Applications that reply on the RPC service are blocked in Windows Vista SP1 or in Windows Server 2008 when you block Windows Firewall incoming connections and enable remote management

On a computer that is running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008, consider the following scenario:

• You set the state of Windows Firewall incoming connections to Block all connections. This puts Windows Firewall in Shields-Up mode.
• You enable the Windows Firewall Remote Management rule for Windows Firewall incoming rules.

In this scenario, applications that reply on the Remote Procedure Call service are blocked.

For example, the Forefront Server Security Management Console (FSSMC) agent is blocked from the Remote Procedure Call service and cannot enforce the Windows Firewall policy on the endpoint. Additionally, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

This problem occurs because the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) Policy Agent (PolicyAgent) service unloads the remote management DLL files and unregisters the remote Remote Procedure Call interface when Windows Firewall is in Shields-Up mode. Therefore, when an application implements the Remote Procedure Call client, the application is blocked.

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 the problem described in this article. 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

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn) can be identified by examining the file version numbers that are shown in the following table:

  Version	Product	Milestone	Service branch
  6.0.600 0 . 20 xxx	Windows	RTM	LDR
  6.0.600 1 . 22 xxx	Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1	SP1	LDR

• Service Pack 1 (SP1) is integrated into Windows Server 2008. Therefore, RTM milestone files apply only to Windows Vista. RTM milestone files have a 6.0.0000.xxxxxx version number.
• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and MUM files (.mum) installed for each environment are listed separately . MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are important to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

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

For more information about Windows Firewall, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For more information about how to run the remote management feature by using Server Manager, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For more information about netsh commands for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008