Name

AuthDBAuthoritative

Synopsis

AuthDBAuthoritative on|off
Default: AuthDBAuthoritative on
directory, .htaccess

Setting the AuthDBAuthoritative directive explicitly to off allows for both authentication and authorization to be passed on to lower-level modules (as defined in the Config and modules.c files) if there is no user ID or rule matching the supplied user ID. If there is a user ID 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 user ID 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.

A common use for this is in conjunction with one of the basic auth modules, such as mod_auth.c. Whereas this DB module supplies the bulk of the user-credential checking, a few (administrator) related accesses fall through to a lower level with a well-protected .htpasswd file.

Default

By default, control is not passed on, and an unknown user ID or rule will result in an Authorization Required reply. Not setting it thus keeps the system secure.

Security

Do consider the implications of allowing a user to allow fall-through in his .htaccess file, and verify that this is really what you want. Generally, it is easier just to secure a single .htpasswd file than it is to secure a database that might have more access interfaces.