ERROR_NO_INHERITANCE - 1391 (0x56F)

Technical Meaning

The error code ERROR_NO_INHERITANCE with the numeric value 1391 and hexadecimal representation 0x56F is returned when an Access Control List (ACL) does not contain any inheritable components. This indicates that the ACL in question has been configured to prevent inheritance of permissions from its parent object.

Error Details

In Windows, access control lists are used to manage security settings for files and directories. Inheritance allows a parent object's permissions to be applied to child objects. When an ACL is marked as non-inheritable, it means that the permissions defined within this ACL will not be inherited by any sub-objects or child entities.

Usage Context

This error typically occurs in scenarios where an operation attempts to modify an ACL but finds that the ACL does not support inheritance. Common operations include setting or modifying security descriptors on files and directories, particularly when these actions are performed through APIs such as SetSecurityInfo or SetNamedSecurityInfo.

Developer Interpretation

When encountering this error code, developers should understand that the operation failed because the ACL in question is configured to prevent inheritance. This configuration can be set intentionally by administrators or programmatically using functions like SetFileSecurity with specific flags indicating non-inheritable behavior.

Related Errors

• ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND (3): Indicates a file or directory could not be found, unrelated to this error.
• ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER (1208): Occurs when an invalid parameter is passed to a function, which might indirectly lead to ERROR_NO_INHERITANCE if the operation involves ACLs.

FAQ

Q: What does ERROR_NO_INHERITANCE mean?

A: It indicates that an ACL contains no inheritable components and cannot be used for inheritance of permissions.

Q: How can I resolve this error?

A: Ensure that the ACL is configured to support inheritance if needed, or adjust the operation context to work with non-inheritable ACLs.

Summary

ERROR_NO_INHERITANCE (1391) signifies an issue where an attempt was made to modify a non-inheritable ACL. This error is specific to situations involving access control lists and their inheritance properties in Windows. Developers should be aware of this behavior when working with security descriptors and ensure that operations are performed within the correct context.