Heap Corruption in Windows NT RPCSS Service with DCOM Call Requests (292041)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0 SP6a
This article was previously published under Q292041

SYMPTOMS

Rpcss.exe may generate an access violation (C0000005) in the RtlAllocateHeap function when activating or deactivating an ATL DCOM EXE server.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the DCOM garbage collector frees some heap memory that is allocated for the static endpoint structure at a wrong address. This corrupts the heap free list for the process.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   -------------------------------------------------------
   13-Apr-2002  12:55  4.0.1381.7092  1,079,568  Ole32.dll
   13-Apr-2002  12:55  4.0.1381.7092  109,328    Rpcss.exe

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods:
  • The heap corruption does not occur if you use dynamic endpoints in the DCOM configuration.
  • Maintain DCOM alive by using a client connection. This avoids the DCOM garbage collector cleanup.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/19/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbprb KB292041
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