Article ID: 248072 - Last Review: July 7, 2008 - Revision: 4.1

Error message: HTTP 403.3 - Forbidden: Write access forbidden

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This article was previously published under Q248072
Note Make sure that you want to add the write permission. The write permission can let a user upload and run potentially harmful executable files on your server.
We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 7.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2008. IIS 7.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx)
For more information about IIS 7.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.iis.net/default.aspx?tabid=1 (http://www.iis.net/default.aspx?tabid=1)
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SYMPTOMS

When attempting to POST or write data to a file that resides on a Web server, the user may receive the following message in the Web browser:
HTTP 403.3 - Forbidden: Write Access Forbidden
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CAUSE

This error can occur due to a problem in trying to save the Web page to the Web site. This can happen if you attempt to upload to or modify a file in a directory that does not allow write access. This can stem from a Posting utility (such as Posting Acceptor) or a Web publishing utility (such as FrontPage).
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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, verify that the permissions to the directory or page are appropriate for the account that is attempting access.

To verify permissions under Windows 2000 (verify only if using an NTFS partition):
  1. Locate the destination folder where files will be posted.
  2. Right-click the folder and click Properties.
  3. Select the Security tab.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Add the account that needs permissions.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Select the appropriate rights to allow this user to write to this directory (read/write or read/write/modify).
  8. Click OK.
Also verify that the virtual directory has write access granted for the users coming in.

To verify permissions under Internet Information Server 5.0:
  1. Open Internet Services Manager.
  2. Expand Machine Name.
  3. Expand the site where the upload directory exists.
  4. Right-click the upload directory.
  5. Click Properties.
  6. On the Virtual Directory tab, click Write.
  7. Click OK.
Internet Information Server will now have write access to the upload directory.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services 5.0
  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
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Keywords: 
kbprb KB248072
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