Knowledge

ERROR_TOO_MANY_CONTEXT_IDS - 1384 (0x568)

During a logon attempt, the user's security context accumulated too many security IDs.

Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Technical Background

The ERROR_TOO_MANY_CONTEXT_IDS error code (0x568) is encountered during a logon attempt when the security context associated with the user has accumulated too many Security IDs (SIDs). This limit is designed to prevent excessive memory usage and potential security risks.

Error Details

This specific error indicates that the system has reached its maximum allowed number of SIDs in the security context. Each SID represents a unique identity or group membership, and having too many can lead to performance degradation and resource exhaustion.

Common Causes

  • Excessive Group Membership: The user is a member of an unusually large number of groups, which increases the number of SIDs associated with their security context.
  • Recursive Group Inheritance: If group memberships are inherited recursively, this can significantly increase the number of SIDs in the security context.
  • System Limits: The system has predefined limits on the maximum number of SIDs allowed per security context to ensure stability and performance.

Real-World Context

This error is more likely to occur in environments where users are members of a large number of groups or when group membership inheritance is configured in a way that leads to an excessive accumulation of SIDs. It can also be encountered during the logon process for certain high-privilege accounts.

Is This Error Critical?

The severity of this error depends on the context and the specific user affected. While it may not immediately impact system stability, it could lead to performance issues or security vulnerabilities if left unaddressed.

How to Diagnose

  1. Review Operation Context: Check the logon attempt details and verify the number of groups the user is a member of.
  2. Validate Parameters: Ensure that no invalid parameters are being passed during the logon process.
  3. Confirm Object Types: Verify that the correct object types are being used in the security context setup.
  4. Verify Input Data: Confirm that all input data, including group memberships, is valid and correctly configured.
  5. Check Limits or Constraints: Review system limits for SIDs per security context to ensure they have not been exceeded.

How to Resolve

  1. Correct Parameter Usage: Ensure that the logon parameters are correct and do not exceed the allowed number of SIDs.
  2. Adjust Operation Context: Modify group memberships if necessary, reducing the number of SIDs in the security context.
  3. Restore Data: If data corruption is suspected, restore from a known good backup or reconfigure settings to avoid excessive SIDs.
  4. Retry Operation with Valid Inputs: Attempt the logon process again with valid and correctly configured inputs.

Developer Notes

Developers should be aware of the potential for this error during high-privilege operations and ensure that security contexts are properly managed to prevent excessive SIDs.

Related Errors

FAQ

Q: What does the ERROR_TOO_MANY_CONTEXT_IDS error mean?

A: This error indicates that a logon attempt has exceeded the maximum number of Security IDs allowed in the security context.

Q: How can I prevent this error from occurring?

A: Ensure that user group memberships are managed properly and avoid recursive inheritance where possible to keep SIDs within acceptable limits.

Q: Is this error related to file system operations?

A: No, it is specific to security context management during logon attempts.

Summary

The ERROR_TOO_MANY_CONTEXT_IDS error (0x568) occurs when a user's security context accumulates too many SIDs during a logon attempt. This can be managed by carefully configuring group memberships and ensuring that system limits are not exceeded. Developers should take steps to prevent this issue and handle it appropriately when encountered.