Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: How to fix the authentication error "request-digest mismatch" using cadaver and WebDAV on nginx?

Learn how to fix: How to fix the authentication error "request-digest mismatch" using cadaver and WebDAV on nginx?.

Quick Answer: Try checking your system settings or restarting.

The authentication error 'request-digest mismatch' occurs when trying to log in with cadaver, but it can be accessed by other DAV-enabled clients. This issue affects users who are using cadaver to access WebDAV shares.

This problem is frustrating because it prevents users from accessing their WebDAV shares, which can lead to data loss and productivity issues. However, the solution involves adjusting the authentication settings in nginx.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the 'auth_digest_user_file' directive is not correctly configured. The 'auth_digest_user_file' directive specifies the file where user credentials are stored, and if it's not set to a valid path, the authentication process fails.
  • Another possible cause is that the 'dav_access' directive is not properly configured. The 'dav_access' directive controls access permissions for WebDAV shares, and if it's not set correctly, the authentication process may fail.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Adjusting the auth_digest_user_file directive

  1. Step 1: Edit the nginx configuration file to update the 'auth_digest_user_file' directive. The correct path should be /var/www/.webdavpasswd.
  2. Step 2: Add the following line to the 'server' block: auth_digest_user_file /var/www/.webdavpasswd;
  3. Step 3: Restart the nginx service after making changes to the configuration file.

Adjusting the dav_access directive

  1. Step 1: Edit the nginx configuration file to update the 'dav_access' directive. The correct syntax should be user:rw group:r all:r;
  2. Step 2: Add the following line to the 'location /' block: dav_access user:rw group:r all:r;
  3. Step 3: Restart the nginx service after making changes to the configuration file.

💡 Conclusion

By adjusting the auth_digest_user_file and dav_access directives, users should be able to access their WebDAV shares using cadaver. If the issue persists, further troubleshooting may be necessary.

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