Title

Windows Server 2019 User Account Control (UAC) must virtualize file and registry write failures to per-user locations. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

UAC is a security mechanism for limiting the elevation of privileges, including administrative accounts, unless authorized. This setting configures non-UAC-compliant applications to run in virtualized file and registry entries in per-user locations, allowing them to run.

Check Content

UAC requirements are NA for Server Core installations (this is the default installation option for Windows Server 2019 versus Server with Desktop Experience). If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ Value Name: EnableVirtualization Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000001 (1)

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "User Account Control: Virtualize file and registry write failures to per-user locations" to "Enabled".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-205720r569188_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-205720

Group Title: SRG-OS-000134-GPOS-00068

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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