ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME (14091)

Technical Background

The ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME error code, with the numeric value 14091 and hexadecimal representation 0x370B, indicates that an attribute name in a security identity is not within the legal range. This error typically occurs during operations involving side-by-side assemblies (SxS) or other components where identity attributes are used.

Error Details

This specific error suggests that there is an issue with the naming of an attribute within a security identity. Security identities are crucial for managing access control and permissions in Windows environments, particularly when dealing with complex assembly loading scenarios such as those involving side-by-side assemblies (SxS).

Common Causes

Invalid Attribute Name: The name provided for an attribute is not valid according to the rules defined by the system.
Incorrect Object Type: The operation being performed on a security identity may be inappropriate or unsupported, leading to this error.
Unsupported Operations: Certain operations that require specific attributes might fail if those attributes are not recognized or supported.

Real-World Context

This error can occur in scenarios where applications or components rely heavily on side-by-side assemblies and their associated metadata. For example, when an application attempts to load a component from the SxS store but encounters an attribute name that is not valid according to the security policy or configuration.

Is This Error Critical?

The criticality of this error depends on the context in which it occurs. In most cases, it indicates a misconfiguration or misuse of attributes within a security identity and can be resolved by correcting the attribute names used.

How to Diagnose

To diagnose this issue, developers should:

Review Operation Context: Ensure that the operation being performed is appropriate for the type of object involved.
Validate Parameters: Check the parameters passed to functions or methods related to security identities and attributes.
Confirm Object Types: Verify that the objects being manipulated are of the correct type, as operations on different types may have different attribute requirements.

How to Resolve

To resolve this error, developers should:

Correct Parameter Usage: Ensure that all parameters passed to functions or methods related to security identities and attributes are valid and correctly named.
Adjust Operation Context: If the operation context is incorrect, adjust it to ensure compatibility with the expected attribute names.
Restore Data: In cases where data corruption might have led to invalid attribute names, restore the correct data.

Developer Notes

Developers should be aware that security identities and their attributes are critical components in managing access control. Ensuring that all attribute names used are valid according to the system's rules can prevent such errors from occurring.

Related Errors

ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE
ERROR_SXS_MISMATCHED_ASSEMBLY_NAME
ERROR_SXS_MISMATCHED_PUBLIC_KEY_TOKEN

FAQ

Q: What does the `ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME` error mean?

A: This error indicates that an attribute name in a security identity is not within the legal range.

Q: How can I prevent this error from occurring?

A: Ensure that all attribute names used are valid according to the system's rules and that operations on security identities are performed correctly.

Summary

The ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME error code (14091) is a specific issue related to invalid attribute names in security identities. It can be diagnosed by reviewing operation context, validating parameters, and confirming object types. Correcting the attribute names or adjusting the operation context typically resolves this error.