Detections
Analytics

2.2.18 Ensure 'Generate security audits' is set to 'LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE'

Warning! Audit Deprecated

This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

View Next Audit Version

Information

This policy setting determines which users or processes can generate audit records in the Security log.

The recommended state for this setting is: LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE.

Note: This user right is considered a 'sensitive privilege' for the purposes of auditing.

Rationale:

An attacker could use this capability to create a large number of audited events, which would make it more difficult for a system administrator to locate any illicit activity. Also, if the event log is configured to overwrite events as needed, any evidence of unauthorized activities could be overwritten by a large number of unrelated events.

Impact:

On most computers, this is the default configuration and there will be no negative impact. However, if you have installed Web Server (IIS), you will need to allow the IIS application pool(s) to be granted this user right.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration, set the following Device Configuration Policy to LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE:

To access the Device Configuration Policy from the Intune Home page:

Click Devices

Click Configuration profiles

Click Create profile

Select the platform (Windows 10 and later)

Select the profile (Endpoint protection)

Click Create

Enter a Name

Click Next

Configure the following Setting

Path: Endpoint protection/User Rights
Setting Name: Generate security audits
Configuration: LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE

Select OK

Continue through the Wizard to complete the creation of the profile (profile assignments, applicability etc.)

Note: More than one configuration setting from each of the Configuration profiles (ex: Administrative Templates, Custom etc.) can be added to each Device Configuration Policy.

Note #2: This setting can also be created via a Custom Configuration Profile using the following OMA-URI:

Name: <Enter name>
Description: <Enter Description>
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/UserRights/GenerateSecurityAudits
Data type: String
Value: LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE

Important: When there is more than one value that needs to be entered (ex: Guests, Administrator), the XML value of will need to be converted to US-ASCII to separate the values in the Value field of the Custom Device Configuration Policy. This value should convert to a square with a question mark in it (). Please note that when copied from the converter to Intune a square will appear, but the value will still work. Also note that this value cannot be copied from sources like Microsoft Word. We recommend that the value be copied and used directly from the converter.

Select OK

Continue through the Wizard to complete the creation of the profile (profile assignments, applicability etc.)

Note #3: The following link is an alternative way to set the 'User Rights Assignment' section. Policy CSP - UserRights - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Docs

Default Value:

LOCAL SERVICE, NETWORK SERVICE.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/4161

Item Details

References: CSCv7|6.2

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 395f2a5da972f29fd37238c12638d4462be6fc44be057d18a7feb0eaea0ebfa0