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| STATUS_HEAP_CORRUPTION | STATUS_SMARTCARD_CARD_BLOCKED |
STATUS_SMARTCARD_WRONG_PIN
The PIN is verified by the credential device
STATUS_SMARTCARD_WRONG_PIN means that the submitted PIN was rejected by the smart-card authentication path. A Windows prompt is only part of the flow: the credential device or its provider can enforce its own retry counter and policy. Repeating guesses can turn a recoverable incorrect-PIN condition into a blocked-card condition, even when the reader, certificate and domain configuration are otherwise healthy.
This makes the code different from a revoked or expired certificate. The card may be present and the certificate may be usable, yet the private-key operation remains unavailable until the correct PIN is verified. PIV documentation from Yubico and the GlobalPlatform card model both describe retry-controlled verification and a blocked state after a limit is reached.
Safe response
- Stop automated or repeated PIN attempts immediately and confirm the identity of the card and credential being used.
- Use the issuer-approved recovery or PIN-reset process; do not assume every card supports the same PUK or unblock method.
- Check the selected reader and card provider when several readers, cards or virtual smart cards are present.
- For domain logon, retain the KDC and smart-card diagnostic events so that a PIN error is not confused with certificate or domain-controller failures.
References
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS reference
- Yubico PIV: PIN, PUK and management key
- GlobalPlatform Card Specification
- Microsoft: smart-card troubleshooting
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