Identity Engine – Password Import Inline Hook Not Triggering, Login Fails with E0000020 (400 Bad Request)

Questions OAuth/OIDC
1

Hi Eveyone,

We are facing an issue with Okta Identity Engine login where authentication fails with a 400 Bad Request (E0000020), even though correct credentials are provided. Below are the details of our setup and the problem.

Environment Details

Okta Engine: Identity Engine

Environment: UAT

Login Initiation: Browser‑based only

Domain: Single UAT domain

OIDC App: Custom OIDC application, Authorization_code

External Apps:

.NET Web App – initiates Okta login redirect

Custom Auth Server – handles auth flow

Node.js (Express, Node 24 LTS) – Password Import Inline Hook endpoint

User Migration & Inline Hook Setup:-

Users were pre‑imported into Okta using a custom script.

A Password Import Inline Hook is configured for round‑trip password validation.

The hook endpoint has been tested independently using Postman and works as expected.

Sample Hook Request (Tested via Postman)

{

“data”: {

"context": {

  "credential": {

    "username": "cooper.vaish@gmail.com",

    "password": "TesterQA#456"

  }

}

}

}

Hook Response:

“commands”: [

    {

      "type": "com.okta.action.update",

        "value": {

        "credential": "VERIFIED"

      }

    }

  \]

This request**/**response works correctly when tested directly.

Issue Observed:

When accessing the Okta hosted login page in UAT and submitting valid credentials for an imported user:

Login fails with HTTP 400 – Bad Request

Error code: E0000020

Password Import Inline Hook is not triggered at all, no log found.

“messages”: {

    "type": "array",

    "value": \[

        {

            "message": "Bad request.",

            "i18n": {

                "key": "E0000020"

            },

            "class": "ERROR"

        }

    \]

},

"user": {

    "type": "object",

    "value": {

        "identifier": "cooper.vaish@gmail.com"

    }

}

Troubleshooting Performed:

Verified credentials are correct

Confirmed browser‑initiated login (no backend auth calls)

Minimized OIDC app sign‑on and authentication policies

Validated inline hook endpoint availability and response format

No okta Log recorded.

Login Redirection URL Format:-
authUrl = https://${oktaDomain}/oauth2/${auth_server_id}/v1/authorize? +
client_id=${clientId}& +
response_type=code& +
scope=openid profile email groups offline_access& +
redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(redirectUri)}& +
state=${state}&+nonce=${nonce}&+
code_challenge =random string&+
code_challenge_method=S256;

Despite this, the issue persists and the inline hook does not execute during login. Please share your ideas.

2

Hi Natraj6191,

If you use the /users API to retrieve one of the users being tested can you verify the credentials section is defined like below,

    "credentials": {
        "password": {},
        "provider": {
            "type": "IMPORT",
            "name": "IMPORT"
        }
    },

Also verify that the Password Inline hook is set to active, by default it will be inactive after it is created.

1 Like
3

Hi Erik,

Thanks for your response,
I confirmed that the user status is “Active” and credential format looks same.
While importing:
“credentials”: {“provider”: {“type”: “IMPORT”, “name”: “IMPORT”}, “password”: {“hook”: {“type”: “default”}}}. In postman it works fine.

After Import Result:

"credentials": {
        "password": {},
        "provider": {
            "type": "IMPORT",
            "name": "IMPORT"
        }
    },