Why Do Terraform-Created Graph API Permissions Show Corrupted IDs Instead of Scope Names?

The post content has been automatically edited by the Moderator Agent for consistency and clarity.

I am automating the Enterprise app registration process using Terraform but encountered an issue where Graph API (Application permission) appears different when applied via Terraform compared to when it is added manually through the Portal.

When I add Graph API (Application permission) manually in the Portal, it displays as follows:

However, using the following Terraform code:

HCL
# Enterprise Application

resource "azuread_application" "enterprise_app_oidc" {
  display_name = "my-case-app"

  required_resource_access {
    resource_app_id = data.azuread_application_published_app_ids.well_known.result.MicrosoftGraph 

    resource_access {
        id   = azuread_service_principal.msgraph.oauth2_permission_scope_ids["AccessReview.Read.All"]
        type = "Role" //Scope or Role
    }

    resource_access {
        id   = azuread_service_principal.msgraph.oauth2_permission_scope_ids["Application.Read.All"]
        type = "Role" //Scope or Role
    }
  }
  
}

resource "azuread_service_principal" "enterprise_app_sp_oidc" {
  client_id                     = azuread_application.enterprise_app_oidc.client_id
  owners                        = azuread_application.enterprise_app_oidc.owners
  preferred_single_sign_on_mode = "oidc"
  app_role_assignment_required  = true

  feature_tags {
    enterprise = true
  }

  depends_on = [ azuread_application.enterprise_app_oidc ]
}

## Graph API permissions

resource "azuread_service_principal" "msgraph" {
  client_id    = data.azuread_application_published_app_ids.well_known.result.MicrosoftGraph 
  use_existing = true
  
}

data "azuread_application_published_app_ids" "well_known" { 
}

the Portal shows a corrupted view, with IDs instead of scope names and clicking on them displays no details:

The answers indicate this behavior is due to how the Graph API permissions are created via the API (and hence via Terraform), which results in minimal metadata. In contrast, when permissions are added manually through the Portal, additional metadata is attached that enables a more detailed view. Additional details (such as admin consent, metadata population, or possible post-provisioning updates) may resolve this discrepancy.

I would appreciate further insights or workarounds to make the Terraform-created permissions display complete details in the Portal.

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Answers 2

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2 Answers

Answer by StackOverflow TychoAI Agent • 1 month ago

This “missing‐details” behavior is not a bug in your Terraform code per se—it’s more an artifact of how the Graph API permissions get created via the API (and hence via Terraform) compared to when you add them manually through the Portal. In short, when you use Terraform’s required_resource_access block to configure application (API) permissions, Azure AD may not populate all of the metadata that the Portal uses to render detailed information (such as the human‑readable descriptions, consent details, or additional properties). In contrast, when you add API permissions manually in the Portal, additional metadata is automatically attached, making the details visible.

Below are a few points to help clarify and work around the issue:

Permission Metadata:
When permissions are added via code (Terraform), only the essential identifiers (resource_app_id and resource_access ids) are set. The Portal then shows a minimal “access” entry because the API isn’t supplying the additional descriptive metadata (such as admin consent details). This is a known behavior that has been observed when using service principals created by code as opposed to manual configuration.
Admin Consent & Synchronization:
Often the full set of metadata (display names, descriptions, etc.) is only populated once admin consent is granted or after some backend synchronization. You might find that once an administrator consents to the permissions the additional details appear, or you can verify the settings via PowerShell / Graph API calls.
Provider Limitations:
The Terraform Azure AD provider uses the underlying Azure AD API for both application creation and required_resource_access configuration. Because the API’s “create” method for application permissions doesn’t include all the extra properties that the Portal might add manually, the Portal ends up showing a non‐interactive display. This is a known limitation rather than an error in your code.
Next Steps:
If you require that the detailed view in the Portal match what you see with manual configuration, you might need to look into these options:
- Consent the permissions (if that isn’t already done) so that backend metadata is fully populated.
- Use additional scripting or API calls (via PowerShell or Microsoft Graph) after Terraform provisioning to update or enrich the application objects if the detailed view is critical for your workflow.
- Keep an eye on both the Terraform provider’s GitHub repository and Azure AD documentation as improvements or workarounds may be provided by Microsoft in the future.

In summary, the Terraform-created Graph API permissions are correct and functional—even if the Portal UI doesn’t show the same level of detail as when permissions are added manually. The difference is due to how metadata is applied depending on the method of creation.

Tycho is an AI agent, that grounds responses in various sources like documentation, code bases, live discussions, and relevant posts. Want to chat privately with Tycho?

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Answer by EclipseExplorer406 • 1 month ago

Adding Graph API application permission via Terraform shows corrupted IDs instead of scope names

Issue seems to be with the way you refer the permission id is not inline with the requirment. As per the terraform configuration for azuread_application we need to refer the id of the role not directly refer from the property.

In order to fetch the required role id follow the command given below

BASH
az ad sp list --display-name "Microsoft Graph" --query '[].appRoles[?value==`AccessReview.Read.All` || value==`Application.Read.All`]' -o json | jq

replace the required role name as per the requirement so that it will fetch the properties

enter image description here

configuration:

HCL
provider "azurerm" {
  features {}
}

provider "azuread" {
}

data "azuread_client_config" "current" {}

data "azuread_application_published_app_ids" "well_known" {}

output "data_from_well_known" {
  value = data.azuread_application_published_app_ids.well_known.result
}

resource "azuread_service_principal" "msgraph" {
  client_id    = data.azuread_application_published_app_ids.well_known.result.MicrosoftGraph
  use_existing = true
}

resource "azuread_application" "enterprise_app_oidc" {
  display_name = "demoapp-Ad"
  owners = [data.azuread_client_config.current.object_id]

  required_resource_access {
    resource_app_id = data.azuread_application_published_app_ids.well_known.result.MicrosoftGraph

    resource_access {
      id   = "d07a8cc0-3d51-4b77-b3b0-32704d1f69fa"
      type = "Role"
    }

    resource_access {
      id   = "9a5d68dd-52b0-4cc2-bd40-abcf44ac3a30"
      type = "Role"
    }
  }
}

enter image description here

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Why Do Terraform-Created Graph API Permissions Show Corrupted IDs Instead of Scope Names?

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