Microsoft KB Archive/939980

= You cannot log on to a Windows Server 2003 domain by using a user account after you reset the user account password by using the ktpass.exe tool together with the -pass * parameter =

Article ID: 939980

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You reset a user account password by using the Ktpass.exe tool together with the -pass * parameter. Then, you try to log on to a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 domain by using that user account. In this scenario, the logon attempt is unsuccessful. Additionally, you receive the following error message:

The system could not log you on. Make sure your User name and domain are correct, then type your password again. Letters in passwords must be typed using the correct case.



CAUSE
When you use the -pass * parameter in the Ktpass.exe tool, the Ktpass.exe tool appends the following extra characters to the password:

\0a

The tool then sends the password to the Active Directory directory service. Therefore, Active Directory stores an incorrect password for this user account. And because the password is incorrect, you cannot log on to the Windows Server 2003 domain.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

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

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 installed on the computer.

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, IA-64 version


STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
The Ktpass.exe tool is a command-line tool that lets an administrator configure a non-native Kerberos service as a security principal in the Windows Server 2003 Active Directory. The Ktpass.exe tool configures the server principal name for the host or for the service in Active Directory. This tool also generates an MIT-style Kerberos keytab file that contains the shared secret key of the service. The Ktpass.exe tool enables UNIX-based services that support Kerberos authentication to use the interoperability features that are provided by the Windows Server 2003 Kerberos KDC service.

In the Ktpass.exe tool, the -pass parameter is used to directly input a password. However, if you input the -pass * parameter, the placeholder characters (*) will be displayed, and then you will be prompted for a password.

Additional query words: ktpass

Keywords: kbqfe kbexpertiseinter kbhotfixserver KB939980

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