Remote calls to the Security Account Manager (SAM) must be restricted to Administrators.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-225013	WN16-MS-000310	SV-225013r877392_rule		Medium

Description
The Windows Security Account Manager (SAM) stores users' passwords. Restricting Remote Procedure Call (RPC) connections to the SAM to Administrators helps protect those credentials.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-08-22

Details

Check Text ( C-26704r857268_chk )
This applies to member servers and standalone or nondomain-joined systems. It is NA for domain controllers. 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: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\ Value Name: RestrictRemoteSAM Value Type: REG_SZ Value: O:BAG:BAD:(A;;RC;;;BA)

Fix Text (F-26692r857269_fix)
Navigate to the policy Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Network access: Restrict clients allowed to make remote calls to SAM". Select "Edit Security" to configure the "Security descriptor:". Add "Administrators" in "Group or user names:" if it is not already listed (this is the default). Select "Administrators" in "Group or user names:". Select "Allow" for "Remote Access" in "Permissions for "Administrators". Click "OK". The "Security descriptor:" must be populated with "O:BAG:BAD:(A;;RC;;;BA) for the policy to be enforced.

Fix Text (F-26692r857269_fix)

Navigate to the policy Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Network access: Restrict clients allowed to make remote calls to SAM".

Select "Edit Security" to configure the "Security descriptor:".

Add "Administrators" in "Group or user names:" if it is not already listed (this is the default).

Select "Administrators" in "Group or user names:".

Select "Allow" for "Remote Access" in "Permissions for "Administrators".

Click "OK".

The "Security descriptor:" must be populated with "O:BAG:BAD:(A;;RC;;;BA) for the policy to be enforced.