Active Directory Group Policy objects must be configured with proper audit settings.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-39325	WN12-AU-000207-DC	SV-51169r4_rule	ECAR-1 ECAR-2 ECAR-3	Medium

Description
When inappropriate audit settings are configured for directory service database objects, it may be possible for a user or process to update the data without generating any tracking data. The impact of missing audit data is related to the type of object. A failure to capture audit data for objects used by identification, authentication, or authorization functions could degrade or eliminate the ability to track changes to access policy for systems or data. For Active Directory (AD), there are a number of critical object types in the domain naming context of the AD database for which auditing is essential. This includes Group Policy objects. Because changes to these objects can significantly impact access controls or the availability of systems, the absence of auditing data makes it impossible to identify the source of changes that impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems throughout an AD domain. The lack of proper auditing can result in insufficient forensic evidence needed to investigate an incident and prosecute the intruder.

Description

When inappropriate audit settings are configured for directory service database objects, it may be possible for a user or process to update the data without generating any tracking data. The impact of missing audit data is related to the type of object. A failure to capture audit data for objects used by identification, authentication, or authorization functions could degrade or eliminate the ability to track changes to access policy for systems or data. For Active Directory (AD), there are a number of critical object types in the domain naming context of the AD database for which auditing is essential. This includes Group Policy objects. Because changes to these objects can significantly impact access controls or the availability of systems, the absence of auditing data makes it impossible to identify the source of changes that impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems throughout an AD domain. The lack of proper auditing can result in insufficient forensic evidence needed to investigate an incident and prosecute the intruder.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-09-02

Details

Check Text ( C-51917r2_chk )
Verify the auditing configuration for group policy objects. Open "Group Policy Management". (Available from various menus, or run "gpmc.msc".) Navigate to "Group Policy Objects" in the domain being reviewed (Forest > Domains > Domain). For each Group Policy object: Select the Group Policy Object item in the left pane. Select the Delegation tab in the right pane. Select the Advanced button. Select the Advanced button again and then the Auditing tab. If the audit settings for any Group Policy object are not at least as inclusive as those below, this is a finding. Type - Fail Principal - Everyone Access - Full Control Applies to - This object and all descendant objects or Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects The three Success types listed below are defaults inherited from the Parent Object. Where Special is listed in the summary screens for Access, detailed Permissions are provided for reference, various Properties selections may also exist by default. Type - Success Principal - Everyone Access - Special Inherited from - Parent Object Applies to - Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects (Access - Special = Permissions: Write all properties, Modify permissions) Two instances with the following summary information will be listed. Type - Success Principal - Everyone Access - (blank) Inherited from - Parent Object Applies to - Descendant Organization Unit Objects

Check Text ( C-51917r2_chk )

Verify the auditing configuration for group policy objects.

Open "Group Policy Management". (Available from various menus, or run "gpmc.msc".)
Navigate to "Group Policy Objects" in the domain being reviewed (Forest > Domains > Domain).

For each Group Policy object:
Select the Group Policy Object item in the left pane.
Select the Delegation tab in the right pane.
Select the Advanced button.
Select the Advanced button again and then the Auditing tab.

If the audit settings for any Group Policy object are not at least as inclusive as those below, this is a finding.

Type - Fail
Principal - Everyone
Access - Full Control
Applies to - This object and all descendant objects or Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects

The three Success types listed below are defaults inherited from the Parent Object. Where Special is listed in the summary screens for Access, detailed Permissions are provided for reference, various Properties selections may also exist by default.

Type - Success
Principal - Everyone
Access - Special
Inherited from - Parent Object
Applies to - Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects
(Access - Special = Permissions: Write all properties, Modify permissions)

Two instances with the following summary information will be listed.
Type - Success
Principal - Everyone
Access - (blank)
Inherited from - Parent Object
Applies to - Descendant Organization Unit Objects

Fix Text (F-53769r2_fix)
Configure the audit settings for Group Policy objects to include the following. Type - Fail Principal - Everyone Access - Full Control Applies to - This object and all descendant objects or Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects The three Success types listed below are defaults inherited from the Parent Object. Where Special is listed in the summary screens for Access, detailed Permissions are provided for reference, various Properties selections may also exist by default. Type - Success Principal - Everyone Access - Special Inherited from - Parent Object Applies to - Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects (Access - Special = Permissions: Write all properties, Modify permissions) Two instances with the following summary information will be listed. Type - Success Principal - Everyone Access - (blank) Inherited from - Parent Object Applies to - Descendant Organization Unit Objects

Fix Text (F-53769r2_fix)

Configure the audit settings for Group Policy objects to include the following.

Type - Fail
Principal - Everyone
Access - Full Control
Applies to - This object and all descendant objects or Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects

The three Success types listed below are defaults inherited from the Parent Object. Where Special is listed in the summary screens for Access, detailed Permissions are provided for reference, various Properties selections may also exist by default.

Type - Success
Principal - Everyone
Access - Special
Inherited from - Parent Object
Applies to - Descendant groupPolicyContainer objects
(Access - Special = Permissions: Write all properties, Modify permissions)

Two instances with the following summary information will be listed.
Type - Success
Principal - Everyone
Access - (blank)
Inherited from - Parent Object
Applies to - Descendant Organization Unit Objects