STIGQter: STIG Summary: Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

Windows Server 2025 permissions on the Active Directory data files must only allow system administrators (SAs) access.

DISA Rule

SV-278138r1182081_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-278138

Group Title

SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

Rule Version

WN25-DC-000070

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

CCI-002235 - Prevent non-privileged users from executing privileged functions.
CCI-001314 - Reveal error messages only to organization-defined personnel or roles.

Weight

Fix Recommendation

Maintain the permissions on NTDS database and log files as follows:

NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F)
BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F)

(I) - permission inherited from parent container
(F) - full access

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This applies to domain controllers. It is not applicable for other systems.

Run "Regedit".

Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters".

Note the directory locations in the values for:

Database log files path
DSA Database file

By default, they will be \Windows\NTDS.

If the locations are different, run the following for each:

Open "command prompt (Admin)".

Navigate to the NTDS directory (\Windows\NTDS by default).

Run "icacls *.*".

If the permissions on each file are not as restrictive as the following, this is a finding:

NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F)
BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F)

(I) - permission inherited from parent container
(F) - full access

Windows Server 2025 permissions on the Active Directory data files must only allow system administrators (SAs) access.

DISA Rule

Vulnerability Number

Group Title

Rule Version

Severity

CCI(s)

Weight

Fix Recommendation

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Vulnerability Number

Documentable

Rule Version

Severity Override Guidance

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Target Key