Detections
Analytics

1.1.1.2.2.1 Set 'Audit directory service access' to 'Failure'

Information

This policy setting determines whether to audit user access to an Active Directory object that has its own specified system access control list (SACL). If you define the Audit directory service access setting, you can specify whether to audit successes, failures, or not audit the event type at all. Success audits generate an audit entry when a user successfully accesses an Active Directory object that has a specified SACL. Failure audits generate an audit entry when a user unsuccessfully attempts to access an Active Directory object that has a specified SACL. If you enable the Audit directory service access setting in the DCBP and configure SACLs on directory objects, a large volume of entries can be generated in the Security logs on domain controllers. You should only enable this setting if you actually intend to use the information that is created. The following includes important security events that the Audit directory service access setting records in the Security log: Event ID Event description ID Description 566 A generic object operation took place. If audit settings are not configured, it can be difficult or impossible to determine what occurred during a security incident. However, if audit settings are configured so that events are generated for all activities the Security log will be filled with data and hard to use. Also, you can use a large amount of data storage as well as adversely affect overall computer performance if you configure audit settings for a large number of objects. If failure auditing is used and the Audit: Shut down system immediately if unable to log security audits setting in the Security Options section of Group Policy is enabled, an attacker could generate millions of failure events such as logon failures in order to fill the Security log and force the computer to shut down, creating a Denial of Service. If security logs are allowed to be overwritten, an attacker can overwrite part or all of their activity by generating large numbers of events so that the evidence of their intrusion is overwritten.

Solution

To implement the recommended configuration state, set the following Group Policy setting to Failure.

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy\Audit directory service access

Impact- If no audit settings are configured, or if audit settings are too lax on the computers in your organization, security incidents might not be detected or not enough evidence will be available for network forensic analysis after security incidents occur. However, if audit settings are too severe, critically important entries in the Security log may be obscured by all of the meaningless entries and computer performance and the available amount of data storage may be seriously affected. Companies that operate in certain regulated industries may have legal obligations to log certain events or activities.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/42

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-12, CCE|CCE-2827-4

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 8e65dd1b1d370c38175c10e772b3605d0e71d7ee24cde239c30a250ad9d8dc2e