Book Image

Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP

By : Russell Smith
Book Image

Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP

By: Russell Smith

Overview of this book

Least Privilege Security is the practice of assigning users and programs the minimum permissions required to complete a given task. Implementing this principle in different versions of Microsoft Windows requires careful planning and a good understanding of Windows security. While there are benefits in implementing Least Privilege Security on the desktop, there are many technical challenges that you will face when restricting privileges.This book contains detailed step-by-step instructions for implementing Least Privilege Security on the desktop for different versions of Windows and related management technologies. It will provide you with quick solutions for common technical challenges, Microsoft best practice advice, and techniques for managing Least Privilege on the desktop along with details on the impact of Least Privilege Security.The book begins by showing you how to apply Least Privilege Security to different categories of users. You will then prepare a desktop image with Least Privilege Security enabled from the start and deploy the new image while preserving users' files and settings. You will identify problems with applications caused by Least Privilege Security using the Application Compatibility Toolkit. This book will help you configure User Account Control on multiple computers using Group Policy and support Least Privilege user accounts using reliable remote access. Then, you will modify legacy applications for Least Privilege Security, achieving the best balance between compatibility and security by using Application Compatibility shims. You will install per-machine ActiveX Controls using the ActiveX Installer Service (AxIS). The book will help you implement best practices for working with ActiveX Controls in a managed environment. Finally, you will deploy default Software Restriction Policy (SRP) or AppLocker rules to ensure only programs installed in protected locations can run and blacklist applications using SRP or AppLocker.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
12
Provisioning Applications on Secure Desktops with Remote Desktop Services

User Account Control access token model


The concept of a protected administrator account is new to Windows, and the access token model needs to be understood to support and troubleshoot UAC effectively.

Standard user access token

When a standard user logs in to Vista, Explorer is launched with the standard user's access token. However, when the user wants to elevate an application, as in Windows XP and Windows 2000, the Run as administrator command can be invoked through a right-click in Explorer and alternative credentials must be entered to start the process with a user account that has administrative privileges. There is no split or filtered token. Therefore, the elevated process is running with a different access token than that of the standard user who logged in and started the desktop session.

Note

Explorer

Explorer is the process that is used to present the desktop, sometimes referred to as the Windows Shell, to the end user. Explorer also refers to the application that is used to...