A memory leak occurs in the Wmiprvse.exe process when a program queries user information or group information by using the WMI class Win32_group or Win32_account in Windows Server 2003

When a program queries user information or group information by using the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) class Win32_group or Win32_Account in Windows Server 2003, a memory leak occurs in the Wmiprvse.exe process. This memory leak condition may affect system performance and may cause the Wmiprvse.exe process to restart unexpectedly.

One sample scenario is that the memory leak condition occurs when you open the Office Communication Server (OCS) Admin Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and expand a user container that contains more than a few thousand users.

This problem occurs because a memory leaking issue occurs in the NetQueryDisplayInformation function.

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: 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, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
• An x64-based version of Windows XP
• An x64-based version of Windows XP Service Pack 2

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix is replaced by the following hotfix:

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.

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, x64-based versions

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

For more information about the memory leak in the Wmiprvse.exe process, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: