.Allow, Upload = Permission.Deny, Download = Permission.Deny, IsFile = false },
            };
            accessDetails.AccessRules = Rules;
            accessDetails.Role = "Document Manager";
            return accessDetails;
        }
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            return View();
        }
    }
}

Output be like the below, when write the documents folder.

Access Control

Contents

Access Rules
Permissions

Contents

Access Rules
Permissions

Please provide additional information

Thank you for your feedback and comments.We will rectify this as soon as possible!