I’m collaborating with a tool that generates AD (Active Directory) accounts. The tool doesn’t have admin privileges, and I prefer it that way. However, it’s crucial that the tool can grant the newly created accounts the SeBatchLogonRight, which allows them to log in as a Batch Job user.
Is there a way to grant an unprivileged account the authority to modify the local security policy?
3 Answers
Introduction
Windows’ local security policy is a powerful tool that allows administrators to control the security of their systems. However, granting access to this tool can be tricky, especially if you want to give access to a non-administrator. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to grant a non-administrator access to Windows’ local security policy.
Understanding Local Security Policy
Before we dive into how to grant access to the local security policy, it’s essential to understand what it is and what it does. The local security policy is a set of rules that determine how a system is secured. This includes things like password policies, user rights, and audit policies.
The local security policy is managed through the Local Security Policy MMC snap-in or through Group Policy. By default, only administrators have access to modify the local security policy. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to grant access to non-administrators to make specific changes.
Using Group Policy
One way to grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy is by using Group Policy. Group Policy is a powerful tool that allows administrators to manage the security and configuration of their systems. By creating a Group Policy Object (GPO) and linking it to the appropriate organizational unit (OU), you can grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy.
To do this, you’ll need to create a new GPO and edit the appropriate settings. In this case, you’ll want to navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment. Here, you can add the non-administrator to the appropriate user right, such as “Log on as a batch job.”
Once you’ve made the necessary changes, link the GPO to the appropriate OU, and the non-administrator will have access to the local security policy.
Using Security Templates
Another way to grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy is by using security templates. Security templates are predefined sets of security configurations that can be applied to a system. By creating a custom security template that includes the necessary user rights, you can grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy.
To create a custom security template, you’ll need to use the Security Templates snap-in. Here, you can create a new template and edit the appropriate settings, such as the “Log on as a batch job” user right. Once you’ve created the template, you can apply it to the appropriate system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in.
Using SubInACL
If you don’t want to use Group Policy or security templates, you can use the SubInACL tool to grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy. SubInACL is a command-line tool that allows you to modify security descriptors on files, registry keys, and services.
To use SubInACL to grant access to the local security policy, you’ll need to run the following command:
subinacl /service servicename /grant=domainusername=F
Replace “servicename” with the name of the service that controls the local security policy, and “domainusername” with the appropriate non-administrator account. This command will grant the user “Full Control” over the service, which includes access to the local security policy.
Using PowerShell
Finally, you can use PowerShell to grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy. PowerShell is a powerful scripting tool that allows you to automate tasks and manage systems. By using the appropriate PowerShell cmdlets, you can grant access to the local security policy.
To grant access to the local security policy using PowerShell, you’ll need to use the following command:
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Security Settings" -Member domainusername
Replace “domainusername” with the appropriate non-administrator account. This command will add the user to the “Security Settings” group, which includes access to the local security policy.
Conclusion
Granting a non-administrator access to the local security policy can be a tricky task, but it’s essential in some cases. By using Group Policy, security templates, SubInACL, or PowerShell, you can grant a non-administrator the necessary access to modify the local security policy. However, it’s important to remember that granting access to the local security policy can be risky, so be sure to only grant access to trusted users and limit their permissions as much as possible.
There are a few different ways you can grant a non-administrator access to the local security policy in Windows:
- Assign the non-administrator account to the “Security Policy Operators” group: This group has permissions to edit the local security policy, but does not have the same level of access as an administrator. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the “Local Users and Groups” management console (Type “lusrmgr.msc” into the Start menu’s search bar and press Enter)
- In the left pane, click on the “Groups” folder
- In the right pane, right-click on the “Security Policy Operators” group and select “Add to Group”
- Click on the “Add” button
- Type the name of the non-administrator account you want to grant access to the security policy and click “Check Names” to verify the name
- Click “OK” to add the account to the group
- Use Group Policy to grant access to the security policy: You can use Group Policy to set permissions for the local security policy. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the “Group Policy Management Console” (Type “gpmc.msc” into the Start menu’s search bar and press Enter)
- In the left pane, expand the tree view until you see the Group Policy Object (GPO) you want to edit.
- In the right pane, right-click on the GPO and select “Edit”
- In the Group Policy Management Editor window, navigate to the following location: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment
- In the right pane, double-click on the “Manage auditing and security log” policy
- Click on the “Add User or Group” button
- Type the name of the non-administrator account you want to grant access to the security policy and click “Check Names” to verify the name
- Click “OK” to add the account to the policy
- Use the “runas” command: You can use the “runas” command to launch a program or command prompt as a different user. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the command prompt (Type “cmd” into the Start menu’s search bar and press Enter)
- Type the following command and press Enter:
runas /user:administrator mmc.exe
This will open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) as the administrator.
- In the MMC, go to File > Add/Remove Snap-in
- In the “Add or Remove Snap-ins” window, select “Security Configuration and Analysis” from the list of available snap-ins and click “Add”
- In the “Select a Group Policy Object” window, select the “Local computer” option and click “Finish”
- Click “OK” to close the “Add or Remove Snap-ins” window
- In the MMC, expand the “Security Configuration and Analysis” snap-in and click on the “Security Templates” folder
- In the right pane, right-click on the “Security Templates” folder and select “Add/Import Template”
- In the “Add/Import Template” window, select the local security policy template you want to use and click “Open”
- In the MMC, expand the “Security Configuration and Analysis” snap-in and click on the “Security Settings” folder
- In the right pane, double-click on the “User Rights Assignment” policy you want to edit
- Click on the “Add User”
- In the “User Rights Assignment Properties” window, click on the “Add User or Group” button
- Type the name of the non-administrator account you want to grant access to the security policy and click “Check Names” to verify the name
- Click “OK” to add the account to the policy
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes
Keep in mind that these methods will only grant the non-administrator access to the local security policy, and not the ability to log in as a batch job. To give the non-administrator account the “SeBatchLogonRight” user right assignment, you will need to follow the steps in one of the methods above and then assign the user right to the non-administrator account.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to grant an unprivileged account permission to modify the local security policy on Windows. This functionality is restricted to members of the local Administrators group, and there are no exposed settings to change this restriction. However, the service still needs to be able to assign the SeBatchLogonRight permission to newly created accounts.
It’s important to note that code responsible for creating or modifying permissions for other user accounts must have at least the same level of privileges as the permissions being assigned. It’s not logical for a process to grant privileges greater than the code itself possesses since the code already has those privileges by its ability to grant them.
Therefore, due to the restrictions on editing the local security policy, the service will require administrative-level permissions to perform its intended function.