Q246691: The CreateRemoteThread API May Leak a Handle
Article: Q246691
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbenv kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6
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SYMPTOMS
========
The CreateRemoteThread application programming interface (API) may leak a handle
when it is unsuccessful and return a null handle. This increases a handle count
of the process that calls the CreateRemoteThread function. Because the handle is
null, the calling process cannot close the handle, which results in a memory
leak.
NOTE: To detect the handle leak, use Performance Monitor and monitor the Handle
Count for the process that calls the CreateRemoteThread API.
CAUSE
=====
The CreateRemoteThread function first successfully creates a thread where it
creates a thread handle. If the function is unsuccessful in the later stages of
processing, the created thread is terminated and the open handle to this thread
is not closed. This open handle causes a memory leak.
RESOLUTION
==========
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem.
To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. 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
NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal 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
-----------------------------------------------------
11/18/99 04:19pm 375,056 Kernel32.dll Intel
11/18/99 06:17pm 589,584 Kernel32.dll Alpha
STATUS
======
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0.
Additional query words:
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Keywords : kbenv kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix
Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp6 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTW400sp6
Version : :4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6
Hardware : ALPHA x86
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbfix
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