User Account Control will only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations

From Windows Server 2008 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of UAC - UIAccess Application Elevation

Associated with: CCI-001084

SV-32384r1_rule User Account Control will only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations

Vulnerability discussion

This check verifies whether Windows only allows applications installed in a secure location, such as the Program Files or the Windows\System32 folders, on the file system to run with elevated privileges.

Check content

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for “User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations” is not set to “Enabled”, then this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ Value Name: EnableSecureUIAPaths Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations” to “Enabled”.

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