FTP Authentication <authentication>

The <authentication> element specifies the authentication settings for FTP sites. The authentication settings are configured at the site-level only, although FTP <authorization> settings can be configured per URL.

There are four different forms of authentication that can be configured for an FTP site:

• Anonymous authentication: This form of authentication allows access to an FTP site without a user account on your server or domain, and is most often used for public FTP sites. Typically, users will log in by using a user name of ftp or anonymous, and most users will use their e-mail address as a password, although this is not required.

• Basic authentication: This form of authentication requires a valid user account on your server or domain before users can log in.

  Note: Due to the design of File Transfer Protocol (FTP), user names and passwords are transmitted over FTP in plain text, making them vulnerable to network discovery. It is therefore recommended that you use Basic authentication with SSL.

• Client Certificate authentication: This form of authentication uses client certificates to authenticate FTP clients.

• Custom authentication: This form of authentication uses custom authentication providers to validate user names and passwords. FTP 7.0 and FTP 7.5 ship with two custom authentication providers:

  • ASP.NET Membership authentication: This uses an ASP.NET membership database to validate user names and passwords. For more information, see the Configuring FTP with .NET Membership Authentication topic on Microsoft's IIS.NET Web site.
  • IIS Manager authentication: This uses the IIS Manager configuration to validate user names and passwords. For more information, see the Configure FTP with IIS 7.0 Manager Authentication topic Microsoft's IIS.NET Web site.

  The main advantage of using custom authentication providers is that user accounts do not have to be created on your server or domain. This improves your network's security.

With Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the FTP 7.5 service ships as a feature for IIS 7.5, so downloading the FTP service is no longer necessary.

To support FTP publishing for your Web server, you must install the FTP service. To do so, use the following steps.

1. On the taskbar, click Server Manager.

2. In Server Manager, click the Manage menu, and then click Add Roles and Features.

3. In the Add Roles and Features wizard, click Next. Select the installation type and click Next. Select the destination server and click Next.

4. On the Server Roles page, expand Web Server (IIS), and then select FTP Server.

   Note

   To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will need to select FTP Extensibility, in addition to FTP Service.
   .

5. Click Next, and then on the Select features page, click Next again.

6. On the Confirm installation selections page, click Install.

7. On the Results page, click Close.

1. On the Start screen, move the pointer all the way to the lower left corner, right-click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off.

3. Expand Internet Information Services, and then select FTP Server.

   Note

   To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
   

4. Click OK.

5. Click Close.

1. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.

2. In the Server Manager hierarchy pane, expand Roles, and then click Web Server (IIS).

3. In the Web Server (IIS) pane, scroll to the Role Services section, and then click Add Role Services.

4. On the Select Role Services page of the Add Role Services Wizard, expand FTP Server.

5. Select FTP Service.

   Note

   To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
   

6. Click Next.

7. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.

8. On the Results page, click Close.

1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows Features on or off.

3. Expand Internet Information Services, and then FTP Server.

4. Select FTP Service.

   Note

   To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
   

5. Click OK.

1. Download the installation package from the following URL:

   • https://www.iis.net/expand/FTP

2. Follow the instructions in the following walkthrough to install the FTP service:

   • Installing and Troubleshooting FTP 7

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, expand the server name, expand the Sites node, and then click the name of the site.

3. In the site's Home pane, double-click the FTP Authentication feature.

4. On the FTP Authentication page, select Anonymous Authentication.

5. In the Actions pane, click Enable to enable Anonymous authentication or click Disable to disable Anonymous authentication.
   

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, click the Sites node in the tree.

3. Right-click the Sites node in the tree and click Add FTP Site, or click Add FTP Site in the Actions pane.

4. When the Add FTP Site wizard appears:

   • Enter "My New FTP Site" in the FTP site name box.

   • For the Physical path box, you can use one of the following options to specify your content directory:

     • Click the ellipsis (...) button, and then navigate to the folder that contains the content for your FTP site.
     • Type in the path to your content folder in the box. Note that if you choose to type the path, you can use environment variables in your paths. For example, you can use "%SystemDrive%\inetpub\ftproot" for your content directory.

   • When you have completed these items, click Next.
     

5. On the second page of the Add FTP Site wizard:

   • Choose an IP address for your FTP site from the IP Address drop-down, or choose to accept the default selection of "All Unassigned."

   • Enter the TCP/IP port for the FTP site in the Port box. By default, FTP sites and clients use port 21. (Note: To specify Implicit FTPS, you need to use port 990.)

   • To use an FTP virtual host name, select the box for Enable Virtual Host Names, then enter the virtual host name in the Virtual Host box.

   • For the SSL options, choose one of the following options:

     • Select No SSL to disable the SSL options.
     • Select Allow SSL to allow FTP clients to optionally use FTP over SSL when they connect with the FTP server.
     • Select Require SSL to allow FTP clients to always use FTP over SSL when they connect with the FTP server.
     • If you choose Allow SSL or Require SSL, choose a certificate from the SSL Certificate drop-down menu.

   • When you have completed these items, click Next.
     

6. On the next page of the wizard:

   • Select Anonymous for the Authentication settings.
   • For the Authorization settings, choose "Anonymous users" from the Allow access to drop-down.
   • Select Read for the Permissions option.
   • When you have completed these items, click Finish.
     

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, expand the server name, expand the Sites node, and then click the name of the site.

3. In the site's Home pane, double-click the FTP Authentication feature.

4. On the FTP Authentication page, select Basic Authentication.
   

5. In the Actions pane, click Enable to enable Basic authentication or click Disable to disable Basic authentication.

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, click the Sites node in the tree.

3. Right-click the Sites node in the tree and click Add FTP Site, or click Add FTP Site in the Actions pane.

4. When the Add FTP Site wizard appears:

   • Enter "My New FTP Site" in the FTP site name box.

   • For the Physical path box, you can use one of the following options to specify your content directory:

     • Click the ellipsis (...) button, and then navigate to the folder that contains the content for your FTP site.
     • Type in the path to your content folder in the box. Note that if you choose to type the path, you can use environment variables in your paths. For example, you can use "%SystemDrive%\inetpub\ftproot" for your content directory.

   • When you have completed these items, click Next.
     

5. On the second page of the Add FTP Site wizard:

   • Choose an IP address for your FTP site from the IP Address drop-down, or choose to accept the default selection of "All Unassigned."

   • Enter the TCP/IP port for the FTP site in the Port box. By default, FTP sites and clients use port 21. (Note: To specify Implicit FTPS, you need to use port 990.)

   • To use an FTP virtual host name, select the box for Enable Virtual Host Names, then enter the virtual host name in the Virtual Host box.

   • For the SSL options, choose one of the following options:

     • Select No SSL to disable the SSL options.
     • Select Allow SSL to allow FTP clients to optionally use FTP over SSL when they connect with the FTP server.
     • Select Require SSL to allow FTP clients to always use FTP over SSL when they connect with the FTP server.
     • If you choose Allow SSL or Require SSL, choose a certificate from the SSL Certificate drop-down menu.

   • When you have completed these items, click Next.
     

6. On the next page of the wizard:

   • Select Basic for the Authentication settings.
   • For the Authorization settings, choose "Specified users" from the Allow access to drop-down, and enter an account name in the box below the drop-down menu.
   • Select Read and Write for the Permissions option.
   • When you have completed these items, click Finish.
     

The <authentication> element is configured at the site level.

None.

The following sample illustrates several configuration settings in the <ftpServer> element for an FTP site. More specifically, the <site> settings in this example demonstrate how to:

• Create an FTP site and add the binding for the FTP protocol on port 21.
• Configure the FTP SSL options to allow secure access on both the control and data channel using a certificate.
• Disable Anonymous authentication and enable Basic authentication for FTP.
• Deny access for FTP SYST command.
• Specify the UNIX directory listing format.
• Configure the logging options.
• Specify a customized welcome message and enable local detailed error messages.
• Specify that users will start in a home directory that is based on their login name, but only if that directory exists.

