IIS shuts down and restarts for no apparent reason

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0 or Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 shuts down and restarts for no apparent reason.

IIS 5.0

This problem can occur because of a known vulnerability. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Alternatively, this problem can occur when .htm documents are mapped to the Ssinc.dll file and IIS receives a request with the "HEAD" verb to process. This is not supported on default documents, and therefore, IIS returns a 403 error message. However, IIS fails when it handles this error condition, which causes it to shut down and then restart the IIS services.

IIS 4.0

This problem can occur because of a known vulnerability. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

IIS 5.0

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

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

IIS 4.0

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that you determine are at risk of attack. Evaluate the computer's physical accessibility, network and Internet connectivity, and other factors to determine the degree of risk to the computer. See the associated Microsoft Security Bulletin (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-033.mspx) to help determine the degree of risk. This hotfix may receive additional testing. If the computer is sufficiently at risk, we recommend that you apply this hotfix now.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix by following the instructions later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site: 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 usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the Q300972i.exe package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=440B6F36-1659-44AD-892D-14CD490C9AFD&displaylang=en) Release Date: June 18, 2001

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: Note Due to file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a.

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