KB193763 - GetFileAttributes API May Return Invalid Return Code

Article ID: 193763

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

This article was previously published under Q193763

SYMPTOMS

The return value expected, when using GetFileAttributes, is FFFFFFFF for failure, and for success the value of the files attributes. Sometimes, when the API should have been returning failure, it was succeeding and returning invalid attributes.

CAUSE

Some file information is cached locally when it is opened. So, when another process needed some of that information and it was cached, it was obtained without checking to see if it had the proper rights to obtain that information.

RESOLUTION

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-
152734 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/directory/overview.asp

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5.

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix kbqfe KB193763