Active Directory data files must have proper access control permissions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-8316	WN12-AD-000001-DC	SV-51175r2_rule	ECAN-1 ECCD-1 ECCD-2	High

Description
Improper access permissions for directory data related files could allow unauthorized users to read, modify, or delete directory data or audit trails.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-12-19

Details

Check Text ( C-46601r1_chk )
Verify the permissions on the content of the NTDS directory. Open the registry editor (regedit). Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters. Note the directory locations in the values for: Database log files path DSA Database file By default they will be \Windows\NTDS. If the locations are different, the following will need to be run for each. Open an elevated command prompt (Win+x, Command Prompt (Admin)). Navigate to the NTDS directory (\Windows\NTDS by default). Run "icacls .". If the permissions on each file are not as follows, this is a finding. NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F) (I) - permission inherited from parent container (F) - full access File Explorer should not be used to attempt to view permissions of the NTDS folder. Accessing the folder through File Explorer will change the permissions on the folder.

Check Text ( C-46601r1_chk )

Verify the permissions on the content of the NTDS directory.

Open the registry editor (regedit).
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters.
Note the directory locations in the values for:
Database log files path
DSA Database file

By default they will be \Windows\NTDS. If the locations are different, the following will need to be run for each.

Open an elevated command prompt (Win+x, Command Prompt (Admin)).
Navigate to the NTDS directory (\Windows\NTDS by default).
Run "icacls *.*".

If the permissions on each file are not as follows, this is a finding.
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F)
BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F)

(I) - permission inherited from parent container
(F) - full access

File Explorer should not be used to attempt to view permissions of the NTDS folder. Accessing the folder through File Explorer will change the permissions on the folder.

Fix Text (F-44332r1_fix)
Ensure the permissions on NTDS database and log files are maintained as follows. NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F) (I) - permission inherited from parent container (F) - full access