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SEC_I_SIGNATURE_NEEDED
Authentication requires a signature operation
SEC_I_SIGNATURE_NEEDED is HRESULT 590684 (0x0009035C) from winerror.h. The documented description is “A signature operation must be performed before the user can authenticate.” The severity bit indicates a nonfailure result, but the value carries a specific condition that must not be collapsed into plain S_OK.
In the SSPI authentication or message-protection state machine, this result means that a signature operation must be performed before the user can authenticate. Ordinary completion must not be inferred from it until the owning component’s state and outputs agree.
Where the status is encountered
- InitializeSecurityContext or AcceptSecurityContext loops; log the exact method and object state instead of interpreting the constant outside that contract.
- Schannel or another security package; log the exact method and object state instead of interpreting the constant outside that contract.
- Message signing, fragmentation, or asynchronous SSPI processing; log the exact method and object state instead of interpreting the constant outside that contract.
Evidence to preserve
- Preserve challenge bytes or hash.
- Preserve context attributes.
- Preserve signature buffer sizes.
- Preserve sequence number.
- Preserve next protocol message.
What must be true before accepting it
Verify that the required data is signed with the negotiated context and the signed token is returned through the protocol in the correct order. Only this contract check establishes that it is safe for the caller’s next step.
Correct handling and recovery
Perform the documented signing step, preserve sequence numbers and buffers, then continue authentication. Do not treat the status as terminal success.
Before another call following it, confirm that completed side effects are idempotent or reconciled.
Difference from nearby results
A nearby HRESULT can change object ownership, output validity, or the permitted next method.
Practical scenario
A peer completes preliminary authentication but must sign a challenge. It signs the exact challenge bytes with the negotiated context and sends the resulting token before granting access.
References
- Microsoft: SSPI status codes — official Microsoft material relevant to this HRESULT.
- Microsoft: SSPI context semantics
- Microsoft: InitializeSecurityContext
- Microsoft: DecryptMessage
- Microsoft: HRESULT values
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