Access to the path is denied when saving image

Question

I'm trying to save an image to a folder in .NET C# but I get this exception:

Access to the path 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mysite\images\savehere' is denied.The error occured at mscorlib because    at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy, Boolean useLongPath)
at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)
at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode)

I gave full control to this folder (savehere) to network service and iis_iusrs, even gave full control to everyone but still getting this exception. I tried to give access via explorer and via IIS manager, still no luck

I'm doing it on Windows server 2008 R2 and IIS 7.5, Who do I need to give access?

Have you tried using a path relative to your application? I don't know much about Windows server, but it may be that it doesn't allow access to a `C:\` root path. — Michael K, Feb 02 '11 at 17:47

Hans Passant · Answer 1 · 2018-03-22T11:27:43.580

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Access to the path 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mysite\images\savehere' is denied

Read the message carefully. You are trying to save to a file that has the same name as the directory. That cannot work, you can't overwrite a directory filled with files with a single new file. That would cause undiagnosable data loss, "Access to the path is denied" is the file system fighting back to prevent that from happening.

The exception message is not ideal, but it comes straight from the OS and they are cast in stone. The framework often adds extra checks to generate better messages, but this is an expensive test on a network. Perf is a feature too.

You need to use a name like 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mysite\images\savehere\mumble.jpg'. Consider Path.Combine() to reliably generate the path name.

edited Mar 22 '18 at 11:27

answered Feb 02 '11 at 18:40

Hans Passant

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@Hans Passant Thanks for your, a bit harsh, statement. That made me look into my code realise I had made the same error. – LosManos Jul 18 '11 at 20:15
for me, the problem was that the file was existing and the user could nout replace it – VinnyG Apr 03 '12 at 15:29
2

Hah! I did the exact same thing. – jakejgordon Apr 09 '13 at 19:37
Maybe this thread should be locked to protect against "Me too!" answers. Because me too! In my case I should add that I am annoyed that an HttpPostedFileBase object's SaveAs method required a name in addition to the path, considering the name is another property on the object. Of course I guess you could give it a different name this way. – Ralph Feb 08 '16 at 20:19
1

I got this error while trying to write a file in a unit test (nothing to do with IIS or anything web-related), and the error message is **so** vague. Why doesn't it say something among the lines of "Cannot open \path\to\file as a file"? – MarioDS Aug 23 '16 at 14:29
Hmya, most any operating system designer will insist that trying to destroy an entire directory by overwriting it with a file *is* the bigger problem. It isn't that clear why the mishap is hard to diagnose, Explorer doesn't exactly hide the fact that the path is already the name of a directory. Well, you'll know what to look for next time it happens, live and learn. – Hans Passant Aug 23 '16 at 14:34
9 years later, I've made the same stupid mistake... – Marcus Oct 29 '20 at 21:04
@LosManos don't worry man, I had the same problem. Thank you HP – dspyank Aug 02 '21 at 15:03

score 103 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 02 '11 at 17:35

103

You need to find out from the application pool for the website what is the identity it is running under (by default this is Application Pool Identity) and grant that the correct permissions.

answered Feb 02 '11 at 17:35

Oded

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Ok, thanks, I have 5 pools, they all have identity as `ApplicationPoolIdentity` , how do I give permissions to it? – Burjua Feb 02 '11 at 17:40
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@Burjua - look for the `IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool` user. See this article on the official IIS site: http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/624/application-pool-identities/ – Oded Feb 02 '11 at 17:46
1

Ok, as written in this article I added `DefaultAppPool` and gave `full control` permissions to it, but still getting the same error – Burjua Feb 02 '11 at 18:14
@Burjua - did you make sure to have the permissions apply to all subdirectories? – Oded Feb 02 '11 at 18:20
Thanks Oded, your link helped me, just had another small issue which I haven't notice. – Burjua Feb 02 '11 at 18:55
@Oded, i don't know why the answer below has more points than yours, but your answer and the article solved my problem. +1 – Pramesh Apr 28 '14 at 18:11
2

I know I am too late. But I am facing the same problem. The OP had clearly mentioned that he had given `everyone` the Full control. If we grant `everyone` the Full control, even then we need to grant access to `DefaultAppPool`? It's confusing. – qurban May 02 '15 at 12:28
i got this error: `Access to the path 'D:\Hosting...\wwwroot\Images\img1.jpg` is denied, while uploading image using c# code, i went to Go daddy C panel and updated write permissions as said [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19476322/upload-images-from-asp-net-to-godaddy-file-system) and now its working fine, but giving full control to all directories is best practice ? – Shaiju T Nov 21 '15 at 09:03
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@stom - of course it isn't best practice. You are opening the website to all kinds of vulnerabilities. You just want read/write permissions to the `Images` directory for the user/identity that is running the website (you will need to ask your host provider about that). – Oded Nov 21 '15 at 09:39
@Oded I have the same problem and have 2 question: 1) What is the the more wise way for generating report? On IIS or on the client's machine? Although client option seems to be better, IIS is better I think as some users cannot write permission even to their C drive. What is your opinion? 2) For solving the problem, I just want to give permission a custom location and render the report to this location in IIS. So, how can I do that? Thanks in advance. – Jack Dec 12 '15 at 14:40
@Christof - either of those (1 - generating a report in memory and 2 - have an upload directory) are good alternatives, and really depend on how much CPU generating a report costs, how often the *same* report is requested, how much disk space is at your disposal etc... there are some security/privacy concerns but that depends on what you are generating and for whom. As for sorting that out on IIS - you need both OS permissions and IIS permissions on the location. There are tutorials on the web, google is your friend there. – Oded Dec 12 '15 at 15:11
Just to add one more thing.. the website I am using is hosted by GoDaddy.com. I was using FileZilla as my FTP to transfer files and such. In FileZilla, I set all permissions to read/write. I thought that covered it, but it didn't. And I could not access the pool from FileZilla. I had to do it via GoDaddy's CPanel. – MarkJoel60 Feb 10 '16 at 00:12

score 25 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 08 '12 at 01:44

I was having the same problem while trying to create a file on the server (actually a file that is a copy from a template).

Here's the complete error message:

{ERROR} 08/07/2012 22:15:58 - System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SAvE\Templates\Cover.pdf' is denied.

I added a new folder called Templates inside the IIS app folder. One very important thing in my case is that I needed to give the Write (Gravar) permission for the IUSR user on that folder. You may also need to give Network Service and ASP.NET v$.# the same Write permission.

enter image description here

After doing this everything works as expected.

score 18 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 16 '12 at 16:07

18

I had exactly the same problem.

The solution was that the file I was trying to access was readonly, as it was copied from a template file that was readonly.

answered Jul 16 '12 at 16:07

Ruskin

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The Altova AltovaXML Application Class (DCOM) is doing this. Caused me problems. – Mike D Feb 21 '14 at 11:48
By which I mean, it must be using something similar to the following line, meaning XSLT must not be readonly. 'FileStream ms = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite);' – Mike D Feb 21 '14 at 15:15
1

Here's a from me as well. Oh and.. Thanks, readonly was my problem also. – Cătălin Rădoi Feb 14 '17 at 08:25

score 14 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 10 '16 at 18:44

14

I got this problem when I try to save the file without set the file name.

Old Code

File.WriteAllBytes(@"E:\Folder", Convert.FromBase64String(Base64String));

Working Code

File.WriteAllBytes(@"E:\Folder\"+ fileName, Convert.FromBase64String(Base64String));

answered Feb 10 '16 at 18:44

MarceloBarbosa

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This worked for me, but note that if the file does not exist this will throw an exception instead of creating a new one. So I suggest that you check first if the file exists (you need to overwrite), then use the working code otherwise (you need to create) use the old code. – Zeyad Oct 08 '22 at 10:32

score 11 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 26 '13 at 01:28

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My problem was that I had to ask for Read access only:

FileStream fs = new FileStream(name, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);

answered Feb 26 '13 at 01:28

jesal

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Bingo - this one bit me, too! Thank you for the post! – paulsm4 Jun 11 '20 at 16:21

Ali Rasouli · Answer 7 · 2017-08-29T10:14:21.097

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please add IIS_IUSERS full control permission to your folder. you find this option from security tab in folder properties.

edited Aug 29 '17 at 10:14

answered Aug 29 '17 at 10:09

Ali Rasouli

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Bad advice. Arbitrarily giving IIS_USERS "full control" - without careful consideration - is the moral equivalent of saying "Nurse - chainsaw" ;) – paulsm4 Jun 11 '20 at 16:38
I add the Modify Permission and it works – Edgar Gomez Jul 31 '23 at 19:45

score 6 · Answer 8 · edited Jan 28 '21 at 07:24

6

In my case, I'm trying to access a file that is set to be read-only

And I solved it by disabling read-only and I got it fixed!

