OL98: Outlook Can Only Verify Security Certificates One Level Deep

ID: Q115544

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

Case 1. An Organization has deployed Microsoft Outlook 98 in Internet Mail Only (IMO) mode, and has obtained authorization to issue certificates from a certificate vendor like Verisign. In this scenario, all certificates issued by Verisign directly will be trusted, but all certificates that are issued by the organization will not be trusted.

Case 2. An Organization deploys Microsoft Outlook 98 in Corporate/Workgroup (CW) mode using Microsoft Exchange Server, and has more than one certificate server internally. In this scenario, all certificates issued by a branch of the organization other than the one the user's certificate came from will not be trusted.

Case 3. An Organization deploys Microsoft Outlook 98 in Corporate/Workgroup (CW) mode with Microsoft Exchange Server, and exchanges signed mail with external vendors. In this scenario, certificates issues by the external vendors will not be trusted.


CAUSE

Outlook 98 will only validate certificates one level deep.


RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft Outlook version 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 on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/default.asp
The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 

   Component: DigiSig

   File Name     Version
   -----------------------
   Exsec32.dll   5.5.2370.0
NOTE: If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, a fee may be charged. This fee is refundable if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested. However, this fee is non-refundable if you request additional technical support, if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154871 Determining If Your Product Is Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Outlook 98.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: August 2, 1999