Windows Prompts You for Your Password Multiple Times When You Use Outlook If Strong Private Key Protection Is Set to High (821574)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002

SYMPTOMS

If the strong private key protection functionality is set to High with a software key in CryptoAPI, Windows XP prompts you for your private key password every time Outlook accesses the key for signing, encrypting, or decrypting an e-mail message.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because some programs do not maintain a handle to a key in CryptoAPI. This behavior may cause Windows to issue multiple Data Protection API (DPAPI) requests for a user password when Outlook accesses the private key.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Hotfix information

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this fix.

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

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) 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. 
   Date         Time   Version         Size     File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   08-Jul-2003  05:31  5.1.2600.1238   126,976  Dssenh.dll       
   08-Jul-2003  05:31  5.1.2600.1238   136,192  Rsaenh.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

After you install this fix and after you select the Remember my password check box when you type your authentication, the cryptographic service provider (CSP) caches your authentication.

For more information about CSPs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/28/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbWinXPsp2fix kbQFE kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbfix kbbug KB821574
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