Non-admin users get privileges of the SharePoint System Account and SharePoint UI shows 'Welcome System Account' on a SharePoint Site.

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On a WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007 web application, when non-admin users browse to any Site, they get privileges of the SharePoint System Account and SharePoint UI shows 'Welcome System Account' instead of the user name.

The cause of this issue is:
1. Users are added as system account in the policy for web application.

2. Web.config file for the site has the following line entered.
    <identity impersonate="true" userName="domain\spserviceaccount" password="********" /> 

    Where domain\spserviceaccount is the Service/System Account.

The solution is:

1. Make sure that the users(who get system account permissions) are not added as a system account via 'Central Administration > Application Management > Policy for Web Application'. If yes, remove them and check the status. If this still does not resolve the issue, go to the next step.

2. Check the web.config file, to see if it has following entry.
    <identity impersonate="true" userName="domain\spserviceaccount" password="********" />

    If yes, then replace it with <identity impersonate="true"  />

THIS POST APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
  • Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0