User Account Control must, at a minimum, prompt administrators for consent on the secure desktop.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-73711	WN16-SO-000480	SV-88375r1_rule		Medium

Description
User Account Control (UAC) is a security mechanism for limiting the elevation of privileges, including administrative accounts, unless authorized. This setting configures the elevation requirements for logged-on administrators to complete a task that requires raised privileges.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2019-12-12

Details

Check Text ( C-73793r1_chk )
UAC requirements are NA for Server Core installations (this is default installation option for Windows Server 2016 versus Server with Desktop Experience) as well as Nano Server. 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: ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000002 (2) (Prompt for consent on the secure desktop) 0x00000001 (1) (Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop)

Check Text ( C-73793r1_chk )

UAC requirements are NA for Server Core installations (this is default installation option for Windows Server 2016 versus Server with Desktop Experience) as well as Nano Server.

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: ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000002 (2) (Prompt for consent on the secure desktop)
0x00000001 (1) (Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop)

Fix Text (F-80161r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode" to "Prompt for consent on the secure desktop". The more secure option for this setting, "Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop", would also be acceptable.