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iis security : iis 5.1, internet explorer, cached credentials and kerberos


Brian Yuill
6/6/2008 10:15:06 AM
We have a 5.1 web site set for 'Integrated Windows Authenticatioin' (only).

In Internet Explorer 7.0, we have this site added to our list of local
intranet sites and the User Authentication for that zone is set to 'Automatic
logon only in intranet zone'. We also have 'Enable Integrated Windows
Authenticate' (best try kerberos) enabled.

If a user does a domain logon (when connected to our domain network) and
then takes his machine into the field and logs back onto his machine using
his cached domain credentials, connects to an ISP and attempts to access our
site, Internet Explorer comes up with a 'Cannot display the WebPage'.

If we turn off kerberos the user is auto logged on (good).

If we remove site from the local intranet zone or temporarily force logon
for that zone we are prompted for credentials and can successful connect
using our domain credentials (good).

if the user logs on to a local account on the machine, the user is prompted
for domain credentials (good).

Any idea why Internet Explorer might be choking in the situation described
(cached domain credentials, ISP connect, Kerberos authentication?

Any suggestions for a preferred work aorund given that we want to continue
to use windows integrated security over the internet?

Any opinion on reverting back to NTLM (uncheck 'Enable Integrated Windows
Authenticate' in IE)?

Thanks for any info,
Brian Yuill
6/7/2008 2:01:01 PM
I've been doing a little homework and am looking for validation of what I
think I understand.

If I connect to the internet via my ISP (no VPNing involved), is it correct
to say that there is NO way for Internet Explorer to authenticate to my
companies IIS served web site via Kerberos even if the site is set for
'Negotiate' and Internet Explorer is set to 'Enable Integrated Windows
Authenticate' (I'll call best try kerberos). I say that because I now
understand there is no way for me to obtain a kerberos ticket when not
connected to my companies network.
Have I got that right?

As I undertand it, NTLM is the best I can hope for in this scenario.
Have I got that right?

Again any feedback appreciated,
Brian


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Ken Schaefer
6/13/2008 9:33:03 PM
Hi there,

To obtain a Kerberos ticket you need to connect to the KDC. This is hosted
on your AD domain controller if it's a Windows domain. Unless you expose
your DCs to the public internet and you have the necessary SRV records
published in the DNS, the client can not contact the KDC. So no Kerberos
available.

That said, I don't think you should be having the issue you are describing.
The client should detect that there is no KDC available, and attempt NTLM
instead (according to network packet captures I have seen).

Can you get a packet capture from a client when the problem is occuring?

Cheers
Ken

--
My IIS blog: http://adopenstatic.com/blog

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Brian Yuill
6/18/2008 6:24:01 AM
Thanks Ken,

On failure IE says

The page cannot be displayed

Cannot find server or DNS Error
Internet Explorer

Took a look at packet tracket.

Last packets are IE asking ISP guy for ptr to domain controller via bios
name (no response) and then one final TCP call. Some frame info below.


Frame:
+ Ethernet: Etype = Internet IP (IPv4)
+ Ipv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 2188, Total IP Length = 78
+ Udp: SrcPort = NETBIOS Name Service(137), DstPort = NETBIOS Name
Service(137), Length = 58
- Nbtns: Query Request for AAAADOM <0x1C> Domain Controllers
TransactionId: 32836 (0x8044)
- Flag: 272 (0x110)
R: (0...............) Request
OPCode: (.0000...........) Query
AA: (.....0..........) Non-authorized answer
TC: (......0.........) Datagram not truncated
RD: (.......1........) Recursion desired
RA: (........0.......) Recursion not available
Reserved: (.........00.....)
B: (...........1....) Broadcast
RCode: (............0000) Success
QuestionCount: 1 (0x1)
AnswerCount: 0 (0x0)
NameServiceCount: 0 (0x0)
AdditionalCount: 0 (0x0)
- NbtNsQuestionSectionData:
- QuestionName: AAAADOM <0x1C> Domain Controllers
Name: AAAADOM
QuestionType: NetBIOS General Name Service
QuestionClass: Internet Class 1(0x1)

Frame:
+ Ethernet: Etype = Internet IP (IPv4)
+ Ipv4: Next Protocol = TCP, Packet ID = 2189, Total IP Length = 40
- Tcp: Flags=..R.A..., SrcPort=1233, DstPort=HTTP(80), Len=0, Seq=433479785,
Ack=423573933, Win=0 (scale factor not found)
SrcPort: 1233
DstPort: HTTP(80)
SequenceNumber: 433479785 (0x19D66069)
AcknowledgementNumber: 423573933 (0x193F39AD)
+ DataOffset: 80 (0x50)
- Flags: ..R.A...
CWR: (0.......) CWR not significant
ECE: (.0......) ECN-Echo not significant
Urgent: (..0.....) Not Urgent Data
Ack: (...1....) Acknowledgement field significant
Push: (....0...) No Push Function
Reset: (.....1..) Reset
Syn: (......0.) Not Synchronize sequence numbers
Fin: (.......0) Not End of data
Window: 0 (scale factor not found)
Checksum: 37734 (0x9366)
UrgentPointer: 0 (0x0)

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Brian Yuill
6/19/2008 11:30:01 AM
After googling around some more it feels like my problem lives in IE.

I've tried IE versions 6 and 7. Both fail the same way.

Multiple machines. Same problem.

Couple of different ISPs. Same problem.

I've tried running site under IIS 6. Problem persists.

It seems like the conventional wisdom is that IE should revert to NTLM when
it realizes it can't talk to a KDC. In my case it appears IE makes a request
to my ISP (my assigned address but with 255 in the last segment
168,111,111,255) for a pointer to the DC for the cached credential's domain.
When IE gets no response it gives up and reports the error.

Any suggestions on other things to try?

If I set ISS or IE to NTLM then my problem goes away. I'm considering
configuring my 5.0 IIS server to NTLM (from Negotiate,NTLM). Most of the
access to those sites is from inside the network and so will change from
kerberos to NTLM. Is there much cause for concern if I do that? I currently
don't have any need to propagate credentials.

Brian


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