Bug ID 572563: PWS session does not launch on Internet Explorer after upgrade

Last Modified: Oct 07, 2023

Affected Product(s):
BIG-IP APM(all modules)

Known Affected Versions:
11.4.1, 11.6.0, 12.0.0, 12.0.0 HF1, 12.1.0 HF1, 12.0.0 HF2, 12.1.0 HF2, 12.1.1 HF1, 12.1.1 HF2, 12.1.2 HF1, 12.1.2 HF2

Fixed In:
13.0.0, 12.1.0, 12.0.0 HF3, 11.6.1, 11.5.4 HF2

Opened: Feb 09, 2016

Severity: 2-Critical

Symptoms

Internet Explorer (IE) gets stuck entering Protected Work Space (PWS).

Impact

Due to the recent renewal of the signing certificate, the old DLL cannot certify the integrity of the new PWS components. PWS session does not launch.

Conditions

One of the DLLs provided by APM, vdeskctrl.dll, provides COM services. IE consumes the COM services. The DLL is loaded by IE during upgrade of PWS components. Intermittently, (especially on slow systems), IE does not unload the old DLL promptly after upgrading PWS. When COM services are invoked to initialize PWS after upgrade, the old DLL provides the service.

Workaround

After upgrade, if IE does not enter into PWS within 60 seconds, close IE and start a new session. This is a one-time event.

Fix Information

Internet Explorer can now launch a Protected Workspace session.

Behavior Change

Guides & references

K10134038: F5 Bug Tracker Filter Names and Tips