"A referral was returned from the server" error message when you use the IADsUser::ChangePassword method in Windows Server 2003 SP2

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2).
• On this computer, you establish a secure Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) connection to a read-only domain controller that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
• You try to use the IADsUser::ChangePassword method to change a user account password over the secure LDAP connection.

In this scenario, the user account password is not changed, and you receive the following error message: Note This issue does not occur if you establish a non-secure LDAP connection to a read/write domain controller.

This issue occurs because the IADsUser::ChangePassword method cannot process a referral message from the read-only domain controller. However, when the IADsUser::ChangePassword method starts a password change request to a read-only domain controller, the read-only domain controller responds to the request by using a referral message.

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, your computer must be running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2).

For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2003 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

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

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows Server 2003 file information notes

• In addition to the files that are listed in these tables, this hotfix also installs an associated security catalog file (KBnumber.cat) that is signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2003 SP2

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 SP2

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 SP2

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: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about theIADsUser::ChangePassword method, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network(MSDN) Web site: For more information about LDAP referrals, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: