Failed to serialize properties into CimInstance

Prerequisites

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Summary

If a DSC resource uses custom CIM types in this case for AccessControlDsc/NTFSAccessEntry serialization will fail. This resource utilizes two nested custom types NTFSAccessControlEntry and NTFSAccessControlList.

https://github.com/mcollera/AccessControlDsc/blob/Dev/DscResources/NTFSAccessEntry/NTFSAccessEntry.schema.mof

Steps to reproduce

Took this example and turned it into dsc v3 notation: https://github.com/mcollera/AccessControlDsc/blob/Dev/Examples/NtfsAccessEntry_example.ps1

$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
resources:
- name: test
  type: AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry
  properties:
    Path: c:\temp\test
    AccessControlList:
      - Principal: Everyone
        AccessControlEntry:
          - AccessControlType: Allow
            FileSystemRights: FullControl
            Inheritance: This folder and files
            Ensure: Present

Expected behavior

Works

Actual behavior

2025-07-24T04:31:29.303209Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496:

Message        : Failed to serialize properties into CimInstance.
Data           : {}
InnerException :
TargetSite     : Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance SerializeIntoCimInstance(System.Management.Automation.Language.DynamicKeyword, Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ModuleSpecification, System.Collections.Hashtable)
StackTrace     :    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.SerializeIntoCimInstance(DynamicKeyword resourceInfo, ModuleSpecification moduleSpecification, Hashtable property)
                    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.CreateParametersCollection()
                    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.ProcessRecord()
                    at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
HelpLink       :
Source         : Microsoft.Windows.DSC.CoreConfProviders
HResult        : -2146233076




2025-07-24T04:31:29.304567Z ERROR dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 896: PID 27496: Exception: Failed to serialize properties into CimInstance.
2025-07-24T04:31:29.322548Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 660: Process 'powershell' id 27496 exited with code 1
2025-07-24T04:31:29.323978Z ERROR dsc::subcommand: 75: Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

