[directory] Easy way to test an LDAP User's Credentials

Is there an easy way to test the credentials of a user against an LDAP instance? I know how to write a Java program that would take the 'User DN' and password, and check it against the LDAP instance. However is there any easier way? Specially a method that not only authenticates the user, but also lists all the user's roles.

Use ldapsearch to authenticate. The opends version might be used as follows:

ldapsearch --hostname hostname --port port \
    --bindDN userdn --bindPassword password \
    --baseDN '' --searchScope base 'objectClass=*' 1.1

Note, if you don't know your full bind DN, you can also just use your normal username or email with -U

ldapsearch -v -h contoso.com -U [email protected] -w 'MY_PASSWORD' -b 'DC=contoso,DC=com' '(objectClass=computer)'

ldapwhoami -vvv -h <hostname> -p <port> -D <binddn> -x -w <passwd>, where binddn is the DN of the person whose credentials you are authenticating.

On success (i.e., valid credentials), you get Result: Success (0). On failure, you get ldap_bind: Invalid credentials (49).

You should check out Softerra's LDAP Browser (the free version of LDAP Administrator), which can be downloaded here :

http://www.ldapbrowser.com/download.htm

I've used this application extensively for all my Active Directory, OpenLDAP, and Novell eDirectory development, and it has been absolutely invaluable.

If you just want to check and see if a username\password combination works, all you need to do is create a "Profile" for the LDAP server, and then enter the credentials during Step 3 of the creation process :

By clicking "Finish", you'll effectively issue a bind to the server using the credentials, auth mechanism, and password you've specified. You'll be prompted if the bind does not work.

Authentication is done via a simple ldap_bind command that takes the users DN and the password. The user is authenticated when the bind is successfull. Usually you would get the users DN via an ldap_search based on the users uid or email-address.

Getting the users roles is something different as it is an ldap_search and depends on where and how the roles are stored in the ldap. But you might be able to retrieve the roles during the lap_search used to find the users DN.