XML file size 8184 bytes causes XMLHTTP MSXML 4 SP2 to hard-crash

[David Patow]

I'm using XMLHTTP in MSXML 4 SP2 in IE 6 (updated) to load an XML file in
JScript that is exactly 8184 bytes. If I load it Synchronously, the browser
hard-crashes (a classic null pointer error). If I load it Asynchronously, my
JScript callback function instantly stops execution and there is no
indication, anywhere, that an error occurred. The content of the XML file
can vary, but it seems that the 8184 size is the critical factor. Several of
my customers, on various Win O/S releases, are also encountering this
problem.
Back on December 21, 2004, I saw a Microsoft response to this same
complaint, in which the MS person pointed to "Hotfix for MSXML 4.0 Service
Pack 2 - KB832414", saying that the security hotfix quietly contained a fix
for this unrelated problem, too. That hotfix is no longer available, but has
been superceded by MS04-004 (832894), which doesn't seem to fix this crash.
Also, on that date, I posted a question as to when the hotfix would be
included in a new MSXML 4 service pack. That post is no longer visible on
the msxml-webrelease newsgroup, yet is still visible on mirror sites. There
was no MS reply to my query.
What is the status of this known "8184 byte" problem in MSXML4 SP2 XMLHTTP?

[David Patow]

I found the original conversation that pointed me to hotfix 832414. It's on
newsgroup microsoft.public.winhttp, starting Mar 8, 2004 12:33pm, between
Stefan Züger and Biao Wang [MSFT]. In it, Biao states, ...
"
I communicated with the MSXML team -- you are hitting a known bug in MSXML.
A fix for the bug was included in the following hotfix package. Please note
that this is a cumulative package containing multiple bug fixes, so even
though the package is named "XMLHTTP call fails for URLs with embedded user
credentials", it does contain a fix for the particular issue you are
experiencing.
http://support.microsoft.com/d­efault.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;8324­14
".

[David Patow]

After carefully reading things again, I found that MSDN KB 832414 now points
to 887606, which does contain a new hotfix for MSXML 4. The hotfix does seem
to fix the 8184 byte problem, but makes not mention of it.

So, when will the next MSXML 4 service pack be out, which should include
887606?