Hope it can be helpful for someone experiencing a situation like me.

edited Jan 28 '21 at 07:24

Suraj Rao

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answered Jan 28 '21 at 07:21

Le Do

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score 4 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 21 '17 at 16:01

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I Solved with this setting:

IIS > Application Pools > [your site] > Advanced Settings... > Identity > Built-in accound > LocalSystem

answered Nov 21 '17 at 16:01

Mohammad Hossein Ganjyar

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This is giving your Website LocalAdmin permissions. This is a security concern. – Rich-Lang Apr 10 '19 at 13:49
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DO NOT EVER run your website under LocalSystem account. EVER. PERIOD. – Mihail Shishkov Jul 07 '19 at 13:51
@MihailShishkov why? – Mohammad Hossein Ganjyar Jul 08 '19 at 20:21
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@MohammadHosseinGanjyar LocalSystem has admin rights over the system. By running the website under that account you basically give it the keys to the entire system and probably the entire local network on which the server resides. This means that if an attacker finds a way to exploit your website - the website and the entire system are screwed. That's the reason privileges/rights and accounts exist in the first place. As a rule of a thumb remember this - no software should run with greater privileges then it needs to do its job. For example blog site does not need the right to format D:drive – Mihail Shishkov Jul 10 '19 at 04:24
This answer is recommending that a security flaw be introduced and should be deleted. – Ruzihm Nov 22 '21 at 22:43

score 4 · Answer 10 · answered Feb 02 '11 at 17:35

What Identity is your Application Pool for the Web application running as, to troubleshoot, try creating a new App Pool with say Network Service as its identity and make your web application use that new App Pool you created and see if the error persists.

Mike Gledhill · Answer 11 · 2011-11-16T12:47:48.070

The following tip isn't an answer to this thread's original question, but might help some other users who end up on this webpage, after making the same stupid mistake I just did...

I was attempting to get an ASP.Net FileUpload control to upload it's file to a network address which contained a "hidden share", namely:

\MyNetworkServer\c$\SomeDirectoryOrOther

I didn't understand it. If I ran the webpage in Debug mode in Visual Studio, it'd work fine. But when the project was deployed, and was running via an Application Pool user, it refused to find this network directory.

I had checked which user my IIS site was running under, gave this user full permissions to this directory on the "MyNetworkServer" server, etc etc, but nothing worked.

The reason (of course!) is that only Administrators are able to "see" these hidden drive shares.

My solution was simply to create a "normal" share to

\MyNetworkServer\SomeDirectoryOrOther

and this got rid of the "Access to the path... is denied" error. The FileUpload was able to successfully run the command

fileUpload.SaveAs(networkFilename);

Hope this helps some other users who make the same mistake I did !

Note also that if you're uploading large files (over 4Mb), then IIS7 requires that you modify the web.config file in two places. Click on this link to read what you need to do: Uploading large files in ASP.Net

score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Jul 24 '12 at 05:56

2

My problem was something like that:

FileStream ms = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite);

but instead of using path I should use File.FullName... I don't know if it's going to help anyone else, just passing my own experience with this erro given!

edited Jul 24 '12 at 05:56

Botz3000

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answered Jul 23 '12 at 21:12

Tarcísio Luna

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score 2 · Answer 13 · edited Oct 24 '14 at 15:55

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Change the setting from built-in account to custom account and enter the other server's username and password.
Keep the setting as integrated (instead of classic mode).

edited Oct 24 '14 at 15:55

Ryan Kohn

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answered Oct 24 '14 at 15:35

uday

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score 1 · Answer 14 · answered Nov 21 '19 at 06:18

If you get this error while uploading files in Sub domain And working correct in your localhost, then follow below steps:

Solution:

Plesk Panel

Login to your Plesk Panel. Select Your Sub domain which is giving error.
Click on Hosting settings.
Select Additional write/modify permissions and Apply.

CPanel

I am not sure about options available in CPanel. But IF you give permission to directory (In CPanel it has to be decimal number like 777, 755) will resolve the error.

