Accessing a Shared File (UNC) From a Remote, Non-Trusted Domain With Credentials

Question

The way to solve your problem is to use a Win32 API called WNetUseConnection.
Use this function to connect to a UNC path with authentication, NOT to map a drive.

This will allow you to connect to a remote machine, even if it is not on the same domain, and even if it has a different username and password.

Once you have used WNetUseConnection you will be able to access the file via a UNC path as if you were on the same domain. The best way is probably through the administrative built in shares.
Example: \\computername\c$\program files\Folder\file.txt

Here is some sample C# code that uses WNetUseConnection.
Note, for the NetResource, you should pass null for the lpLocalName and lpProvider. The dwType should be RESOURCETYPE_DISK. The lpRemoteName should be \\ComputerName.

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices ;
using System.Threading;

namespace ExtremeMirror
{
    public class PinvokeWindowsNetworking
    {
        #region Consts
        const int RESOURCE_CONNECTED = 0x00000001;
        const int RESOURCE_GLOBALNET = 0x00000002;
        const int RESOURCE_REMEMBERED = 0x00000003;

        const int RESOURCETYPE_ANY = 0x00000000;
        const int RESOURCETYPE_DISK = 0x00000001;
        const int RESOURCETYPE_PRINT = 0x00000002;

        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_GENERIC = 0x00000000;
        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DOMAIN = 0x00000001;
        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_SERVER = 0x00000002;
        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_SHARE = 0x00000003;
        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_FILE = 0x00000004;
        const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_GROUP = 0x00000005;

        const int RESOURCEUSAGE_CONNECTABLE = 0x00000001;
        const int RESOURCEUSAGE_CONTAINER = 0x00000002;


        const int CONNECT_INTERACTIVE = 0x00000008;
        const int CONNECT_PROMPT = 0x00000010;
        const int CONNECT_REDIRECT = 0x00000080;
        const int CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE = 0x00000001;
        const int CONNECT_COMMANDLINE = 0x00000800;
        const int CONNECT_CMD_SAVECRED = 0x00001000;

        const int CONNECT_LOCALDRIVE = 0x00000100;
        #endregion

        #region Errors
        const int NO_ERROR = 0;

        const int ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED = 5;
        const int ERROR_ALREADY_ASSIGNED = 85;
        const int ERROR_BAD_DEVICE = 1200;
        const int ERROR_BAD_NET_NAME = 67;
        const int ERROR_BAD_PROVIDER = 1204;
        const int ERROR_CANCELLED = 1223;
        const int ERROR_EXTENDED_ERROR = 1208;
        const int ERROR_INVALID_ADDRESS = 487;
        const int ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER = 87;
        const int ERROR_INVALID_PASSWORD = 1216;
        const int ERROR_MORE_DATA = 234;
        const int ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS = 259;
        const int ERROR_NO_NET_OR_BAD_PATH = 1203;
        const int ERROR_NO_NETWORK = 1222;

        const int ERROR_BAD_PROFILE = 1206;
        const int ERROR_CANNOT_OPEN_PROFILE = 1205;
        const int ERROR_DEVICE_IN_USE = 2404;
        const int ERROR_NOT_CONNECTED = 2250;
        const int ERROR_OPEN_FILES  = 2401;

        private struct ErrorClass 
        {
            public int num;
            public string message;
            public ErrorClass(int num, string message) 
            {
                this.num = num;
                this.message = message;
            }
        }


        // Created with excel formula:
        // ="new ErrorClass("&A1&", """&PROPER(SUBSTITUTE(MID(A1,7,LEN(A1)-6), "_", " "))&"""), "
        private static ErrorClass[] ERROR_LIST = new ErrorClass[] {
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED, "Error: Access Denied"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_ALREADY_ASSIGNED, "Error: Already Assigned"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_BAD_DEVICE, "Error: Bad Device"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_BAD_NET_NAME, "Error: Bad Net Name"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_BAD_PROVIDER, "Error: Bad Provider"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_CANCELLED, "Error: Cancelled"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_EXTENDED_ERROR, "Error: Extended Error"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_INVALID_ADDRESS, "Error: Invalid Address"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Error: Invalid Parameter"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_INVALID_PASSWORD, "Error: Invalid Password"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_MORE_DATA, "Error: More Data"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS, "Error: No More Items"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_NO_NET_OR_BAD_PATH, "Error: No Net Or Bad Path"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_NO_NETWORK, "Error: No Network"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_BAD_PROFILE, "Error: Bad Profile"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_CANNOT_OPEN_PROFILE, "Error: Cannot Open Profile"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_DEVICE_IN_USE, "Error: Device In Use"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_EXTENDED_ERROR, "Error: Extended Error"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_NOT_CONNECTED, "Error: Not Connected"), 
            new ErrorClass(ERROR_OPEN_FILES, "Error: Open Files"), 
        };

        private static string getErrorForNumber(int errNum) 
        {
            foreach (ErrorClass er in ERROR_LIST) 
            {
                if (er.num == errNum) return er.message;
            }
            return "Error: Unknown, " + errNum;
        }
        #endregion

        [DllImport("Mpr.dll")] private static extern int WNetUseConnection(
            IntPtr hwndOwner,
            NETRESOURCE lpNetResource,
            string lpPassword,
            string lpUserID,
            int dwFlags,
            string lpAccessName,
            string lpBufferSize,
            string lpResult
        );

        [DllImport("Mpr.dll")] private static extern int WNetCancelConnection2(
            string lpName,
            int dwFlags,
            bool fForce
        );

        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)] private class NETRESOURCE
        { 
            public int dwScope = 0;
            public int dwType = 0;
            public int dwDisplayType = 0;
            public int dwUsage = 0;
            public string lpLocalName = "";
            public string lpRemoteName = "";
            public string lpComment = "";
            public string lpProvider = "";
        }


        public static string connectToRemote(string remoteUNC, string username, string password) 
        {
            return connectToRemote(remoteUNC, username, password, false);
        }

        public static string connectToRemote(string remoteUNC, string username, string password, bool promptUser) 
        {
            NETRESOURCE nr = new NETRESOURCE();
            nr.dwType = RESOURCETYPE_DISK;
            nr.lpRemoteName = remoteUNC;
            //          nr.lpLocalName = "F:";

            int ret;
            if (promptUser) 
                ret = WNetUseConnection(IntPtr.Zero, nr, "", "", CONNECT_INTERACTIVE | CONNECT_PROMPT, null, null, null);
            else 
                ret = WNetUseConnection(IntPtr.Zero, nr, password, username, 0, null, null, null);

            if (ret == NO_ERROR) return null;
            return getErrorForNumber(ret);
        }

        public static string disconnectRemote(string remoteUNC) 
        {
            int ret = WNetCancelConnection2(remoteUNC, CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE, false);
            if (ret == NO_ERROR) return null;
            return getErrorForNumber(ret);
        }
    }
}

For people looking for a quick solution, you can use the NetworkShareAccesser I wrote recently (based on this answer (thanks so much!)):

Usage:

using (NetworkShareAccesser.Access(REMOTE_COMPUTER_NAME, DOMAIN, USER_NAME, PASSWORD))
{
    File.Copy(@"C:\Some\File\To\copy.txt", @"\\REMOTE-COMPUTER\My\Shared\Target\file.txt");
}

WARNING: Please make absolutely sure, that Dispose of the NetworkShareAccesser is called (even if you app crashes!), otherwise an open connection will remain on Windows. You can see all open connections by opening the cmd prompt and enter net use.

The Code:

/// <summary>
/// Provides access to a network share.
/// </summary>
public class NetworkShareAccesser : IDisposable
{
    private string _remoteUncName;
    private string _remoteComputerName;

    public string RemoteComputerName
    {
        get
        {
            return this._remoteComputerName;
        }
        set
        {
            this._remoteComputerName = value;
            this._remoteUncName = @"\\" + this._remoteComputerName;
        }
    }

    public string UserName
    {
        get;
        set;
    }
    public string Password
    {
        get;
        set;
    }

    #region Consts

    private const int RESOURCE_CONNECTED = 0x00000001;
    private const int RESOURCE_GLOBALNET = 0x00000002;
    private const int RESOURCE_REMEMBERED = 0x00000003;

    private const int RESOURCETYPE_ANY = 0x00000000;
    private const int RESOURCETYPE_DISK = 0x00000001;
    private const int RESOURCETYPE_PRINT = 0x00000002;

    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_GENERIC = 0x00000000;
    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DOMAIN = 0x00000001;
    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_SERVER = 0x00000002;
    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_SHARE = 0x00000003;
    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_FILE = 0x00000004;
    private const int RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_GROUP = 0x00000005;

    private const int RESOURCEUSAGE_CONNECTABLE = 0x00000001;
    private const int RESOURCEUSAGE_CONTAINER = 0x00000002;


    private const int CONNECT_INTERACTIVE = 0x00000008;
    private const int CONNECT_PROMPT = 0x00000010;
    private const int CONNECT_REDIRECT = 0x00000080;
    private const int CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE = 0x00000001;
    private const int CONNECT_COMMANDLINE = 0x00000800;
    private const int CONNECT_CMD_SAVECRED = 0x00001000;

    private const int CONNECT_LOCALDRIVE = 0x00000100;

    #endregion

    #region Errors

    private const int NO_ERROR = 0;

    private const int ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED = 5;
    private const int ERROR_ALREADY_ASSIGNED = 85;
    private const int ERROR_BAD_DEVICE = 1200;
    private const int ERROR_BAD_NET_NAME = 67;
    private const int ERROR_BAD_PROVIDER = 1204;
    private const int ERROR_CANCELLED = 1223;
    private const int ERROR_EXTENDED_ERROR = 1208;
    private const int ERROR_INVALID_ADDRESS = 487;
    private const int ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER = 87;
    private const int ERROR_INVALID_PASSWORD = 1216;
    private const int ERROR_MORE_DATA = 234;
    private const int ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS = 259;
    private const int ERROR_NO_NET_OR_BAD_PATH = 1203;
    private const int ERROR_NO_NETWORK = 1222;

    private const int ERROR_BAD_PROFILE = 1206;
    private const int ERROR_CANNOT_OPEN_PROFILE = 1205;
    private const int ERROR_DEVICE_IN_USE = 2404;
    private const int ERROR_NOT_CONNECTED = 2250;
    private const int ERROR_OPEN_FILES = 2401;

