Resolving "Invalid credentials" errors in LDAP Server Test Connection - Support and Troubleshooting

Resolving "Invalid credentials" errors in LDAP Server Test Connection Issue When testing the connection to an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server from ServiceNow, administrators may encounter an "Invalid credentials" error. This error typically occurs when the credentials or configuration provided cannot authenticate against the LDAP directory. This article explains the causes and provides comprehensive troubleshooting steps.

Error Message ldap:// : / Invalid credentials This error indicates that the LDAP server rejected the authentication attempt using the provided credentials.

Symptoms Test Connection button fails with "Invalid credentials" error LDAP authentication fails during user import or login attempts Error message displays the LDAP server URL in the format: ldap://[IP]:[Port]/ Users cannot authenticate against the LDAP directory LDAP sync or lookup table population fails Error occurs consistently when testing the same credentials Release All

Cause .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } In most of the cases the cause of the issue is the Login Distinguished Name and the Password doesn't match.

In some cases the error is misleading, in such cases cause of the issue could be user doesn't have a valid access to the starting search directory.

Resolution .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } Check the login distinguished name and password is correct. In cases where error is misleading check user has valid access to the starting search directory. Run LDAP Search command on the LDAP Server - ldapsearch -x -D " " -w -H -b " ""(&(objectClass=person))" Alternatively customer can install 3rd party LDAP Search tools like Jxplorer to check the issue further. To further debug administrators can enable LDAP debug system properties and check the issue in system logs. Property Name - glide.ldap.debug Type - True/False.