For more details refer here

Reason for Error:

Let's Assume FileUpload.SaveAs(Server.MapPath("~/uploads/" + *YOUR_FILENAME*)) will be your code to move your files to upload path.
Server.MapPath will give you physical path (Real Path) of directory. But your Sub domain may don't have permission for access physical path.
So, If you give permission for sub domain to access write/modify permission, it will resolve the issue.

score 1 · Answer 15 · answered Mar 27 '22 at 13:46

1

you need to add access parameter with ReadWrite value as following

using (var stream = new FileStream(localPath, FileMode.Create, access : FileAccess.ReadWrite))
{
    file.CopyTo(stream);
}

answered Mar 27 '22 at 13:46

khaled saleh

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score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Apr 11 '13 at 02:50

0

Had a directory by the same name as the file i was trying to write, so people can look out for that as well.

answered Apr 11 '13 at 02:50

Samuel

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score 0 · Answer 17 · answered May 01 '13 at 16:13

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I encountered this problem while developing on my local workstation.

After several unsuccessful iisreset invocations, I remedied this situation by rebooting my machine.

In retrospect, an open file handle may have been causing issues.

answered May 01 '13 at 16:13

Jim G.

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score 0 · Answer 18 · answered Feb 26 '16 at 00:40

0

In my case I had to add a .NET Authorization Rule for the web site in IIS.

I added a rule to allow anonymous users.

answered Feb 26 '16 at 00:40

GerardBeckerleg

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score 0 · Answer 19 · answered Feb 02 '11 at 17:37

0

Make Directory savehere to be virtual directory and give read/write permission from control panel

answered Feb 02 '11 at 17:37

Harsh Baid

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Run **InetMgr.exe** then go to your folder **savehere** under **mysite** (web application/web site in IIS) it will be on left hand side where DefaultApp is located, i hope u got i am telling – Harsh Baid Feb 02 '11 at 18:19

score 0 · Answer 20 · answered Jul 27 '18 at 04:32

I had the same problem but I fixed it by saving the file in a different location and then copying the file and pasting it in the location where I wanted it to be. I used the option to replace the the existing file and that did the trick for me. I know this is not the most efficient way but it works and takes less than 15 seconds.

score 0 · Answer 21 · edited Dec 12 '18 at 18:17

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Maybe it'il help you.

string tempDirectoryPath = @"C:\Users\HOPE\Desktop\Test Folder";
string zipFilePath = @"C:\Users\HOPE\Desktop\7za920.zip";
Directory.CreateDirectory(tempDirectoryPath);
ZipFile.ExtractToDirectory(zipFilePath, tempDirectoryPath);

edited Dec 12 '18 at 18:17

Eray Balkanli

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answered Nov 08 '18 at 17:51

umutcakar

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score 0 · Answer 22 · answered Sep 25 '19 at 16:53

I had a lot of trouble with this, specifically related to my code running locally but when I needed to run it on IIS it was throwing this error. I found that adding a check to my code and letting the application create the folder on the first run fixed the issue without having to mess with the folders authorizations.

something like this before you call your method that uses the folder

bool exists = System.IO.Directory.Exists("mypath");

        if (!exists)
            System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("mypath");

score 0 · Answer 23 · answered Dec 16 '19 at 07:10

0

You can try to check if your web properties for the project didn't switch to IIS Express and change it back to IIS Local

answered Dec 16 '19 at 07:10

AMykowski

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score 0 · Answer 24 · answered Apr 11 '20 at 07:30

Make sure you that your target in System.IO.Delete(string file) is a file which is existed. Maybe there is a mistake in your code ;Like you don't pass the correct file name to the method , or your target is a folder. In these cases you'll see the : "access to the path is denied error".

Ivan Silkin · Answer 25 · 2022-06-04T13:41:58.103

I recently encountered the problem while trying to access a file that was passed through command-line parameters into my .Net Core application, It happened due to the fact that when the application is run under a "Open with" (System explorer context menu under a file) system menu, the currently active user may vary, and the user didn't have the access right to my external drive that I was trying to open a file from.

It took me like 3-4 hours to understand and I solved it by setting the security settings for the folder that contained the file. For Windows 10 x64 : Just use Properties -> Security -> Users and Groups -> Change.. -> Add -> Additional -> Search -> <your windows account name> -> OK -> OK -> Set full access for your current account. Also make sure that the file is "unblocked" in properties.

score -1 · Answer 26 · answered Aug 31 '13 at 19:03

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I created a virtual dir with full permission and added the ffmpeg source and video files there, so finally it made sense as it can be acess by anyone.

answered Aug 31 '13 at 19:03

Kamila

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Access to the path is denied when saving image

26 Answers26

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