Unable to add user to group

The Basics

  • Nextcloud Server version: Nextcloud Hub 25 Autumn (32.0.8)
  • Operating system and version: NetBSD 10.1
  • Web server and version: Apache 2.4.65
  • PHP version: 8.3.27
  • Is this the first time you’ve seen this error?: yes
  • When did this problem seem to first start?
    • dunno (That happened even before the update to 32.0.8, the update did not resolve the issue)
  • Installation method: bare metal
  • Are you using CloudfIare, mod_security, or similar? no

Summary of the issue you are facing:

I’m unable to add a group to a user, even though this works for other groups.

Steps to replicate it (hint: details matter!):

  1. ./occ -vvv group:adduser GroupNotWorking TheUser => not working

  2. ./occ -vvv group:adduser GroupWorking TheUser => working

  3. via GUI the same effect, first group does not work, second group works

Log entries

$ ./occ -vvv group:adduser GroupNotWorking TheUser 
...
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Checking if TheUser exists","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_explode_dn with parameters [\"TheUser\",0]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_explode_dn with parameters [\"TheUser\",0]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters [\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"(&(objectclass=inetOrgPerson)(!(uid=zahn))(!(uid=oneuid))(!(uid=wlgast*))(!(uid=someuid))(!(uid=otheruid)))\",[\"\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"readAttribute: uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de found","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"objectClass=*\",[\"primarygroupid\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"AuCLGqgMIKljeEu44zAc","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:38:03+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ",
"message":"Requested attribute primarygroupid not found for uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
-------------------------------------------------------------------

$ ./occ -vvv group:adduser GroupWorking TheUser

{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Checking if TheUser exists","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_explode_dn with parameters [\"TheUser\",0]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_explode_dn with parameters [\"TheUser\",0]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"(&(objectclass=inetOrgPerson)(!(uid=zahn))(!(uid=oneuid))(!(uid=wlgast*))(!(uid=someuid))(!(uid=otheruid)))\",[\"\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"readAttribute: uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de found","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"objectClass=*\",[\"primarygroupid\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Requested attribute primarygroupid not found for uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"objectClass=*\",[\"gidnumber\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_read with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"uid=TheUser,ou=people,dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"objectClass=*\",[\"uid\"],0,-1]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"initializing paged search for filter(&(memberuid=TheUser)(&(|(objectclass=posixGroup))(|(cn=excinema)(cn=GroupNotWorking)(cn=cnOne)(cn=cnTwo)(cn=intern)(cn=cnThree)(cn=cnFour)(cn=cnFive)(cn=rz)(cn=cnSix)))),base dc=abc-stadt,dc=de,attr [\"memberuid\",\"cn\",\"dn\"],pageSize 1000,offset 0","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}
{"reqId":"DuTFEoT2pcyi3nXPWDVY","level":0,"time":"2026-04-10T06:41:26+00:00","remoteAddr":"","user":"--","app":"user_ldap","method":"","url":"--","scriptName":"./occ","message":"Calling LDAP function ldap_search with parameters[\"(resource)\",\"dc=abc-stadt,dc=de\",\"(&(memberuid=TheUser)(&(|(objectclass=posixGroup))(|(cn=excinema)(cn=GroupNotWorking)(cn=cnOne)(cn=cnTwo)(cn=intern)(cn=cnThree)(cn=cnFour)(cn=cnFive)(cn=rz)(cn=cnSix))))\",[\"memberuid\",\"cn\",\"dn\"],0,0,-1,0,[{\"oid\":\"1.2.840.113556.1.4.319\",\"value\":{\"size\":1000,\"cookie\":\"\"},\"iscritical\":false}]]","userAgent":"--","version":"32.0.8.2","occ_command":["./occ","-vvv"],"data":{"app":"user_ldap"}}





