KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q318225: IIS May Return HTTP Status 401 Every 30 Days When Using Kerberos

Article: Q318225
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): 5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWin2000PreSP3Fix
Last Modified: 16-MAY-2002

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

- Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you use Windows Integrated and Kerberos authentication, you may receive the
following error message every 30 days from Internet Information Services (IIS):

  401 access denied

This problem does not occur when you only use NTLM.

CAUSE
=====

IIS caches some credential handles. These handles are removed by a scavenger if
they get too old. However, this does not occur for handles that are used to
decrypt Kerberos tickets. Because of this, if the handle ages, IIS cannot
correctly use the related Kerberos tickets.

WORKAROUND
==========

Disable the use of Kerberos for Windows Integrated authentication. For
additional information about how to disable Kerberos authentication, click the
article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q215383 How to Ensure Windows Integrated Logons in Internet Information
  Services 5.0

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest IIS cumulative security patch. For
additional information, click the article number below to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q319733 MS02-018: April 2002 Cumulative Patch for Internet Information
  Services

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional
testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you
are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait
for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services
to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following
address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.



STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

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

For additional information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000
Datacenter Server, click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q265173 The Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product

For additional information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one
reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q296861 Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with Only One Reboot

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWin2000PreSP3Fix 
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis500
Version           : :5.0
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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.