Error message when you try to store a security descriptor by using an administration tool or a script in Windows Server 2003: "The security ID structure is invalid Facility: Win32 ID no: 80070539"

On a Windows Server 2003-based computer, you have an administration tool or a script that uses the Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI) IADs interface to manage security descriptors. You load a security descriptor for editing by using the administration tool or the script. When you try to store the security descriptor, you may receive an error message that resembles the following error message: This problem may occur even though you have hotfix 840885 installed.

Note This problem may also occur in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

This problem may occur when the owner of the objects is in a domain other than the domain where the administration tool or the script is running. Also, the computer where the tool or script runs does not have the correct connectivity enabled with the domain where the owner account is defined.

In this situation, you can run a code path where the security descriptor can be loaded. However, this code path fails for owner user and owner group even if these entries were not changed.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Open all required ports for the Local Security Authority (LSA) service according to Microsoft Knowledge Base article 832017.

Method 2

Block all ports to the domain controllers of other domains.

Method 3

Manage the security descriptor by using another computer that has firewall rules that allow this operation against the remote domain controller to succeed.

Method 4

Change the owner of the objects to a user or group in the domain where the administration tool or the script is running.

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