Apache Module mod_auth_basic

Description:	Basic authentication
Status:	Base
Module Identifier:	auth_basic_module
Source File:	mod_auth_basic.c
Compatibility:	Available in Apache 2.1 and later

Summary

This module allows the use of HTTP Basic Authentication to restrict access by looking up users in the given providers. HTTP Digest Authentication is provided by mod_auth_digest.

AuthBasicAuthoritative Directive

Description:	Sets whether authorization and authentication are passed to lower level modules
Syntax:	`AuthBasicAuthoritative On\|Off`
Default:	`AuthBasicAuthoritative On`
Context:	directory, .htaccess
Override:	AuthConfig
Status:	Base
Module:	mod_auth_basic

Setting the AuthBasicAuthoritative directive explicitly to Off allows for both authentication and authorization to be passed on to lower level modules (as defined in the 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.

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

AuthBasicProvider Directive

Description:	Sets the authentication provider(s) for this location
Syntax:	`AuthBasicProvider On\|Off\|provider-name [provider-name] ...`
Default:	`AuthBasicProvider On`
Context:	directory
Status:	Base
Module:	mod_auth_basic

The AuthBasicProvider directive sets which provider is used to authenticate the users for this location. Setting the value to On will choose the default provider (file). Since the file provider is implemented by the mod_authn_file module, you have to make sure, that the module is present in the server.

Example

<Location /secure> AuthBasicProvider dbm AuthDBMType SDBM AuthDBMUserFile /www/etc/dbmpasswd Require valid-user </Location>

See mod_authn_dbm and mod_authn_file for providers.

The value Off clears the provider list and sets it back to the default.