Microsoft KB Archive/272913

= CreateRemoteThread May Leak Handle in Windows NT Terminal Server Edition =

PSS ID Number: 272913

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition SP6

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This article was previously published under Q272913



SYMPTOMS
The CreateRemoteThread Application Programming Interface (API) may leak a handle when the call is unsuccessful and returns a NULL handle. This increases the handle count of the process that called the CreateRemoteThread function. Because the handle is NULL, the calling process cannot close the handle, and this causes 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 that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

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

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

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 typical 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 -  11/18/1999  06:19p             375,056  Kernel32.dll    (x86) 11/18/1999 06:17p             589,584  Kernel32.dll    (Alpha)



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about a fix for non-Terminal Server Edition versions of Windows NT, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

246691 The CreateRemoteThread API May Leak a Handle

Keywords: kbbug kbenv kbQFE KB272913

Technology: kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServ400sp6 kbNTTermServSearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSsearch

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