<site name="ftp.example.com" id="5">
  <application path="/">
    <virtualDirectory path="/" physicalPath="c:\inetpub\www.example.com" />
  </application>
  <bindings>
    <binding protocol="ftp" bindingInformation="*:21:" />
  </bindings>
  <ftpServer>
    <security>
      <ssl controlChannelPolicy="SslAllow"
         dataChannelPolicy="SslAllow"
         serverCertHash="57686f6120447564652c2049495320526f636b73" />
      <authentication>
        <basicAuthentication enabled="true" />
        <anonymousAuthentication enabled="false" />
      </authentication>
      <commandFiltering maxCommandLine="4096" allowUnlisted="true">
        <add command="SYST" allowed="false" />
      </commandFiltering>
    </security>
    <directoryBrowse showFlags="StyleUnix" />
    <logFile logExtFileFlags="Date, Time, ClientIP, UserName, ServerIP, Method, UriStem, FtpStatus, Win32Status, ServerPort, FtpSubStatus, Session, FullPath, Info" />
    <messages expandVariables="true"
       greetingMessage="Welcome %UserName%!"
       allowLocalDetailedErrors="true" />
    <userIsolation mode="StartInUsersDirectory" />
  </ftpServer>
</site>

The following examples disable Anonymous authentication for an FTP site.

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.applicationHost/sites /[name='ftp.example.com'].ftpServer.security.authentication.anonymousAuthentication.enabled:"False" /commit:apphost

using System;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.Web.Administration;

internal static class Sample
{
   private static void Main()
   {
      using (ServerManager serverManager = new ServerManager())
      {
         Configuration config = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration();
         ConfigurationSection sitesSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites");
         ConfigurationElementCollection sitesCollection = sitesSection.GetCollection();

         ConfigurationElement siteElement = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", "name", @"ftp.example.com");
         if (siteElement == null) throw new InvalidOperationException("Element not found!");

         ConfigurationElement ftpServerElement = siteElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer");
         ConfigurationElement securityElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("security");
         ConfigurationElement authenticationElement = securityElement.GetChildElement("authentication");
         ConfigurationElement anonymousAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.GetChildElement("anonymousAuthentication");
         anonymousAuthenticationElement["enabled"] = false;

         serverManager.CommitChanges();
      }
   }

   private static ConfigurationElement FindElement(ConfigurationElementCollection collection, string elementTagName, params string[] keyValues)
   {
      foreach (ConfigurationElement element in collection)
      {
         if (String.Equals(element.ElementTagName, elementTagName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         {
            bool matches = true;
            for (int i = 0; i < keyValues.Length; i += 2)
            {
               object o = element.GetAttributeValue(keyValues[i]);
               string value = null;
               if (o != null)
               {
                  value = o.ToString();
               }
               if (!String.Equals(value, keyValues[i + 1], StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
               {
                  matches = false;
                  break;
               }
            }
            if (matches)
            {
               return element;
            }
         }
      }
      return null;
   }
}

Imports System
Imports System.Text
Imports Microsoft.Web.Administration

Module Sample
   Sub Main()
      Dim serverManager As ServerManager = New ServerManager
      Dim config As Configuration = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration
      Dim sitesSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites")
      Dim sitesCollection As ConfigurationElementCollection = sitesSection.GetCollection

      Dim siteElement As ConfigurationElement = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", "name", "ftp.example.com")
      If (siteElement Is Nothing) Then
         Throw New InvalidOperationException("Element not found!")
      End If

      Dim ftpServerElement As ConfigurationElement = siteElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer")
      Dim securityElement As ConfigurationElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("security")
      Dim authenticationElement As ConfigurationElement = securityElement.GetChildElement("authentication")
      Dim anonymousAuthenticationElement As ConfigurationElement = authenticationElement.GetChildElement("anonymousAuthentication")
      anonymousAuthenticationElement("enabled") = False

      serverManager.CommitChanges()
   End Sub

   Private Function FindElement(ByVal collection As ConfigurationElementCollection, ByVal elementTagName As String, ByVal ParamArray keyValues() As String) As ConfigurationElement
      For Each element As ConfigurationElement In collection
         If String.Equals(element.ElementTagName, elementTagName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
            Dim matches As Boolean = True
            Dim i As Integer
            For i = 0 To keyValues.Length - 1 Step 2
               Dim o As Object = element.GetAttributeValue(keyValues(i))
               Dim value As String = Nothing
               If (Not (o) Is Nothing) Then
                  value = o.ToString
               End If
               If Not String.Equals(value, keyValues((i + 1)), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
                  matches = False
                  Exit For
               End If
            Next
            If matches Then
               Return element
            End If
         End If
      Next
      Return Nothing
   End Function


