Spring boot LDAP get memberOf in ODM - spring

Question

I'm currenly building an application using Spring boot LDAP, but have some problems accessing the 'memberOf' property to determine which groups the users belongs to.
I have seen Spring LDAP and MemberOf but I am using the ODM to get the user from LDAP, when trying to add the 'memberOf' property I get the following error:
org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.MetaDataException: Can't determine destination type for field private java.util.ArrayList nl.quintor.afstudeermanagementtool.entitiy.LdapUser.memberOf in class class nl.quintor.afstudeermanagementtool.entitiy.LdapUser
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.AttributeMetaData.determineFieldType(AttributeMetaData.java:167) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.AttributeMetaData.<init>(AttributeMetaData.java:234) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.ObjectMetaData.<init>(ObjectMetaData.java:132) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.addManagedClass(DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java:151) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.getEntityData(DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java:108) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.odm.core.impl.DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.filterFor(DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java:468) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.core.LdapTemplate.find(LdapTemplate.java:1824) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.core.LdapTemplate.findAll(LdapTemplate.java:1806) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.ldap.core.LdapTemplate.findAll(LdapTemplate.java:1814) ~[spring-ldap-core-2.3.3.RELEASE.jar:2.3.3.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.ldap.repository.support.SimpleLdapRepository.findAll(SimpleLdapRepository.java:183) ~[spring-data-ldap-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:na]
at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) ~[na:na]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.ImplementationInvocationMetadata.invoke(ImplementationInvocationMetadata.java:72) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.RepositoryComposition$RepositoryFragments.invoke(RepositoryComposition.java:382) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.RepositoryComposition.invoke(RepositoryComposition.java:205) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.RepositoryFactorySupport$ImplementationMethodExecutionInterceptor.invoke(RepositoryFactorySupport.java:550) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:186) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.QueryExecutorMethodInterceptor.doInvoke(QueryExecutorMethodInterceptor.java:155) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.data.repository.core.support.QueryExecutorMethodInterceptor.invoke(QueryExecutorMethodInterceptor.java:130) ~[spring-data-commons-2.3.9.RELEASE.jar:2.3.9.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:186) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.interceptor.ExposeInvocationInterceptor.invoke(ExposeInvocationInterceptor.java:95) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:186) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(JdkDynamicAopProxy.java:212) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at com.sun.proxy.$Proxy82.findAll(Unknown Source) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:na]
at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) ~[na:na]
at org.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils.invokeJoinpointUsingReflection(AopUtils.java:344) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:198) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:163) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.dao.support.PersistenceExceptionTranslationInterceptor.invoke(PersistenceExceptionTranslationInterceptor.java:139) ~[spring-tx-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:186) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(JdkDynamicAopProxy.java:212) ~[spring-aop-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at com.sun.proxy.$Proxy82.findAll(Unknown Source) ~[na:na]
at nl.quintor.afstudeermanagementtool.seeders.DatabaseSeeder.seedUserTable(DatabaseSeeder.java:59) ~[classes/:na]
at nl.quintor.afstudeermanagementtool.seeders.DatabaseSeeder.seed(DatabaseSeeder.java:39) ~[classes/:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:na]
at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) ~[na:na]
at org.springframework.context.event.ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.doInvoke(ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.java:305) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.event.ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.processEvent(ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.java:190) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.event.ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.onApplicationEvent(ApplicationListenerMethodAdapter.java:153) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.event.SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.doInvokeListener(SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.java:172) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.event.SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.invokeListener(SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.java:165) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.event.SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.multicastEvent(SimpleApplicationEventMulticaster.java:139) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.publishEvent(AbstractApplicationContext.java:404) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.publishEvent(AbstractApplicationContext.java:361) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.finishRefresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:898) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext.refresh(AbstractApplicationContext.java:554) ~[spring-context-5.2.14.RELEASE.jar:5.2.14.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.web.servlet.context.ServletWebServerApplicationContext.refresh(ServletWebServerApplicationContext.java:143) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:755) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refresh(SpringApplication.java:747) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.refreshContext(SpringApplication.java:402) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:312) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:1247) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication.run(SpringApplication.java:1236) ~[spring-boot-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
at nl.quintor.afstudeermanagementtool.AfstudeermanagementtoolApplication.main(AfstudeermanagementtoolApplication.java:16) ~[classes/:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) ~[na:na]
at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) ~[na:na]
at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) ~[na:na]
at org.springframework.boot.devtools.restart.RestartLauncher.run(RestartLauncher.java:49) ~[spring-boot-devtools-2.3.10.RELEASE.jar:2.3.10.RELEASE]
2021-05-18 16:14:16.109 INFO 14468 --- [ restartedMain] j.LocalContainerEntityManagerFactoryBean : Closing JPA EntityManagerFactory for persistence unit 'default'
2021-05-18 16:14:16.112 INFO 14468 --- [ restartedMain] com.zaxxer.hikari.HikariDataSource : HikariPool-1 - Shutdown initiated...
2021-05-18 16:14:16.139 INFO 14468 --- [ restartedMain] com.zaxxer.hikari.HikariDataSource : HikariPool-1 - Shutdown completed.
Process finished with exit code 0
The code I'm using is:
#Entry(
objectClasses = { "user, Person", "top", "organizationalPerson" })
public class LdapUser {
private #Id Name id;
private #Attribute(name = "cn") String fullName;
private #Attribute(name = "sAMAccountName") String username;
private #Attribute(name ="memberof", readonly = true)
ArrayList<?> memberOf;
public LdapUser() { }
public LdapUser(String fullName, String username, ArrayList<?> memberOf) {
this.fullName = fullName;
this.username = username;
this.memberOf = memberOf;
}
public String getFullName() {
return fullName;
}
public void setFullName(String fullName) {
this.fullName = fullName;
}
public String getUsername() {
return username;
}
public void setUsername(String username) {
this.username = username;
}
public ArrayList<?> getMemberOf() {
return memberOf;
}
public void setMemberOf(ArrayList<?> memberOf) {
this.memberOf = memberOf;
}
}

Answer 1

This appears to be a "shortcoming" common to reflection-based object mapping frameworks in Java.
Annotating Java class fields with #Attribute only works if the annotated field is a concrete type: that is why the annotation works with ArrayList<String> but not List<String> or ArrayList<?>, because in the latter two cases the object mapper would have to 'guess' which concrete type to use when populating that field. In other words, the object mapper cannot call new List<String>(), so it throws an exception.
You can read about a similar problem affecting the JPA ORM standard. JPA appears to have a workaround by providing the targetEntity attribute element, but this is only present on some of their annotations (like #ManyToMany), and not on #Column, which is roughly equivalent to #Attribute here.