[REQ-DC-139] Audit Policy: Detailed Tracking Auditing on Domain Controllers

Target Scope

• Applicable Systems: Domain Controllers
• Operating Systems: Windows Server 2016 (and above)

Implementation Details

• Priority: High
• GPO Path / Registry Location:
  • GPO Paths: Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Advanced Audit Policy Configuration\Audit Policies
  • Subcategory: Process Creation -> Success and Failure
  • Subcategory: DPAPI Activity -> Success and Failure
  • Subcategory: PNP Activity -> Success

Rationale

Detailed tracking records process creations and device arrivals to ensure EDR/SIEM visibility into executable command lines and hardware plug events.

Legacy Impact & Compatibility

• Event Log Volume: Verify that the local Security Event Log size is set to a minimum of 1GB on Domain Controllers to prevent rapid log rollover.

Implementation Steps

Option A: Group Policy Object (GPO) Configuration (Preferred)

1. Configure Advanced Audit Policy subcategory or registry override preferences matching:
   • Subcategory: Process Creation -> Success and Failure
   • Subcategory: DPAPI Activity -> Success and Failure
   • Subcategory: PNP Activity -> Success

Option B: PowerShell & Registry Configuration (Remediation / Non-GPO)

Download Script: Configure-DcAuditDetailedtracking.ps1

# Configure-DcAuditDetailedtracking.ps1
Write-Host "Applying Audit Policy category: detailed-tracking..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# Set Audit Subcategory: Process Creation
$Process = Start-Process auditpol -ArgumentList "/set /subcategory:`"Process Creation`" /success:enable /failure:enable" -Wait -NoNewWindow -PassThru
if ($Process.ExitCode -eq 0) {
    Write-Host "    Enforced subcategory Process Creation to Success and Failure" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
    Write-Error "    Failed to configure subcategory Process Creation. Exit Code: $($Process.ExitCode)"
}

# Set Audit Subcategory: DPAPI Activity
$Process = Start-Process auditpol -ArgumentList "/set /subcategory:`"DPAPI Activity`" /success:enable /failure:enable" -Wait -NoNewWindow -PassThru
if ($Process.ExitCode -eq 0) {
    Write-Host "    Enforced subcategory DPAPI Activity to Success and Failure" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
    Write-Error "    Failed to configure subcategory DPAPI Activity. Exit Code: $($Process.ExitCode)"
}

# Set Audit Subcategory: PNP Activity
$Process = Start-Process auditpol -ArgumentList "/set /subcategory:`"PNP Activity`" /success:enable /failure:disable" -Wait -NoNewWindow -PassThru
if ($Process.ExitCode -eq 0) {
    Write-Host "    Enforced subcategory PNP Activity to Success" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
    Write-Error "    Failed to configure subcategory PNP Activity. Exit Code: $($Process.ExitCode)"
}

To audit the hardening status: Download Script: Get-DcAuditDetailedtrackingStatus.ps1

# Get-DcAuditDetailedtrackingStatus.ps1
$script:Vulnerable = $false

# Audit Subcategory: Process Creation
$RawOutput = auditpol.exe /get /subcategory:"Process Creation" /r
if ($RawOutput -notmatch ",Process Creation,.*,(Success and Failure|Success & Failure)") {
    $script:Vulnerable = $true
}

# Audit Subcategory: DPAPI Activity
$RawOutput = auditpol.exe /get /subcategory:"DPAPI Activity" /r
if ($RawOutput -notmatch ",DPAPI Activity,.*,(Success and Failure|Success & Failure)") {
    $script:Vulnerable = $true
}

# Audit Subcategory: PNP Activity
$RawOutput = auditpol.exe /get /subcategory:"PNP Activity" /r
if ($RawOutput -notmatch ",PNP Activity,.*,Success") {
    $script:Vulnerable = $true
}

if ($script:Vulnerable) {
    Write-Output "Non-Compliant"
    exit 1
} else {
    Write-Output "Compliant"
    exit 0
}

Sources & Compliance References

• ANSSI Active Directory Hardening Guide: Recommendation R48
• CIS Windows Server Benchmark: Section 9 (Audit Policy)