Module mod_auth

The AuthGroupFile directive sets the name of a textual file containing the list of user groups for user authentication. Filename is the absolute path to the group file.

Each line of the group file contains a groupname followed by a colon, followed by the member usernames separated by spaces. Example:

mygroup: bob joe anne

Security: make sure that the AuthGroupFile is stored outside the document tree of the web-server; do not put it in the directory that it protects. Otherwise, clients will be able to download the AuthGroupFile.

See also AuthName, AuthType and AuthUserFile.

The AuthUserFile directive sets the name of a textual file containing the list of users and passwords for user authentication. Filename is the absolute path to the user file.

Each line of the user file file contains a username followed by a colon, followed by the crypt() encrypted password. The behavior of multiple occurrences of the same user is undefined.

Note that searching user groups files is inefficient; AuthDBMUserFile should be used instead.

Security: make sure that the AuthUserFile is stored outside the document tree of the web-server; do not put it in the directory that it protects. Otherwise, clients will be able to download the AuthUserFile.

See also AuthName, AuthType and AuthGroupFile.

Setting the AuthAuthoritative directive explicitly to 'off' allows for both authentification and authorization to be passed on to lower level modules (as defined in the Configuration and modules.c files) if there is no userID or rule matching the supplied userID. If there is a userID and/or rule specified; the usual password and access checks will be applied and a failure will give an Authorization Required reply.

So if a userID appears in the database of more than one module; or if a valid require directive applies to more than one module; then the first module will verify the credentials; and no access is passed on; regardless of the AuthAuthoritative setting.

A common use for this is in conjection with one of the database modules; such as mod_auth_db.c, mod_auth_dbm.c, mod_auth_msql.c and mod_auth_anon.c. These modules supply the bulk of the user credential checking; but a few (administrator) related accesses fall through to a lower level with a well protected AuthUserFile.

Default: By default; control is not passed on; and an unkown userID or rule will result in an Authorization Required reply. Not setting it thus keeps the system secure; and forces an NSCA compliant behaviour.

Security: Do consider the implications of allowing a user to allow fall-through in his .htaccess file; and verify that this is really what you want; Generally it is easier to just secure a single .htpasswd file, than it is to secure a database such as mSQL. Make sure that the AuthUserFile is stored outside the document tree of the web-server; do not put it in the directory that it protects. Otherwise, clients will be able to download the AuthUserFile.

See also AuthName, AuthType and AuthGroupFile.