Title

Windows must elevate all applications in User Account Control, not just signed ones. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

User Account Control (UAC) is a security mechanism for limiting the elevation of privileges, including administrative accounts, unless authorized. This setting configures whether Windows elevates all applications, not just signed ones.

Check Content

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.) Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for "User Account Control: Only elevate executables that are signed and validated" is not set to "Disabled", this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ Value Name: ValidateAdminCodeSignatures Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "User Account Control: Only elevate executables that are signed and validated" to "Disabled".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-48259r2_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-16008

Group Title: UAC - Application Elevations

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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