Windows Server 2022 User Account Control (UAC) must only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-254487	WN22-SO-000430	SV-254487r958518_rule		Medium

Description
UAC is a security mechanism for limiting the elevation of privileges, including administrative accounts, unless authorized. This setting configures Windows to only allow applications installed in a secure location on the file system, such as the Program Files or the Windows\System32 folders, to run with elevated privileges.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-06-14

Details

Check Text ( C-57972r849275_chk )
UAC requirements are NA for Server Core installations (this is the default installation option for Windows Server 2022 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: EnableSecureUIAPaths Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000001 (1)

Check Text ( C-57972r849275_chk )

UAC requirements are NA for Server Core installations (this is the default installation option for Windows Server 2022 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: EnableSecureUIAPaths

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000001 (1)

Fix Text (F-57923r849276_fix)
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".