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STATUS_KERNEL_APC
A kernel APC interrupted the wait
Kernel APC delivery is part of thread scheduling and I/O completion inside the NT kernel. A wait can return early when the selected wait mode and alertability permit an APC to run. The status does not mean the dispatcher object became signaled or the requested delay elapsed.
Kernel-mode callers must follow the documented return contract of the exact wait routine. Some routines automatically restart after ordinary kernel APCs, while alertable or user-mode waits can expose interruption statuses. Assuming all waits are uninterruptible can create rare state-machine failures.
What to inspect
- Record wait mode, alertable flag, IRQL, dispatcher object type, and the APC environment of the target thread.
- Check the exact WDK contract before deciding whether to retry or propagate the status.
- Do not access completion data until the associated object or I/O status block proves completion.
- Avoid holding locks across waits that allow arbitrary APC-driven completion code to run.
References
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS values
- Microsoft WDK: KeWaitForSingleObject
- Microsoft WDK: KeDelayExecutionThread
- Microsoft Windows SDK metadata: ntstatus.h
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