Err Msg: Active Server Pages, ASP 0131 Disallowed Parent Path

• Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
• Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When you use relative paths in include statements with Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP), browsing a Web page may return an error message similar to the following:

Active Server Pages, ASP 0131
Disallowed Parent Path
The Include file '../<filename.ext>' cannot contain '..' to indicate the parent directory.
/<path>/<filename.ext>, line <number>

CAUSE

This is caused by disabling ASP's "parent paths" for a Web site or application while using relative parent paths in an include statement.

Relative parent paths in include statements use the following form:

<!--#include file="../<filename.ext>"--> 

RESOLUTION

The best solution to the problem is to use absolute virtual paths from the root of the Web site instead of relative paths.

For example, if you use an include file named "foo.inc" at the root of your server, the virtual path would be "/foo.inc." If you use the same include file in a virtual directory named "/includes" on your server, the virtual path would be "/includes/foo.inc."

The syntax example below illustrates how to implement virtual paths:

<!--#include virtual="/<virtual path>/<filename.ext>"--> 

1. Open the Internet Services Manager in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).



2. Right-click on your Default Web Site and select Properties.



3. Click the Home Directory tab.



4. Click the Configuration button.



5. Click the App Options tab.



6. Click to select the Enable Parent Paths checkbox.



7. Click the OK button until you return to the MMC.

MORE INFORMATION

Note: There are additional security considerations to be considered when enabling parent paths on an IIS computer. For more information, please see the following Knowledge Base article:

Q184717 AspEnableParentPaths MetaBase Property Should Be Set To False

Keywords :
Version : winnt:4.0;5.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb