Important Changes to Windows Domain Controller Security Settings
In May 2022, Microsoft rolled out critical security updates to Windows, addressing several vulnerabilities identified as CVE-2022-34691, CVE-2022-26931, and CVE-2022-26923. These vulnerabilities pertain to elevation of privilege (EoP) flaws that specifically target the servicing processes of certificate-based authentication systems employed in the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC).
The issue particularly affected Windows Domain Controllers (DCs), which failed to recognize the dollar sign (“$”) at the end of machine names. This oversight created an opportunity for cybercriminals to spoof certificates in various malicious ways. In response, Microsoft introduced a series of updates over the past few years to facilitate a smoother transition for IT administrators, all while maintaining system compatibility.
Upcoming Patch Tuesday Updates
As of September 9, significant changes are set to take effect with the next Patch Tuesday updates. Notably, the Key Distribution Center registry key will be deemed unsupported. As a short-term workaround introduced back in May 2022, Microsoft provided the StrongCertificateBindingEnforcement registry key. This key enabled IT admins to continue utilizing certificate-based mappings and authentication, albeit only in Compatibility mode, allowing for various methods of user authenticity validation and fallback mechanisms based on defined values.
Impact of Certificate Backdating Key
In addition to the StrongCertificateBindingEnforcement key, another registry key known as CertificateBackdatingCompensation will also see changes in September. This key, which similarly aimed to support Compatibility mode, allowed for user authentication even with weaker certificate mappings as long as the certificate time predated the user’s creation time. However, following the forthcoming updates, the use of weak certificate mappings will be prohibited. The rationale behind this change is logical, given that the previous settings effectively disabled a vital security check.
Transition from Compatibility Mode
It is crucial for IT administrators to note that once Full Enforcement mode has been activated after September 10, reverting to Compatibility mode will not be an option. This change emphasizes Microsoft’s commitment to improving the security posture of Windows Domain Controllers, ensuring that organizations are not just compliant but also secure against potential threats.
For more detailed insights regarding these changes, IT professionals managing Windows Domain Controllers are encouraged to consult Microsoft’s comprehensive guidance.
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