How To Fix SUSR_CERT003 - Could not determine Distinguished Name

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SUSR_CERT - User Certificates Administration

• Message number: 003

• Message text: Could not determine Distinguished Name

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SUSR_CERT003 - Could not determine Distinguished Name ?

  The SAP error message SUSR_CERT003: Could not determine Distinguished Name typically occurs in the context of user authentication, particularly when dealing with digital certificates in the SAP system. This error indicates that the system is unable to extract the Distinguished Name (DN) from a certificate, which is essential for identifying the user.
  Causes:
  
  Invalid or Corrupted Certificate: The certificate being used may be invalid, expired, or corrupted, preventing the system from reading the DN.
  Missing Certificate Attributes: The certificate may not contain the necessary attributes that define the DN, such as Common Name (CN), Organizational Unit (OU), Organization (O), etc.
  Configuration Issues: There may be misconfigurations in the SAP system regarding the handling of certificates or the trust relationship with the Certificate Authority (CA).
  Incorrect User Mapping: The mapping between the certificate and the user in the SAP system may not be set up correctly.
  SAP Kernel Issues: Sometimes, issues with the SAP kernel version or patches can lead to problems with certificate handling.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check the Certificate:
  
  Verify that the certificate is valid and not expired.
  Ensure that the certificate contains the necessary DN attributes.
  If the certificate is corrupted, obtain a new one from the Certificate Authority.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration:
  
  Check the configuration settings in the SAP system related to SSL and certificates. Ensure that the trust store is correctly set up and that the CA certificates are properly imported.
  Ensure that the SSL settings in the SAP system are correctly configured to handle client certificates.
  
  
  
  User Mapping:
  
  Verify that the user associated with the certificate is correctly mapped in the SAP system. Check the user’s profile and ensure that the DN from the certificate matches the expected format.
  
  
  
  Update SAP Kernel:
  
  If the issue persists, consider updating the SAP kernel to the latest version or applying relevant patches that may address known issues with certificate handling.
  
  
  
  Check Logs:
  
  Review the SAP system logs (transaction SM21) and security audit logs (transaction SM20) for any additional error messages or warnings that could provide more context about the issue.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP Notes and documentation related to certificate handling and user authentication for any specific guidance or troubleshooting steps.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Search for relevant SAP Notes in the SAP Support Portal that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they found effective.
  Security Configuration: Familiarize yourself with the security configuration settings in SAP, especially those related to SSL and user authentication.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the SUSR_CERT003 error in your SAP system.