Err Msg: HTTP Error 403, 403.2 Forbidden: Read Access Forbidden (228521)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q228521
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

When you browse a Web site using the domain name only (in other words, you do not specify the default file on the Web site), the following error occurs, even though "Enable Default Documents" is turned on and the default document exists:
HTTP Error 403
403.2 Forbidden: Read Access Forbidden
This error can occur when there is no default page available and directory browsing has not been enabled for the directory, or if you are trying to display an HTML page that resides in a directory marked for Execute or Script permissions only.
Please contact the Web serverS administrator if the problem persists.
However, if you browse the Web site using a URL that includes one of the default files, the file is displayed properly.

For example, http://www.domain.com/ does NOT work, but http://www.domain.com/default.htm does.

CAUSE

The Read access permission is turned off for the root of the Web site, preventing the browser from parsing through the list of default documents.

RESOLUTION

Turn the Read access permission on, by performing the following steps:
  1. Start the Internet Service Manager (ISM), which loads the Internet Information Server snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
  2. Right-click the Web site, and then click Properties on the Context menu.
  3. Click the Home Directory tab, and then click the Read access permission to enable it.
  4. Click OK to return to the ISM.

MORE INFORMATION

To locate the "Enable Default Document" property in the ISM, view the property sheet for the Web site, and then click the Documents tab.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/23/2005
Keywords:kbpending kbprb KB228521
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.