Memory leak in Psxss.exe after POSIX-based applications or scripts run for a long time in Windows Vista or in Windows Server 2008

Article ID: 2686699 - View products that this article applies to.
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Symptoms

Assume that you run some Portable Operating System Interface for UNIX (POSIX)-based scripts or applications on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. In this situation, the POSIX subsystem (Psxss.exe) experiences high memory consumption. Additionally, the scripts or applications stop responding after some time.

Note This issue occurs after the POSIX-based scripts or applications run for a long time. For example, this issue occurs when the scripts or applications are running for a month.
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Cause

This issue occurs because of a memory leak in Psxss.exe.
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Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if 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. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running one of the following operating systems:
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Vista service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
935791
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/ )
How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2008 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
968849
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968849/ )
How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2008

Registry information

To apply this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

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The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes
Important Windows Vista hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows Vista" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows Vista" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.
  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.
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    VersionProductSR_LevelService branch
    6.0.600 2 . 23xxxWindows Vista and Windows Server 2008SP2LDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. MUM files and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Baseu.dnlNot Applicable16609-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Baseu.prmNot Applicable1,15309-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Disablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9209-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Download.urlNot Applicable7109-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Enablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9209-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Loginenv6.0.6002.2300214,84814-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Makedev6.0.6002.2300236,86414-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Posix.exe6.0.6002.2300280,89614-Dec-201201:13x86
Posixsscom.dll6.0.6002.230025,63214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002314,88014-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002364,03214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdrv.sys6.0.6002.230029,21614-Dec-201201:12x86
Psxoffset6.0.6002.2300215,87214-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Psxrun.exe6.0.6002.2300240,96014-Dec-201201:13x86
Psxss.exe6.0.6002.23002654,84814-Dec-201201:14x86
Suacore-ppdlic.xrm-msNot Applicable2,99314-Dec-201202:21Not Applicable
Suares.dll6.0.6002.230022,04814-Dec-201201:12x86
Baseu.dnlNot Applicable16609-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Baseu.prmNot Applicable1,15309-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Desktop.iniNot Applicable8109-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Disablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9209-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Download.urlNot Applicable7109-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Enablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9209-Sep-201112:09Not Applicable
Loginenv6.0.6002.2300214,84814-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Makedev6.0.6002.2300236,86414-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Posix.exe6.0.6002.2300280,89614-Dec-201201:13x86
Posixsscom.dll6.0.6002.230025,63214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002314,88014-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002364,03214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdrv.sys6.0.6002.230029,21614-Dec-201201:12x86
Psxoffset6.0.6002.2300215,87214-Dec-201201:12Not Applicable
Psxrun.exe6.0.6002.2300240,96014-Dec-201201:13x86
Psxss.exe6.0.6002.23002654,84814-Dec-201201:14x86
Sua-ppdlic.xrm-msNot Applicable2,98114-Dec-201202:21Not Applicable
Suagc.exe6.0.6002.230027,68014-Dec-201201:12x86
Suares.dll6.0.6002.230022,04814-Dec-201201:12x86
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Baseu.dnlNot Applicable16601-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Baseu.prmNot Applicable1,15301-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Disablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9201-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Download.urlNot Applicable7101-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Enablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9201-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Loginenv6.0.6002.2300212,28814-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Makedev6.0.6002.2300241,98414-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Posix.exe6.0.6002.2300289,08814-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002333,82414-Dec-201203:32x64
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002382,46414-Dec-201203:32x64
Psxdrv.sys6.0.6002.2300210,24014-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxoffset6.0.6002.2300215,36014-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Psxrun.exe6.0.6002.2300244,54414-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxss.exe6.0.6002.23002847,36014-Dec-201201:46x64
Suacore-ppdlic.xrm-msNot Applicable2,99314-Dec-201203:08Not Applicable
Suares.dll6.0.6002.230022,04814-Dec-201201:45x64
Baseu.dnlNot Applicable16601-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Baseu.prmNot Applicable1,15301-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Desktop.iniNot Applicable8101-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Disablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9201-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Download.urlNot Applicable7101-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Enablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9201-Dec-201111:52Not Applicable
Loginenv6.0.6002.2300212,28814-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Makedev6.0.6002.2300241,98414-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Posix.exe6.0.6002.2300289,08814-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002333,82414-Dec-201203:32x64
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002382,46414-Dec-201203:32x64
Psxdrv.sys6.0.6002.2300210,24014-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxoffset6.0.6002.2300215,36014-Dec-201201:45Not Applicable
Psxrun.exe6.0.6002.2300244,54414-Dec-201201:45x64
Psxss.exe6.0.6002.23002847,36014-Dec-201201:46x64
Sua-ppdlic.xrm-msNot Applicable2,98114-Dec-201203:08Not Applicable
Suagc.exe6.0.6002.230028,70414-Dec-201201:45x64
Suares.dll6.0.6002.230022,04814-Dec-201201:45x64
Posixsscom.dll6.0.6002.230025,63214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002333,82414-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002382,97614-Dec-201202:34x86
Posixsscom.dll6.0.6002.230025,63214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002333,82414-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002382,97614-Dec-201202:34x86
For all supported IA-64–based versions of Windows Server 2008
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Baseu.dnlNot Applicable16615-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Baseu.prmNot Applicable1,15315-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Desktop.iniNot Applicable8115-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Disablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9215-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Download.urlNot Applicable7115-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Enablesetuid.iniNot Applicable9215-Mar-201107:08Not Applicable
Loginenv6.0.6002.2300225,60014-Dec-201200:51Not Applicable
Makedev6.0.6002.2300249,15214-Dec-201200:51Not Applicable
Posix.exe6.0.6002.23002181,24814-Dec-201200:51IA-64
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002736,76814-Dec-201202:13IA-64
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002762,36814-Dec-201202:13IA-64
Psxdrv.sys6.0.6002.2300220,48014-Dec-201200:51IA-64
Psxoffset6.0.6002.2300234,81614-Dec-201200:51Not Applicable
Psxrun.exe6.0.6002.2300275,77614-Dec-201200:51IA-64
Psxss.exe6.0.6002.230021,645,56814-Dec-201200:52IA-64
Sua-ppdlic.xrm-msNot Applicable2,98114-Dec-201202:03Not Applicable
Suagc.exe6.0.6002.2300216,38414-Dec-201200:51IA-64
Suares.dll6.0.6002.230022,04814-Dec-201200:51IA-64
Posixsscom.dll6.0.6002.230025,63214-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdll.dll6.0.6002.23002333,82414-Dec-201202:34x86
Psxdllsvr.dll6.0.6002.23002382,97614-Dec-201202:34x86
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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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More information

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )
Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information

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Additional file information for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008
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File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size2,996
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:31
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_083f89f6e8f173e432edca057337f883_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_2d435f1104717893.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size712
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:31
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_767766f7c4125088614fb60e06fe62ee_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_c3ccef84e9d29014.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size707
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:31
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_subsystem-for-unix-..d-applications-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_f6cf761eb6ae1b02.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size67,914
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:45
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_subsystem-for-unix-based-applications_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_765a54110631d764.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size72,810
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:45
PlatformNot Applicable
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008
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File nameAmd64_84112a3e2692434a8144ad151d6f8675_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_4b06d3c01994458f.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,074
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:32
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_bc0a383a2363988dcb51fb1b4d42b4f7_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_aa64005079b08ba1.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,064
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:32
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_subsystem-for-unix-..d-applications-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_52ee11a26f0b8c38.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size67,414
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)03:44
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_subsystem-for-unix-based-applications_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_d278ef94be8f489a.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size73,989
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)03:44
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size3,020
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:32
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameWow64_subsystem-for-unix-..d-applications-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_5d42bbf4a36c4e33.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size42,587
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:38
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameWow64_subsystem-for-unix-based-applications_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_dccd99e6f2f00a95.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size42,068
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:39
PlatformNot Applicable
Additional files for all supported IA-64–based versions of Windows Server 2008
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File nameIa64_34a036ee50ad71a1f2fc2e3aa65aaf08_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_05c664d9a6bed775.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,062
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:31
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameIa64_subsystem-for-unix-based-applications_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_765bf807062fe060.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size73,967
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:21
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,565
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)04:31
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameWow64_subsystem-for-unix-based-applications_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.23002_none_dccd99e6f2f00a95.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size42,068
Date (UTC)14-Dec-2012
Time (UTC)02:39
PlatformNot Applicable
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Properties

Article ID: 2686699 - Last Review: April 9, 2013 - Revision: 3.0
Applies to
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
Keywords: 
kbautohotfix kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbfix kbsurveynew kbexpertiseinter KB2686699
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