Unabled to delete mailbox in Exchange 2013 Exchange Administrative Center with the error: “Active Directory operation failed on domainController.com. This error is not retriable. Additional information: Access is denied. Active directory response: 00000005: SecErr: DSID-03151D15, problem 4003 (INSUFF_ACCESS_RIGHTS), data 0”

Problem

You’re logged into the Exchange 2013 server Exchange Administrative Center and attempt to delete a user’s mailbox but receive the following error:

Active Directory operation failed on domainController.com. This error is not retriable. Additional information: Access is denied. Active directory response: 00000005: SecErr: DSID-03151D15, problem 4003 (INSUFF_ACCESS_RIGHTS), data 0

Solution

One of the causes for this error message is that the Active Directory account you are attempting to delete does not have Inheritance enabled.  To correct the issue, simply enable inheritance in the security policy for the account before attempting to delete it in Exchange 2013’s Exchange Administrative Center: