2.3.17.4 Ensure 'User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation' is set to 'Enabled'

Information

This policy setting controls the behavior of application installation detection for the computer.

The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled.

Rationale:

Some malicious software will attempt to install itself after being given permission to run. For example, malicious software with a trusted application shell. The user may have given permission for the program to run because the program is trusted, but if they are then prompted for installation of an unknown component this provides another way of trapping the software before it can do damage

Impact:

When an application installation package is detected that requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter an administrative user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Enabled:

Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation

Default Value:

Disabled. (Default for enterprise. Application installation packages are not detected and prompted for elevation.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/14249

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7(5), 800-53|CM-11, CCE|CCE-35429-0, CSCv7|2.6, CSCv7|2.7

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 9590ddce2b1c5d96039a0927410fd6cdd944f93a8dc4742a214098f2a1220eb6