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Q238493: Memory Leak in Programs That Load/Unload Security.dll

Article: Q238493
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT4sp6fix
Last Modified: 20-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 
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SYMPTOMS
========

A program may exhibit a memory leak if the program causes Security.dll to be
loaded and unloaded repeatedly while the process is running. You can observe the
memory leak by using Windows NT Performance Monitor to track Private Bytes for
the program process.

An example of a program that can exhibit this problem is an SNA program running
on a Windows NT client using the SNA Server Client for Windows NT. Each time the
SNA program (or process) initiates a new host session, the underlying SNA Server
client causes Security.dll to be loaded to perform Windows NT user validation to
determine if the user is authorized to gain access to SNA Server.

Over time, a computer may stop responding (hang) if a process experiencing this
problem is left running long enough to exhaust the system's memory resources.

CAUSE
=====

Security.dll creates a critical section when it attaches to a process that
causes it to be loaded. This critical section is not deleted when Security.dll
detaches from the process when it is unloaded, which causes the memory leak.

RESOLUTION
==========

Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0
------------------------------------

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the
individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service
pack, please go to:

- http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/

-or-

- Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft
Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support
Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the
following address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS


Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
----------------------------------------------

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server
4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT
Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.

This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6 and
Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbWinNT4sp6fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400sp2 kbWinNTS400sp1 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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