When using ldapsearch's -y option for password files, many developers encounter the "Invalid credentials" error (49) with data 52e. This typically occurs even when:

• The password is correct
• The DN is properly formatted
• The file contains only the password in plain text

The correct way to use password files with ldapsearch:

# Correct password file format (single line, no trailing newline)
echo -n "your_password" > .ldappass

# Usage example
ldapsearch -x -D "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com" -y .ldappass \
  -h ldap.example.com -b "dc=example,dc=com" "(objectClass=*)"

1. File Permissions

Ensure strict permissions on the password file:

chmod 600 .ldappass

2. Newline Characters

Many text editors automatically add newlines. Use these methods to create clean files:

# Using printf (recommended)
printf '%s' "p@ssw0rd" > .ldappass

# Using echo -n
echo -n "p@ssw0rd" > .ldappass

Using Environment Variables

# Set password
LDAP_PASS="your_password"
export LDAP_PASS

# In your script
ldapsearch -x -D "$LDAP_DN" -w "$LDAP_PASS" \
  -h ldap.server.com -b "dc=example,dc=com" "(cn=*)"

SASL Authentication

For more secure setups:

ldapsearch -Y EXTERNAL -H ldapi:/// -b "dc=example,dc=com"

Add -v for verbose output:

ldapsearch -v -x -D "$LDAP_DN" -y .ldappass -h server -b "dc=x,dc=y"

Check for common LDAP error codes:

• 52e: Invalid credentials
• 525: User not found
• 530: Not permitted at this time

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When automating LDAP searches with ldapsearch, many developers encounter authentication issues when trying to use the -y option for password files. The common error:

ldap_bind: Invalid credentials (49)
    additional info: 80090308: LdapErr: DSID-0C0903AA, comment: AcceptSecurityContext error, data 52e, v1772

This typically occurs even when the credentials are correct.

The password file must follow these exact specifications:

1. Contain ONLY the password string
2. No trailing newline or whitespace
3. File permissions should be 400 (read-only by owner)

Create it properly using:

echo -n "actual_password" > .ldappass
chmod 400 .ldappass

For scripting purposes, consider these alternatives:

1. Using -w option directly

ldapsearch -x -D "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com" -w "password" -H ldap://server.example.com -b "dc=example,dc=com" "(objectClass=*)"

2. Environment variable approach

export LDAP_PASS="your_password"
ldapsearch -x -D "$LDAP_BIND_DN" -y <(echo -n "$LDAP_PASS") -H "$LDAP_SERVER" -b "$LDAP_BASE" "$LDAP_FILTER"

If authentication still fails:

• Verify the DN is correctly quoted
• Check for special characters in password that might need escaping
• Test with -W interactive mode first
• Use strace to verify file read operations

For production environments:

# Use SASL authentication when possible
ldapsearch -Y EXTERNAL -H ldapi:/// -b "dc=example,dc=com" "(objectClass=*)"

# Or use TLS certificate authentication
ldapsearch -ZZ -D "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com" -y .ldappass -H ldap://server.example.com -b "dc=example,dc=com"