End Module

var adminManager = new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager');
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST";
var sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST");
var sitesCollection = sitesSection.Collection;

var siteElementPos = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", ["name", "ftp.example.com"]);
if (siteElementPos == -1) throw "Element not found!";
var siteElement = sitesCollection.Item(siteElementPos);

var ftpServerElement = siteElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer");
var securityElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("security");
var authenticationElement = securityElement.ChildElements.Item("authentication");
var anonymousAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.ChildElements.Item("anonymousAuthentication");
anonymousAuthenticationElement.Properties.Item("enabled").Value = false;

adminManager.CommitChanges();

function FindElement(collection, elementTagName, valuesToMatch) {
   for (var i = 0; i < collection.Count; i++) {
      var element = collection.Item(i);
      if (element.Name == elementTagName) {
         var matches = true;
         for (var iVal = 0; iVal < valuesToMatch.length; iVal += 2) {
            var property = element.GetPropertyByName(valuesToMatch[iVal]);
            var value = property.Value;
            if (value != null) {
               value = value.toString();
            }
            if (value != valuesToMatch[iVal + 1]) {
               matches = false;
               break;
            }
         }
         if (matches) {
            return i;
         }
      }
   }
   return -1;
}

Set adminManager = createObject("Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager")
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST"
Set sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST")
Set sitesCollection = sitesSection.Collection

siteElementPos = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", Array("name", "ftp.example.com"))
If siteElementPos = -1 Then
WScript.Echo "Element not found!"
WScript.Quit
End If
Set siteElement = sitesCollection.Item(siteElementPos)

Set ftpServerElement = siteElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer")
Set securityElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("security")
Set authenticationElement = securityElement.ChildElements.Item("authentication")
Set anonymousAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.ChildElements.Item("anonymousAuthentication")
anonymousAuthenticationElement.Properties.Item("enabled").Value = False

adminManager.CommitChanges()

Function FindElement(collection, elementTagName, valuesToMatch)
   For i = 0 To CInt(collection.Count) - 1
      Set element = collection.Item(i)
      If element.Name = elementTagName Then
         matches = True
         For iVal = 0 To UBound(valuesToMatch) Step 2
            Set property = element.GetPropertyByName(valuesToMatch(iVal))
            value = property.Value
            If Not IsNull(value) Then
               value = CStr(value)
            End If
            If Not value = CStr(valuesToMatch(iVal + 1)) Then
               matches = False
               Exit For
            End If
         Next
         If matches Then
            Exit For
         End If
      End If
   Next
   If matches Then
      FindElement = i
   Else
      FindElement = -1
   End If
End Function

The following examples disable Basic authentication for an FTP site.

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.applicationHost/sites /[name='ftp.example.com'].ftpServer.security.authentication.basicAuthentication.enabled:"False" /commit:apphost

using System;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.Web.Administration;

internal static class Sample
{
   private static void Main()
   {
      using (ServerManager serverManager = new ServerManager())
      {
         Configuration config = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration();
         ConfigurationSection sitesSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites");
         ConfigurationElementCollection sitesCollection = sitesSection.GetCollection();

         ConfigurationElement siteElement = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", "name", @"ftp.example.com");
         if (siteElement == null) throw new InvalidOperationException("Element not found!");

         ConfigurationElement ftpServerElement = siteElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer");
         ConfigurationElement securityElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("security");
         ConfigurationElement authenticationElement = securityElement.GetChildElement("authentication");
         ConfigurationElement basicAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.GetChildElement("basicAuthentication");
         basicAuthenticationElement["enabled"] = false;

         serverManager.CommitChanges();
      }
   }

   private static ConfigurationElement FindElement(ConfigurationElementCollection collection, string elementTagName, params string[] keyValues)
   {
      foreach (ConfigurationElement element in collection)
      {
         if (String.Equals(element.ElementTagName, elementTagName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         {
            bool matches = true;
            for (int i = 0; i < keyValues.Length; i += 2)
            {
               object o = element.GetAttributeValue(keyValues[i]);
               string value = null;
               if (o != null)
               {
                  value = o.ToString();
               }
               if (!String.Equals(value, keyValues[i + 1], StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
               {
                  matches = false;
                  break;
               }
            }
            if (matches)
            {
               return element;
            }
         }
      }
      return null;
   }

