AppSync throwing 401s at inappropriate times

Before opening, please confirm:

• I have searched for duplicate or closed issues and discussions.
• I have read the guide for submitting bug reports.
• I have done my best to include a minimal, self-contained set of instructions for consistently reproducing the issue.

JavaScript Framework

Next.js

Amplify APIs

Authentication, DataStore

Amplify Categories

auth, api

Environment information

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Describe the bug

AppSync is throwing 401 errors at confusing (and I suspect inappropriate times). I have a graphql schema:

type Card
  @model
  @auth(
    rules: [
      { allow: private, provider: iam }
      { allow: private, provider: userPools, operations: [create] }
      { allow: groups, groupsField: "canRead", operations: [read] }
      { allow: groups, groupsField: "canUpdate", operations: [update] }
    ]
  ) {
  approvedTime: AWSTimestamp
  canRead: [String]
  canUpdate: [String]
  id: ID!
...
}

When I try to update in the AppSync console with this:

mutation MyMutation($approvedTime: AWSTimestamp = 0) {
  updateCard(input: {id: "4ec6e3d5-f27e-454e-9221-1a1f4e96cd4c", approvedTime: $approvedTime, approvedUser: ""}) {
    id
    approvedTime
  }
}

The above works successfully, as expected.

When I replace 0 with undefined I get the following error: "Validation error of type BadValueForDefaultArg: Bad default value EnumValue{name='undefined'} for type AWSTimestamp". This makes sense to me.

When I try the above and replace 0 with null I get the following error: "Unauthorized on [approvedTime]". This is confusing.

What is extra confusing, is if I update the Card object in the front-end using DataStore as follows:

 await DataStore.save(
    Card.copyOf(initialCardDetails as Card, (updated) => {
        (updated.approvedTime = undefined),
    })
  );

This throws a 401 in my console. The network response reads:

{
  "errors" : [ {
    "errorType" : "UnauthorizedException",
    "message" : "Permission denied"
  } ]
}

Whereas if I set updated.approvedTime = null the update works fine. This is the opposite behaviour to what’s happening in the AppSync console - which is confusing on it’s own. What is additionally confusing is that this isn’t an issue that can be fixed by updating authorization - this is an error with bad data inputs. I’ve just spent hours testing different @auth rules in my schema when the issue was with my js code all along.

Expected behavior

AWS suggests that a 401 should occur because:: “The request is denied by either AWS AppSync or the authorization mode because the credentials are missing or invalid. (…)”

It would be more useful if I had received the same error when I entered undefined in the AppSync console instead of any of the 401s that I received.

Reproduction steps

1. Install basic NextJS app as per Amplify docs
2. Set up Card object in model
3. Set up iam and Cognito authentication
4. Update GraphQL schema as above
5. Update Amplify config as per Amplify docs concerning dynamic authentication with groupsField
6. Execute the above DataStore call

Code Snippet

// Put your code below this line.

Log output

// Put your logs below this line

aws-exports.js

No response

Manual configuration

No response

Additional configuration

No response

Mobile Device

No response

Mobile Operating System

No response

Mobile Browser

No response

Mobile Browser Version

No response

Additional information and screenshots

No response

[chrisbonifacio]

That seems to be correct.

amplify update api -> GraphQL -> Disable conflict detection -> amplify push

[jdanielsyeah]

I was using Cognito User Pools within the AppSync console. It seems to work well with the Dynamic Group Authorization rules.

I’m grateful to get your clarification. I thought I might ask for one more: I’ve been trying to find how to remove DataStore from my front-end (NextJS) and have only found the following instructions on this github issue:

1. Type in terminal ‘amplify update api’ 2. Select ‘GraphQL’ 3. Select ‘Disable DataStore from entire API’

I just wanted to check this was the correct method before I ran it, because I couldn’t find these commands detailed in any documentation?