Unauthorized accounts must not have the Debug programs user right.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
WN12-UR-000016	WN12-UR-000016	WN12-UR-000016_rule		High

Description
Inappropriate granting of user rights can provide system, administrative, and other high-level capabilities. Accounts with the "Debug programs" user right can attach a debugger to any process or to the kernel, providing complete access to sensitive and critical operating system components. This right is given to Administrators in the default configuration.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-25

Details

Check Text ( C-WN12-UR-000016_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 "Debug programs" user right, this is a finding: Administrators Severity Override: If an application requires this user right, this can be downgraded to a CAT III if the following conditions are met: Vendor documentation must support the requirement for having the user right. The requirement must be documented with the IAO. The application account must meet requirements for application account passwords, such as length (V-36661) and required changes frequency (V-36662).

Check Text ( C-WN12-UR-000016_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 "Debug programs" user right, this is a finding:

Administrators

Severity Override: If an application requires this user right, this can be downgraded to a CAT III if the following conditions are met:
Vendor documentation must support the requirement for having the user right.
The requirement must be documented with the IAO.
The application account must meet requirements for application account passwords, such as length (V-36661) and required changes frequency (V-36662).

Fix Text (F-WN12-UR-000016_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment -> "Debug programs" to only include the following accounts or groups: Administrators