SQL Server - error running 'sp_addsubscription' when not sysadmin Windows 2008 R2 
MSSQLSERVER 2012 (SP1) Standard


When running sp_addsubscription under account within db_owner role of both user and distribution databases, I get the following error:

Msg 14260, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_MSadd_subscriber_info, Line 44
You do not have sufficient permission to run this command. Contact your system administrator.
Msg 14042, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_MSrepl_addsubscriber, Line 342
Could not create Subscriber.

...despite books online (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181702.aspx) stating that “…db_owner fixed database role can execute sp_addsubscription”.

sp_addsubscription appears to kick off another sys procedure called sp_MSadd_subscriber_info which requires sysadmin:

-- Security Check
    IF IS_SRVROLEMEMBER ('sysadmin') != 1
    BEGIN
        -- "You do not have sufficient permission to run this command."
        RAISERROR(14260, 16, -1)
        RETURN 1
    END

Therefore, sp_addsubscription cannot be run without sysadmin seemingly.

I've also recreated this on a Windows 2012 R2 machine running MSSQLSERVER 2012 (standard). 

However, on a Windows 2012 R2 machine running MSSQLSERVER 2014, the issue does  NOT present itself.

Cannot find any information online on this. Is this a bug with earlier versions of windows / SQL does anyone know? Alternatively, am I missing something?
This is resolved by ensuring distributor_admin (or login it is replaced by) is in sysadmin server role