FIX: You may receive a “System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null” error message when you call the SignedXml.ComputeSignature method

Hotfix Download Available
View and request hotfix downloads

View products that this article applies to.

Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

When you call the SignedXml.ComputeSignature method to create an XML signature for a Microsoft ASP.NET based application that runs on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: elem
at System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.SignedXml.GetPropagatedAttributes(XmlElement elem)
at System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.Reference.CalculateHashValue(XmlDocument document, CanonicalXmlNodeList refList)
at System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.SignedXml.BuildDigestedReferences()
at System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.SignedXml.ComputeSignature()
at SignatureTest.Form1.SignMessage(Boolean blnIncludeBody, String strMessage)

Back to the top

RESOLUTION

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 this specific problem. 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 Web site:

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 have the .NET Framework 1.1SP1 installed on your computer.

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 tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   12-May-2005  02:35  1.1.4322.2324      77,824  System.security.dll

Back to the top