# Default query policy should be retrievable

The default query policy sets baseline resource constraints for LDAP operations.

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-CFG-07

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<div class="test-byline"><div class="test-byline-avatars"><a class="test-byline-avatar test-byline-avatar--author" href="/contributors/soulemike" title="Michael Soule · Original author"><img src="https://github.com/soulemike.png" alt="Michael Soule" width="28" height="28" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /></a></div><div class="test-byline-meta"><span class="test-byline-text">Contributed by <a href="/contributors/soulemike">Michael Soule</a></span><a class="test-byline-link" href="/contributors">All contributors →</a></div></div>

<p class="test-part">Part of <a href="/docs/tests/ad">Active Directory</a> · Active Directory · Directory configuration · <a href="/docs/tests">All checks</a></p>

```powershell title="Run this check"
Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-CFG-07
```

## Overview

The **default query policy** sets baseline resource constraints for LDAP operations. If defaults are overly permissive, AD can be more vulnerable to availability attacks and performance degradation from:

- Large/inefficient LDAP searches
- High-frequency query patterns
- Legitimate admin/service queries running with insufficient guardrails

Proper limits reduce the impact of both **misuse** and **mistakes**, improving DC resilience during incidents.

#### Control Type

**Operational**

#### Security Recommendation
- Review the default query policy and ensure it matches your organization’s acceptable performance envelope.
- Keep defaults conservative, then selectively allow exceptions only where required.
- Re-validate defaults after upgrades, migrations, or schema/config changes.

#### How the Test Works
This test retrieves the default LDAP query policy values and reports them as an analyzable metric so administrators can confirm baseline limits are configured as intended.

#### Related Tests
- `Test-MtAdLdapQueryPolicyCount` - Ensures query policy coverage/consistency across partitions.

## Details

<details>
<summary>Every attribute of this check</summary>

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-CFG-07 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Directory configuration |
| Area | Infrastructure hardening |
| Resource type | Tenant |
| MITRE ATT&CK | None |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdDefaultQueryPolicy](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-07.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Ldap:Configuration/*:ReadProperty |

</details>

## Source

- Test: [`tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-07.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-07.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-07.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/config/Test.AD-CFG-07.md)