17.4.2 Ensure 'Audit Directory Service Access' is set to include 'Success and Failure' (STIG DC only)

Information

This subcategory reports when an AD DS object is accessed. Only objects with SACLs cause audit events to be generated, and only when they are accessed in a manner that matches their SACL. These events are similar to the directory service access events in previous versions of Windows Server. This subcategory applies only to Domain Controllers. Events for this subcategory include:

- 4662 : An operation was performed on an object.

The recommended state for this setting is to include: Success and Failure

Note: The CIS recommended state for this setting is: Failure which differs from the STIG recommended state.

Auditing these events may be useful when investigating a security incident.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to include Success and Failure :

Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Advanced Audit Policy Configuration\Audit Policies\DS Access\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/benchmarks/15301