Conflicting Access Control List Entries Cause Error Message (292520)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q292520

SYMPTOMS

On a server that is running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 (SP6), you can add extended Microsoft Windows 2000 file permissions by using the Security Configuration Manager tool from the Service Pack 4 (SP4) CD-ROM.

This procedure illustrates the problem:
  1. You are running Windows Explorer and viewing a folder's security properties.
  2. You add a test user to the list of permissions.
  3. For this user, you set a deny flag for writing.
  4. In a subfolder under that folder, you add the same user and set the Allow Write flag.
  5. You select the Allow Inherited Permissions check box for the folder.
  6. You click OK.
  7. You try to open the Security dialog box again.
  8. You see this error message:
    Unable to display security information
On a Windows 2000-based server, the typical security screen is display as you expect for the same configuration. You can verify this by using Cacls.exe to view the access permissions from a command prompt.

The Deny Access setting takes precedence over any other flags, so the Write Access flag has no effect. Any user with the conflicting flags set for the folder will cause the screen not to be displayed.

CAUSE

Windows checks to determine if both the allow and deny flags are set for the object being checked. If they are, error 1336 ("ERROR_INVALID_ACL") is generated and is returned from the function that sums the flags for an access determination. Any error from this function causes the screen not to be displayed.

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 fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date      Time    Size     File name    Platform
   ------------------------------------------------
   04/20/01  04:12p   84,240  Ntmarta.dll  Intel
   04/20/01  04:08p  140,048  Ntmarta.dll  Alpha
NOTE: Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a.

WORKAROUND

Using Cacls.exe, clear the Allow Write flag on the folder. Avoid using deny flags if possible. This symptom also occurs if you set read deny for the Everyone group because Supervisor is part of the group.

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 kbbug kbfix kbQFE KB292520
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