Getting The Current User Name In ASP.NET Application

Question

I am running a webpage that needs to be able to read the login id of the current user. Here is the code I am using:

string id = System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().Name;

Currently this returns the correct login but when I use it in this method:

protected Boolean isPageOwner()
{
    string id = System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().Name;
    alert("User: " + id);
    if (id.Equals(pageOwnerID))
    {
        return true;
    }
    if (accessPermission.ContainsKey(id))
    {
        return true;
    }
    return false;
}

the method returns false even though the id returned is identical to pageOwnerID. I'm really not sure which part of this I am having a problem with.

On a side note, my login id is of the form string1/string2 but the code retrieves it as string1 + string2 without the slash.

Any advice is appreciated.

Regards.

What is the exact string for `id` and `pageOwnerID`. It sounds like it may be `abc/123` and `abc123` from your description, which would not work. — Guvante, Jul 19 '12 at 19:34
When I was developing this page on my local machine I was able to detect my logon id in the form "abc/123" with the slash. As soon as I deployed the page on the server the logon id was retrieved without the slash -- so abc123. So I changed pageOwnerID to remove the slash but the test for equality is failing mysteriously. — Kevin, Jul 19 '12 at 19:37
Why don't you log/output both `id` and `pageOwnerID` so you can compare. Obviously they are not the same. — SliverNinja - MSFT, Jul 19 '12 at 19:49
Suddenly the code is retrieving "NT AUTHORITYNETWORK SERVICE" as the user name. So now I have a new problem. — Kevin, Jul 19 '12 at 19:56
I can't find an example of Request.User -- could you show me the whole command? — Kevin, Jul 19 '12 at 20:12
See answer below for an example on using `Request.User` -> `HttpContext.Current.User` — SliverNinja - MSFT, Jul 19 '12 at 20:30
Possible duplicate of [How to get Current User who's accessing ASP.net app?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5417125/how-to-get-current-user-whos-accessing-asp-net-app) — KyleMit, Oct 21 '15 at 15:51

SliverNinja - MSFT · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-19T20:43:00.593

11

Try using this to retrieve the username....

if (System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.IsAuthenticated)
{
   string username = System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name;
}

It sounds like windows authentication is not being used - you need to disable anonymous access and enable windows integrated security.

Add this to your web.config...

<system.web>
 <authentication mode="Windows"/>
  <authorization>
    <deny users="?"/> 
  </authorization>
</system.web>

edited Jul 19 '12 at 20:43

answered Jul 19 '12 at 20:28

SliverNinja - MSFT

31,051
11
110
173

This would work under normal circumstances, but IIS configuration may setup impersonation that will fool ASP.NET into thinking System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name (or Request.User.Identity.Name) is not the actual logged in user. – Emil Lerch Jul 19 '12 at 20:33
It will be empty if `IsAuthenticated` is false. – SliverNinja - MSFT Jul 19 '12 at 20:38
Ah, sorry, I meant I had tried `string id = System.Web.HttpContext.Current.User.Identity.Name;` without the if-clause. Also, this is in my web.config file: `` – Kevin Jul 19 '12 at 20:39
1

You need to configure IIS to enable integrated security and disable anonymous. – SliverNinja - MSFT Jul 19 '12 at 20:43
Thanks. I'll pounce on the server admin first thing tomorrow. – Kevin Jul 19 '12 at 20:51

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 10 '16 at 07:21

1

If you need the current logged in user's identity from within any layer (or Project in your solution) then use:

string userId = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.GetUserId();

answered Aug 10 '16 at 07:21

Ehimah Obuse

116
2
6

Getting The Current User Name In ASP.NET Application

2 Answers2