Title

Windows Server 2019 Create symbolic links user right must only be assigned to the Administrators group. (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 expose the system to attack.

Check Content

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> 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 For server core installations, run the following command: Secedit /Export /Areas User_Rights /cfg c:\path\filename.txt Review the text file. If any SIDs other than the following are granted the "SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege" user right, this is a finding: S-1-5-32-544 (Administrators) Systems that have the Hyper-V role will also have "Virtual Machines" given this user right (this may be displayed as "NT Virtual Machine\Virtual Machines", SID S-1-5-83-0). This is not a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> User Rights Assignment >> "Create symbolic links" to include only the following accounts or groups: - Administrators Systems that have the Hyper-V role will also have "Virtual Machines" given this user right. If this needs to be added manually, enter it as "NT Virtual Machine\Virtual Machines".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-205756r958726_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-205756

Group Title: SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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