Title

User Account Control - Elevate UIAccess applications that are in secure locations (Cat II impact)

Discussion

This check verifies whether Windows only allows applications installed in a secure location, such as the Program Files or the Windows\System32 folders, on the file system to run with elevated privileges.

Check Content

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for “User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations” is not set to “Enabled”, then 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: EnableSecureUIAPaths Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations” to “Enabled”.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-14850r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-14239

Group Title: UAC - UIAccess Application Elevation

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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