Error details

2025-07-24T04:31:28.204698Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure::depends_on: 90: Resource invocation order: [Resource { resource_type: "Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell", name: "AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry", depends_on: None, kind: None, properties: Some({"resources": Array [Object {"name": String("AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry"), "type": String("AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry"), "properties": Object {"Path": String("c:\\temp\\test"), "AccessControlList": Array [Object {"Principal": String("Everyone"), "AccessControlEntry": Array [Object {"AccessControlType": String("Allow"), "FileSystemRights": String("FullControl"), "Inheritance": String("This folder and files"), "Ensure": String("Present")}]}]}}]}), metadata: None, condition: None }]
2025-07-24T04:31:28.205089Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 860: Invoke property expressions
2025-07-24T04:31:28.205443Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for resources: [{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}]
2025-07-24T04:31:28.205767Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 860: Invoke property expressions
2025-07-24T04:31:28.206177Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for name: "AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.206498Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry
2025-07-24T04:31:28.206826Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry
2025-07-24T04:31:28.207156Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for type: "AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.207498Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry
2025-07-24T04:31:28.207817Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry
2025-07-24T04:31:28.208135Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for properties: {"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}
2025-07-24T04:31:28.208433Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 860: Invoke property expressions
2025-07-24T04:31:28.208769Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for Path: "c:\\temp\\test"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.209084Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: c:\temp\test
2025-07-24T04:31:28.209407Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: c:\temp\test
2025-07-24T04:31:28.209775Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for AccessControlList: [{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]
2025-07-24T04:31:28.210094Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 860: Invoke property expressions
2025-07-24T04:31:28.210305Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for Principal: "Everyone"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.210546Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: Everyone
2025-07-24T04:31:28.210846Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: Everyone
2025-07-24T04:31:28.211208Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for AccessControlEntry: [{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]
2025-07-24T04:31:28.211482Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 860: Invoke property expressions
2025-07-24T04:31:28.211768Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for AccessControlType: "Allow"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.212089Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: Allow
2025-07-24T04:31:28.212454Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: Allow
2025-07-24T04:31:28.212772Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for FileSystemRights: "FullControl"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.213112Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: FullControl
2025-07-24T04:31:28.213452Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: FullControl
2025-07-24T04:31:28.213745Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for Inheritance: "This folder and files"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.214070Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: This folder and files
2025-07-24T04:31:28.214426Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: This folder and files
2025-07-24T04:31:28.214746Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 868: Invoke property expression for Ensure: "Present"
2025-07-24T04:31:28.215072Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 48: Parsing statement: Present
2025-07-24T04:31:28.215429Z DEBUG dsc_lib::parser: 72: Parsing string literal: Present
2025-07-24T04:31:28.215771Z DEBUG dsc_lib::configure: 332: resource_type Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell
2025-07-24T04:31:28.216065Z TRACE dsc_lib::configure: 334: filter: {"resources":[{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}],"metadata":{"Microsoft.DSC":{"context":"configuration"}}}
2025-07-24T04:31:28.216450Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::dscresource: 218: Invoking get for 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.216850Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 29: Invoking get for 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.217189Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 775: Verify JSON for 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.217553Z TRACE dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 779: Validating against JSON: {"resources":[{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}],"metadata":{"Microsoft.DSC":{"context":"configuration"}}}
2025-07-24T04:31:28.217930Z TRACE dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 432: Invoking validate on 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell' using '{"resources":[{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}],"metadata":{"Microsoft.DSC":{"context":"configuration"}}}'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.218303Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 762: No input kind specified
2025-07-24T04:31:28.218758Z  INFO dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 441: Invoking validate on 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell' using 'powershell'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.219087Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 699: Invoking command 'powershell' with args Some(["-NoLogo", "-NonInteractive", "-NoProfile", "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass", "-Command", "$Input | ./psDscAdapter/powershell.resource.ps1 Validate"])
2025-07-24T04:31:28.493965Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 24376: PSVersion=5.1.26100.4652
2025-07-24T04:31:28.494651Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 24376: PSPath=C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
2025-07-24T04:31:28.494853Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 24376: PSModulePath=C:\Users\Thomas\Documents\PowerShell\Modules;C:\Program Files\PowerShell\Modules;c:\program files\powershell\7-preview\Modules;C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules;C:\WINDOWS\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules
2025-07-24T04:31:28.519407Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 660: Process 'powershell' id 24376 exited with code 0
2025-07-24T04:31:28.520238Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 758: Parsing input as stdin
2025-07-24T04:31:28.520459Z  INFO dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 40: Invoking get 'Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell' using 'powershell'
2025-07-24T04:31:28.520639Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 699: Invoking command 'powershell' with args Some(["-NoLogo", "-NonInteractive", "-NoProfile", "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass", "-Command", "$Input | ./psDscAdapter/powershell.resource.ps1 Get"])
2025-07-24T04:31:28.525191Z TRACE dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 616: Writing to command STDIN: {"resources":[{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}],"metadata":{"Microsoft.DSC":{"context":"configuration"}}}
2025-07-24T04:31:28.793046Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PSVersion=5.1.26100.4652
2025-07-24T04:31:28.793962Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PSPath=C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
2025-07-24T04:31:28.794275Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PSModulePath=C:\Users\Thomas\Documents\PowerShell\Modules;C:\Program Files\PowerShell\Modules;c:\program files\powershell\7-preview\Modules;C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules;C:\WINDOWS\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules
2025-07-24T04:31:28.799464Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: jsonInput={"resources":[{"name":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","type":"AccessControlDSC/NTFSAccessEntry","properties":{"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":[{"AccessControlType":"Allow","FileSystemRights":"FullControl","Inheritance":"This folder and files","Ensure":"Present"}]}]}}],"metadata":{"Microsoft.DSC":{"context":"configuration"}}}
2025-07-24T04:31:28.966549Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: Reading from Get-DscResource cache file C:\Users\Thomas\AppData\Local\dsc\WindowsPSAdapterCache.json
2025-07-24T04:31:29.002836Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: Checking cache for stale PSModulePath
2025-07-24T04:31:29.021851Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PSModulePath diff ''
2025-07-24T04:31:29.022739Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: Checking cache for stale entries
2025-07-24T04:31:29.078800Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: OS version: Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26100.0
2025-07-24T04:31:29.079753Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PowerShell version: 5.1.26100.4652
2025-07-24T04:31:29.081659Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: PSDesiredStateConfiguration module version: 1.1
2025-07-24T04:31:29.096396Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: DSC resource implementation: ScriptBased
2025-07-24T04:31:29.125143Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496: Module: AccessControlDSC, Name: NTFSAccessEntry, Property: {"Path":"c:\\temp\\test","AccessControlList":[{"Principal":"Everyone","AccessControlEntry":""}]}
2025-07-24T04:31:29.303209Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 902: PID 27496:

Message        : Failed to serialize properties into CimInstance.
Data           : {}
InnerException :
TargetSite     : Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance SerializeIntoCimInstance(System.Management.Automation.Language.DynamicKeyword, Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ModuleSpecification, System.Collections.Hashtable)
StackTrace     :    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.SerializeIntoCimInstance(DynamicKeyword resourceInfo, ModuleSpecification moduleSpecification, Hashtable property)
                    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.CreateParametersCollection()
                    at Microsoft.PowerShell.DesiredStateConfiguration.Commands.InvokeDscResourceMethodCommand.ProcessRecord()
                    at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
HelpLink       :
Source         : Microsoft.Windows.DSC.CoreConfProviders
HResult        : -2146233076




2025-07-24T04:31:29.304567Z ERROR dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 896: PID 27496: Exception: Failed to serialize properties into CimInstance.
2025-07-24T04:31:29.322548Z DEBUG dsc_lib::dscresources::command_resource: 660: Process 'powershell' id 27496 exited with code 1
2025-07-24T04:31:29.323978Z ERROR dsc::subcommand: 75: Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

Environment data

7.6-preview4

Version

3.2.-preview3

Visuals

No response