Graph API - Insufficient privileges to complete the operation

Question

When trying to access the Graph Service Client using I am receiving the error :

Code: Authorization_RequestDenied
Message: Insufficient privileges to complete the operation.

After researching this error the most common solution was to set the permissions for the API. This had already been done and has permissions to read basic/full profiles.

I've delete and re-added the APIs.

Below is the code in my AzureAuthenticationProvider class which inherits from IAuthenticationProvider:

public class AzureAuthenticationProvider : IAuthenticationProvider
{
    private string _azureDomain = "myDevDom.onmicrosoft.com";

    public async Task AuthenticateRequestAsync(HttpRequestMessage request)
    {
        try
        {
            string clientId = "2b823c67-1b0d-4a10-a9e1-737142516f5q";
            string clientSecret = "xxxxxx";

            AuthenticationContext authContext = new AuthenticationContext("https://login.windows.net/" + _azureDomain + "/oauth2/token");

            ClientCredential credentials = new ClientCredential(clientId, clientSecret);

            AuthenticationResult authResult = await authContext.AcquireTokenAsync("https://graph.microsoft.com/", credentials);

            request.Headers.Add("Authorization", "Bearer " + authResult.AccessToken);
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
        }
    }
}

I've tried changing the client secret to an invalid Id and it threw an error, so the client key is correct. I've also tried to verify that the access token is valid by altering the access token, this also returns a error.

The above code seems to work fine.

Below is the code where I'm trying to access Azure AD:

public async Task<IGraphServiceUsersCollectionPage> GetUsersByLastName(string lastname)  
{
    GraphServiceClient graphClient = new GraphServiceClient(new AzureAuthenticationProvider());
    string filter = String.Format("startswith(surname, '{0}')", lastname);
    IGraphServiceUsersCollectionPage users = await graphClient.Users.Request().Filter(filter).GetAsync(); //Fails on this line
    return users;
}

Any help is much appreciated, and thanks in advance for any help.

Which permissions have you added exactly? Could you post a screenshot? What you need is application permissions to read users. — juunas
Thanks for the suggestion under the application permissions I've selected 'Read and write directory data' and under delegated permissions I have 'sign in and read user profile' 'real all users' basic profiles' and 'access the firectory as the signed-in user'. Although for testing in the dev application I have selected all available options and I'm still getting the authentication error. — j9070749
Delegated permissions don't matter for this API call. You are doing an app-only call (specifying a client id and secret). Have you also granted the permissions? You could check the access token contents in e.g. jwt.io — juunas
@juunas I agree about the delegated permissions, I have set the application permission (for read and write directory data) above this - I've just cut the title out with the screenshot. When trying to grant permissions I get an error stating 'failed to grant permissions for application'. I'm guessing this could be the problem? Thanks for the help. — j9070749
It can take a couple minutes sometimes. Best way to know is to check the access token in jwt.io. Specifically, look at the scopes in the token. You should have something like Directory.ReadWrite.All in there. — juunas

Nan Yu Nan Yu · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-02T09:51:49

Please refer to below steps :

From your screenshot , seems you grant Read and write directory data application permission for Windows Azure Active Directory(azure ad graph api) . Since you are using microsoft graph (https://graph.microsoft.com/) , you need to grant application permission for Microsoft Graph :
Since you are admin in your AAD, You could grant permission for users in organization by click Grant permission button shown in above screenshot .
Then you could use your code (client credential flow to get the token) and query users information . If you check the claims in access token issued by azure ad , you could find Directory.Read.All permission in roles claim .

Graph API - Insufficient privileges to complete the operation

9 Answers