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The Create symbolic links user right must only be assigned to the Administrators group.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-225555 WN12-UR-000015 SV-225555r569185_rule Medium
Description
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.
STIG Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-03-01

Details

Check Text ( C-27254r472007_chk )
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

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"). This is not a finding.
Fix Text (F-27242r472008_fix)
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

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".