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

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).

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.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server version 5.5. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Component: Information Store


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

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