Nextcloud

$ ./occ config:list system
{
    "system": {
        "instanceid": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "passwordsalt": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "secret": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "trusted_domains": [
            "box.abc-stadt.de"
        ],
        "datadirectory": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "skeletondirectory": "\/box\/httpd\/skeleton",
        "overwrite.cli.url": "https:\/\/box.abc-stadt.de",
        "auth.bruteforce.protection.enabled": true,
        "dbtype": "mysql",
        "version": "32.0.8.2",
        "dbname": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbhost": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbport": "",
        "dbtableprefix": "oc_",
        "mysql.utf8mb4": true,
        "dbuser": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbpassword": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "installed": true,
        "lost_password_link": "disabled",
        "filelocking.enabled": true,
        "memcache.local": "\\OC\\Memcache\\APCu",
        "memcache.locking": "\\OC\\Memcache\\Redis",
        "redis": {
            "host": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
            "port": 0,
            "timeout": 0
        },
        "ldapUserCleanupInterval": 51,
        "ldapProviderFactory": "\\OCA\\User_LDAP\\LDAPProviderFactory",
        "maintenance": false,
        "mail_from_address": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "mail_smtpmode": "sendmail",
        "mail_smtpauthtype": "LOGIN",
        "mail_domain": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "default_phone_region": "DE",
        "theme": "",
        "loglevel": 0,
        "updater.release.channel": "stable",
        "activity_expire_days": 30,
        "encryption.legacy_format_support": false,
        "encryption.key_storage_migrated": false,
        "maintenance_window_start": "1"
    }
}
$

Apps

$ ./occ app:list
Enabled:
activity: 5.0.0
admin_audit: 1.22.0
announcementcenter: 7.3.0
bookmarks: 16.1.3
bruteforcesettings: 5.0.0
circles: 32.0.0
cloud_federation_api: 1.16.0
collectives: 4.2.0
comments: 1.22.0
contacts: 8.3.7
contactsinteraction: 1.13.1
dashboard: 7.12.0
dav: 1.34.2
deck: 1.16.3
federatedfilesharing: 1.22.0
federation: 1.22.0
files: 2.4.0
files_downloadlimit: 5.0.0
files_external: 1.24.1
files_pdfviewer: 5.0.0
files_reminders: 1.5.0
files_sharing: 1.24.1
files_trashbin: 1.22.0
files_versions: 1.25.0
firstrunwizard: 5.0.0
forms: 5.2.6
groupfolders: 20.1.12
logreader: 5.0.0
lookup_server_connector: 1.20.0
nextcloud_announcements: 4.0.0
notes: 4.13.1
notifications: 5.0.0
oauth2: 1.20.0
password_policy: 4.0.0
photos: 5.0.0
privacy: 4.0.0
profile: 1.1.0
provisioning_api: 1.22.0
quota_warning: 1.23.0
recommendations: 5.0.0
related_resources: 3.0.0
richdocuments: 9.0.5
serverinfo: 4.0.0
settings: 1.15.1
sharebymail: 1.22.0
spreed: 22.0.11
support: 4.0.0
survey_client: 4.0.0
systemtags: 1.22.0
tasks: 0.17.1
text: 6.0.1
theming: 2.7.0
twofactor_backupcodes: 1.21.0
updatenotification: 1.22.0
user_ldap: 1.23.0
user_status: 1.12.0
viewer: 5.0.0
weather_status: 1.12.0
webhook_listeners: 1.3.0
workflowengine: 2.14.0
Disabled:
app_api: 32.0.0 (installed 32.0.0)
encryption: 2.20.0 (installed 2.3.0)
files_rightclick: 0.15.1 (installed 1.6.0)
suspicious_login: 10.0.0 (installed 4.3.0)
twofactor_nextcloud_notification: 6.0.0
twofactor_totp: 14.0.0
user_migration: 8.0.0 (installed 8.0.0)
$

Thank’s in advance

Kind regards

Thomas

Just for the records: Reason was some groups came from LDAP, others for the DB (I did not know this), see: occ group:info… . The group in question came from LDAP, adding the user to the LDAP-Group fixed the issue, see: occ ldap:test-user-settings … .