DuplicateToken function (securitybaseapi.h)

The DuplicateToken function creates a new access token that duplicates one already in existence.

Syntax

BOOL DuplicateToken(
  [in]  HANDLE                       ExistingTokenHandle,
  [in]  SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL ImpersonationLevel,
  [out] PHANDLE                      DuplicateTokenHandle
);

Parameters

[in] ExistingTokenHandle

A handle to an access token opened with TOKEN_DUPLICATE access.

[in] ImpersonationLevel

Specifies a SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL enumerated type that supplies the impersonation level of the new token.

[out] DuplicateTokenHandle

A pointer to a variable that receives a handle to the duplicate token. This handle has TOKEN_IMPERSONATE and TOKEN_QUERY access to the new token.

When you have finished using the new token, call the CloseHandle function to close the token handle.

Return value

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

The DuplicateToken function creates an impersonation token, which you can use in functions such as SetThreadToken and ImpersonateLoggedOnUser. The token created by DuplicateToken cannot be used in the CreateProcessAsUser function, which requires a primary token. To create a token that you can pass to CreateProcessAsUser, use the DuplicateTokenEx function.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client Windows XP [desktop apps | UWP apps]
Minimum supported server Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps | UWP apps]
Target Platform Windows
Header securitybaseapi.h (include Windows.h)
Library Advapi32.lib
DLL Advapi32.dll

See also

Access Control Overview

Basic Access Control Functions

CreateProcessAsUser

DuplicateTokenEx

ImpersonateLoggedOnUser

SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL

SetThreadToken