XADM: Disabling Clear Text Authentication for POP3 Also Disables SSL Clear Text Authentication

ID: Q235051

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5

SYMPTOMS

Administrators are given the option to choose what type of authentication mechanism is allowed for POP3 users. If an administrator chooses to disable clear text authentication (CTA), this also disables clear text authentication over Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

CAUSE

If the request to authenticate comes in through SSL, the Exchange Server information store authenticates the user, but an error message is returned to the client because when the store begins processing the commands, it only checks to see if clear text is disabled. If clear text is disabled, the store returns an error. The store does not check to see if the command arrives through SSL.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server version 5.5. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q191014 XGEN: How to Obtain the Latest Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Component: Information Store

File name	Version
Gapi32.dll	2638.0
Mdbmsg.dll	2638.0
Netif.dll	2638.0
Store.exe	2638.0

NOTE: This fix requires the Directory fix from the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

Q230285 XADM:'Denial of service' Vulnerability in Store with IMAP or POP3

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. This problem was first corrected in Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 3.

Additional query words:

Keywords : exc55 EXC55SP3Fix
Version : winnt:5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug