A Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2-based computer seems to stop responding when the Lsass.exe process consumes lots of memory and uses 100% of the CPU

A Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or SP2-based computer seems to stop responding when the following conditions are true for the Lsass.exe process:

• The process stops responding.
• The process consumes lots of memory.
• The process uses 100% of the CPU.

However, the computer responds to Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) ping requests.

This problem occurs because of a code defect in the NTLM authentication package.

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 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, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces hotfix 917257.

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 with Service Pack 1, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with 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 a Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1-based computer that seems to stop responding when the Lsass.exe process undergoes high memory and high CPU usage, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Call stack information

When this problem occurs, you may see call stack information that resembles the following.