KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q174775: How Windows NT Challenge/Response Works

Article: Q174775
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): 2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbother
Last Modified: 28-JUN-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server versions 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) supports Microsoft Windows NT
Challenge/Response authentication that a user identifies without requiring the
transmission of actual passwords or account information across a network.

However, the Web server authenticates users by carrying out a procedure that
challenges the user's Web browser to carry out a specific mathematical
computation involving the password and to respond by returning the results of
the computation to IIS. IIS then duplicates this computation using the user's
account password information, and compares this result to the user's result. If
both results match, IIS recognizes that the user has the correct password and
grants access.

Your server will not switch to another authentication method if the user is
initially denied access. Instead, the user's Web browser will prompt the user
for a user name and password that the browser will process and send to IIS as
part of the Windows NT Challenge/Response authentication protocol. If this
second authentication attempt fails, the user will be denied access to IIS.

MORE INFORMATION
================

You will find Windows NT Challenge/Response authentication useful in an intranet
environment, where both user and Web server computers are in the same, secure
domain. Additionally, you can only use Windows NT Challenge/Response to
authenticate users that logon with Web browsers capable of supporting this
method. Currently, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.0 or later is the only
Web browser that supports Windows NT Challenge\Response.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbother 
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis300 kbiis200
Version           : :2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.