The Account Name, Account Domain, and Security ID fields are not populated in event ID 5136 for "Directory Service Changes" on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2

Consider the following scenario:

• You enable granular auditing for "Directory Services Changes" by using the Auditpol.exe tool in a Windows Server 2008-based or a Windows Server 2008 R2-based domain.
• An Active Directory object is modified, and then an instance of event ID 5136 for "Directory Services Changes" is added to the Security log on the domain controller.

In this scenario, the values of the following attributes are missing from the event ID 5136 entry:

• Security ID
• Account Name
• Account Domain

The issue leads to security concerns because the domain controller does not record which user account made such changes.

The event log entry for event ID 5136 resembles the following when this issue occurs:

Log Name: Security
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing
Date: <date>
Event ID: 5136
Task Category: Directory Service Changes
Level: Information
Keywords: Audit Success
User: N/A
Computer: <computer name>
Description: A directory service object was modified.
Subject:
Security ID: NULL SID
Account Name: -
Account Domain: -
Logon ID: <logon ID>

This problem occurs because the logon session for the user expires before the event is logged in the Security log. When the logon session expires, the audit has an invalid logon ID and cannot retrieve the required information about the user.

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

To apply this hotfix, the computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Windows Server 2008 R2

Additionally, the computer must have the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role installed.
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2008 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other 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 2008 file information note

Important Windows Vista hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows Vista" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows Vista" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

• The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

  Version	Product	SR_Level	Service branch
  6.0.600 1 . 22xxx	Windows Server 2008	SP1	LDR
  6.0.600 2 . 22xxx	Windows Server 2008	SP2	LDR

• Service Pack 1 is integrated into the release version of Windows Server 2008.
• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008" section. MUM files and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes

Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

To work around this issue, change an Active Directory object by using a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista to connect to the domain controller that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

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

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Additional file information

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

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

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

For more information about how to use the Administration Tools Pack to remotely administer computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: