Microsoft KB Archive/929140

= FIX: The calloc system function call corrupts the heap memory on a Windows Server 2003 R2-based computer that has Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-Based Applications installed =

Article ID: 929140

Article Last Modified on 6/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition (32-Bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition (32-Bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x64 Edition

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You have a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2-based computer that has Utilities and Software Development Kit (SDK) for UNIX-based Applications installed. On this computer, you call the calloc function in the Libc.a library. In this scenario, an access violation error occurs. Additionally, the calloc function tries to initialize more heap memory than is allocated.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because a call to the calloc function corrupts the heap memory.



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

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications for Windows Server 2003 R2 installed on the computer. For more information about how to obtain Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/R2/unixcomponents/webinstall.mspx

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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 item in Control Panel.

32-bit x86 versions


WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the following code to override the calloc function in the Libsafe.a library that initializes the allocated memory. void *calloc(size_t num, size_t size) { void *retp;

retp = malloc(size *= num); if (NULL != retp) { bzero(retp, size); }

return retp; }



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbfix kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbpubtypekc KB929140

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