Title

Unauthorized accounts must not have the Create symbolic links user right. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Inappropriate granting of user rights can provide system, administrative, and other high level capabilities. Accounts with the "Create symbolic links" user right can create pointers to other objects, which could potentially expose the system to attack.

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 -> User Rights Assignment. If any accounts or groups other than the following are granted the "Create symbolic links" user right, this is a finding: Administrators

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment -> "Create symbolic links" to only include the following accounts or groups: Administrators

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-48493r2_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-26482

Group Title: Create symbolic links

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.