Error message in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP Professional: "ERROR_WINHTTP_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT_NEEDED" (909425)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-based Systems
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to retrieve information from the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate request message in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or in Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (SP2), you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
ERROR_WINHTTP_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT_NEEDED

RESOLUTION

Windows Server 2003 hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it 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 Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product 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

Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Note x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 contain SP1.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this software update.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces hotfix 902454.

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 tool in Control Panel.Windows Server 2003 with SP1, 32-bit versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winhttp.dll5.2.3790.2551361,98419-Oct-200501:46x86
Winhttp.manNot Applicable1,17319-Oct-200501:48Not Applicable
Winhttp.manNot Applicable59719-Oct-200501:48Not Applicable
Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winhttp.dll5.2.3790.2551521,21618-Oct-200511:11x64
Winhttp.manNot Applicable1,17518-Oct-200511:11Not Applicable
Winhttp.manNot Applicable60118-Oct-200511:11Not Applicable
Winhttp.dll5.2.3790.2551361,98418-Oct-200511:11x86
Winhttp.manNot Applicable1,17318-Oct-200511:11Not Applicable
Winhttp.manNot Applicable59718-Oct-200511:11Not Applicable
Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Itanium-based versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winhttp.dll5.2.3790.25511,020,41618-Oct-200511:10IA-64
Winhttp.manNot Applicable1,17418-Oct-200511:10Not Applicable
Winhttp.manNot Applicable59918-Oct-200511:10Not Applicable
Winhttp.dll5.2.3790.2551361,98418-Oct-200511:10x86
Winhttp.manNot Applicable1,17318-Oct-200511:10Not Applicable
Winhttp.manNot Applicable59718-Oct-200511:10Not Applicable

Windows XP Professional hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it 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 XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product 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

Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this software update.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces hotfix 902454.

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 tool in Control Panel.
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winhttp.dll5.1.2600.2805351,23201-Dec-200504:03x86

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

When a client that has multiple certificates available connects to a server that requires a certificate, the client cannot know what certificate the server requested. The client must manually try each certificate until the client finds a certificate that the server accepts.

This hotfix provides a new Windows HTTP Services (WinHTTP) option to request the certificate information from the server so that the client can present the correct certificate.

Note The header value for the new option is 94.

The sample code for the new Windows HTTP Services (WinHTTP) option is similar to the following code.
//Here is the header value.
#define WINHTTP_OPTION_CLIENT_CERT_ISSUER_LIST 94
//Here is a sample usage for the new option WINHTTP_OPTION_CLIENT_CERT_ISSUER_LIST.
#include <schannel.h>
SecPkgContext_IssuerListInfoEx* pIssuerList = NULL;
DWORD dwBufferSize = sizeof(SecPkgContext_IssuerListInfoEx*);
If (WinHttpQueryOption(hRequest,
                       WINHTTP_OPTION_CLIENT_CERT_ISSUER_LIST,
                       &pIssuerList,
                       & dwBufferSize) == TRUE)
{
            // TODO: insert code to use / filter the issuer list
            GlobalFree(pIssuerList); // free the issuer list when done
}

//Here is a sample usage of the issuer list retrieved from above. The example finds the certificate in the certificate store that matches the issuer list.

PCERT_CONTEXT pClientCert = NULL;
CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER_PARA SrchCriteria;
::ZeroMemory(&SrchCriteria, sizeof(CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER_PARA));
SrchCriteria.cbSize = sizeof(CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER_PARA);
SrchCriteria.cIssuer = pIssuerList->cIssuers;
SrchCriteria.rgIssuer = pIssuerList->aIssuers;
PCCERT_CHAIN_CONTEXT pClientCertChain = 
CertFindChainInStore(
    pCacheEntry->_ClientCertStore,
        X509_ASN_ENCODING,
        CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER_CACHE_ONLY_URL_FLAG |
            // Do not perform wire download when building chains
        CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER_CACHE_ONLY_FLAG,
            // Do not search pCacheEntry->_ClientCertStore 
            // for issuer certificates
        CERT_CHAIN_FIND_BY_ISSUER,
        &SrchCriteria,
        NULL);
if (pClientCertChain)
{
pClientCert = 
    pClientCertChain->rgpChain[0]->rgpElement[0]->pCertContext;
     CertDuplicateCertificateContext(pClientCert);
     CertFreeCertificateChain(pClientCertChain);
     pClientCertChain = NULL;
     fRet = TRUE;
}
For more information, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winhttp/http/option_flags.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/26/2006
Keywords:kbfix kbbug kbHotfixServer kbQFE KB909425 kbAudITPRO kbAudDeveloper
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