Knowledge Base

IIS: Cannot Create a 128-bit SSL Session with IIS

Article ID: 300398

Article Last Modified on 11/21/2006

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Internet Information Services 5.0
Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q300398

We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx

SYMPTOMS

You install a 128-bit high encryption certificate onto Internet Information Server (IIS) version 4.0 or 5.0, then browse with a 128-bit enabled Web browser to IIS by using https://. However, the Web browser only makes a 40-bit or 56-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) session with IIS. If you open the Internet Services Manager and edit the Secure Communication property to Require 128-bit encryption, you may receive the following error message when you browse to IIS:

HTTP Error 403
403.5 Forbidden: SSL 128 required

This error message indicates that the resource you are trying to access is secured with a 128-bit version of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). In order to view this resource, you need a browser that supports this level of SSL.

Please confirm that your browser supports 128-bit SSL security. If it does, then contact the Web server's administrator and report the problem.

CAUSE

The server that is hosting IIS does not have the Windows High Encryption Pack installed. If the encryption level is not 128-bit, IIS cannot create a 128-bit SSL session.

RESOLUTION

Update Microsoft Windows with the High Encryption pack.

NOTE: The Windows High Encryption Pack is the same as the Microsoft Internet Explorer High Encryption Pack.

Windows NT 4.0

The High Encryption Pack can be installed onto Windows NT 4.0 by updating to the High Encryption version of the latest Windows NT Service Pack. For additional information on how to obtain the latest service pack, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

Windows 2000

The Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack is available for download from the following Microsoft Web site:

Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/recommended/encryption/

MORE INFORMATION

To verify the encryption level that is installed, open Microsoft Internet Explorer on the IIS server computer and click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu. In the About Internet Explorer dialog box, the encryption level is listed next to Cipher Strength.

Additional query words: iis 5 4 sgc Verisign key lock

Keywords: kbpending kbprb KB300398

Microsoft KB Archive/300398

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