KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q324396: PRB: SAK Server Managers Group Security Issue

Article: Q324396
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 24-JUL-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Server Appliance Kit (SAK) Add On Pack Version 2.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

On systems with the Role-Based user interface (UI) installed, a user who is a
member of the Server Managers group can run applications under the System
account. This results in the administrative credentials of the user being
elevated to local system administrator. Therefore, members of the Server
Managers group must be treated as members of the Administrators group.

RESOLUTION
==========

Administrators must not put users who are not trustworthy into the Server
Managers group.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that
are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Server Managers have full access to the Microsoft Internet Information Services
(IIS) Metabase through Active Directory Server Interfaces (ADSI) or Microsoft
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) calls from Active Server Pages (ASP).
Web sites can be configured to run with full System privileges. Therefore,
members of the Server Managers group can gain Administrator access to the
server.

The role of the Server Managers can be used to limit the Web UI for a group of
users who must create Web sites and Web users. However, members of the Server
Managers group must be treated as having full administrative credentials.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q248187 HOWTO: Impersonate a User from the Active Server Pages

Additional query words: role based administrator server managers

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSAKAdd200
Version           : :
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.