}

Imports System
Imports System.Text
Imports Microsoft.Web.Administration

Module Sample
   Sub Main()
      Dim serverManager As ServerManager = New ServerManager
      Dim config As Configuration = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration
      Dim sitesSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites")
      Dim sitesCollection As ConfigurationElementCollection = sitesSection.GetCollection

      Dim siteElement As ConfigurationElement = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", "name", "ftp.example.com")
      If (siteElement Is Nothing) Then
         Throw New InvalidOperationException("Element not found!")
      End If

      Dim ftpServerElement As ConfigurationElement = siteElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer")
      Dim securityElement As ConfigurationElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("security")
      Dim authenticationElement As ConfigurationElement = securityElement.GetChildElement("authentication")
      Dim basicAuthenticationElement As ConfigurationElement = authenticationElement.GetChildElement("basicAuthentication")
      basicAuthenticationElement("enabled") = False

      serverManager.CommitChanges()
   End Sub

   Private Function FindElement(ByVal collection As ConfigurationElementCollection, ByVal elementTagName As String, ByVal ParamArray keyValues() As String) As ConfigurationElement
      For Each element As ConfigurationElement In collection
         If String.Equals(element.ElementTagName, elementTagName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
            Dim matches As Boolean = True
            Dim i As Integer
            For i = 0 To keyValues.Length - 1 Step 2
               Dim o As Object = element.GetAttributeValue(keyValues(i))
               Dim value As String = Nothing
               If (Not (o) Is Nothing) Then
                  value = o.ToString
               End If
               If Not String.Equals(value, keyValues((i + 1)), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
                  matches = False
                  Exit For
               End If
            Next
            If matches Then
               Return element
            End If
         End If
      Next
      Return Nothing
   End Function


End Module

var adminManager = new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager');
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST";
var sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST");
var sitesCollection = sitesSection.Collection;

var siteElementPos = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", ["name", "ftp.example.com"]);
if (siteElementPos == -1) throw "Element not found!";
var siteElement = sitesCollection.Item(siteElementPos);

var ftpServerElement = siteElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer");
var securityElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("security");
var authenticationElement = securityElement.ChildElements.Item("authentication");
var basicAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.ChildElements.Item("basicAuthentication");
basicAuthenticationElement.Properties.Item("enabled").Value = false;

adminManager.CommitChanges();

function FindElement(collection, elementTagName, valuesToMatch) {
   for (var i = 0; i < collection.Count; i++) {
      var element = collection.Item(i);
      if (element.Name == elementTagName) {
         var matches = true;
         for (var iVal = 0; iVal < valuesToMatch.length; iVal += 2) {
            var property = element.GetPropertyByName(valuesToMatch[iVal]);
            var value = property.Value;
            if (value != null) {
               value = value.toString();
            }
            if (value != valuesToMatch[iVal + 1]) {
               matches = false;
               break;
            }
         }
         if (matches) {
            return i;
         }
      }
   }
   return -1;
}

Set adminManager = createObject("Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager")
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST"
Set sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST")
Set sitesCollection = sitesSection.Collection

siteElementPos = FindElement(sitesCollection, "site", Array("name", "ftp.example.com"))
If siteElementPos = -1 Then
WScript.Echo "Element not found!"
WScript.Quit
End If
Set siteElement = sitesCollection.Item(siteElementPos)

Set ftpServerElement = siteElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer")
Set securityElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("security")
Set authenticationElement = securityElement.ChildElements.Item("authentication")
Set basicAuthenticationElement = authenticationElement.ChildElements.Item("basicAuthentication")
basicAuthenticationElement.Properties.Item("enabled").Value = False

adminManager.CommitChanges()

Function FindElement(collection, elementTagName, valuesToMatch)
   For i = 0 To CInt(collection.Count) - 1
      Set element = collection.Item(i)
      If element.Name = elementTagName Then
         matches = True
         For iVal = 0 To UBound(valuesToMatch) Step 2
            Set property = element.GetPropertyByName(valuesToMatch(iVal))
            value = property.Value
            If Not IsNull(value) Then
               value = CStr(value)
            End If
            If Not value = CStr(valuesToMatch(iVal + 1)) Then
               matches = False
               Exit For
            End If
         Next
         If matches Then
            Exit For
         End If
      End If
   Next
   If matches Then
      FindElement = i
   Else
      FindElement = -1
   End If
End Function