LDAP authorization guide
LDAP bind successful but access denied
A successful LDAP bind proves the user can authenticate, but it does not prove the user is authorized for the application.
Common symptoms
- Logs show LDAP bind successful.
- The application still returns access denied.
- The user is missing a required group or role.
Evidence to collect
- LDAP bind result.
- Authorization decision logs.
- Required group DN or role name.
- User memberOf values and nested group behavior.
Common causes
- User is not in the required group.
- User is in a test group instead of the production group.
- Application does not support nested groups.
How to fix or triage it
- Verify required group membership directly in LDAP/AD.
- Confirm nested group handling.
- Update application access policy or group mapping.
How AccessTrace AI helps
- Flags authentication success followed by authorization denial.
- Extracts required group and observed group evidence.
- Drafts a clear ticket update separating authn from authz.
Example evidence
LDAP bind successful for EXAMPLE\arivera Authorization decision: DENY Required AD group: CN=Finance-Reports-Prod-Users User group: CN=Finance-Reports-Test-Users
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