    #endregion

    #region PInvoke Signatures

    [DllImport("Mpr.dll")]
    private static extern int WNetUseConnection(
        IntPtr hwndOwner,
        NETRESOURCE lpNetResource,
        string lpPassword,
        string lpUserID,
        int dwFlags,
        string lpAccessName,
        string lpBufferSize,
        string lpResult
        );

    [DllImport("Mpr.dll")]
    private static extern int WNetCancelConnection2(
        string lpName,
        int dwFlags,
        bool fForce
        );

    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    private class NETRESOURCE
    {
        public int dwScope = 0;
        public int dwType = 0;
        public int dwDisplayType = 0;
        public int dwUsage = 0;
        public string lpLocalName = "";
        public string lpRemoteName = "";
        public string lpComment = "";
        public string lpProvider = "";
    }

    #endregion

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a NetworkShareAccesser for the given computer name. The user will be promted to enter credentials
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="remoteComputerName"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static NetworkShareAccesser Access(string remoteComputerName)
    {
        return new NetworkShareAccesser(remoteComputerName);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a NetworkShareAccesser for the given computer name using the given domain/computer name, username and password
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="remoteComputerName"></param>
    /// <param name="domainOrComuterName"></param>
    /// <param name="userName"></param>
    /// <param name="password"></param>
    public static NetworkShareAccesser Access(string remoteComputerName, string domainOrComuterName, string userName, string password)
    {
        return new NetworkShareAccesser(remoteComputerName,
                                        domainOrComuterName + @"\" + userName,
                                        password);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a NetworkShareAccesser for the given computer name using the given username (format: domainOrComputername\Username) and password
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="remoteComputerName"></param>
    /// <param name="userName"></param>
    /// <param name="password"></param>
    public static NetworkShareAccesser Access(string remoteComputerName, string userName, string password)
    {
        return new NetworkShareAccesser(remoteComputerName, 
                                        userName,
                                        password);
    }

    private NetworkShareAccesser(string remoteComputerName)
    {
        RemoteComputerName = remoteComputerName;               

        this.ConnectToShare(this._remoteUncName, null, null, true);
    }

    private NetworkShareAccesser(string remoteComputerName, string userName, string password)
    {
        RemoteComputerName = remoteComputerName;
        UserName = userName;
        Password = password;

        this.ConnectToShare(this._remoteUncName, this.UserName, this.Password, false);
    }

    private void ConnectToShare(string remoteUnc, string username, string password, bool promptUser)
    {
        NETRESOURCE nr = new NETRESOURCE
        {
            dwType = RESOURCETYPE_DISK,
            lpRemoteName = remoteUnc
        };

        int result;
        if (promptUser)
        {
            result = WNetUseConnection(IntPtr.Zero, nr, "", "", CONNECT_INTERACTIVE | CONNECT_PROMPT, null, null, null);
        }
        else
        {
            result = WNetUseConnection(IntPtr.Zero, nr, password, username, 0, null, null, null);
        }

        if (result != NO_ERROR)
        {
            throw new Win32Exception(result);
        }
    }

    private void DisconnectFromShare(string remoteUnc)
    {
        int result = WNetCancelConnection2(remoteUnc, CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE, false);
        if (result != NO_ERROR)
        {
            throw new Win32Exception(result);
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.
    /// </summary>
    /// <filterpriority>2</filterpriority>
    public void Dispose()
    {
        this.DisconnectFromShare(this._remoteUncName);
    }
}

AFAIK, you don't need to map the UNC path to a drive letter in order to establish credentials for a server. I regularly used batch scripts like:

net use \\myserver /user:username password

:: do something with \\myserver\the\file\i\want.xml

net use /delete \\my.server.com

However, any program running on the same account as your program would still be able to access everything that username:password has access to. A possible solution could be to isolate your program in its own local user account (the UNC access is local to the account that called NET USE).

Note: Using SMB accross domains is not quite a good use of the technology, IMO. If security is that important, the fact that SMB lacks encryption is a bit of a damper all by itself.

Rather than WNetUseConnection, I would recommend NetUseAdd. WNetUseConnection is a legacy function that's been superceded by WNetUseConnection2 and WNetUseConnection3, but all of those functions create a network device that's visible in Windows Explorer. NetUseAdd is the equivalent of calling net use in a DOS prompt to authenticate on a remote computer.

If you call NetUseAdd then subsequent attempts to access the directory should succeed.