# KRBTGT should have standard UAC settings (disabled account)

Security Risks of Non-Standard UAC:* - Enabled Account: KRBTGT should never be enabled - Delegation Flags: Could allow dangerous delegation configurations…

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-KRBTGT-03

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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 · Account security · <a href="/docs/tests">All checks</a></p>

```powershell title="Run this check"
Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-KRBTGT-03
```

## Overview

- The KRBTGT account must have specific User Account Control (UAC) settings to maintain security. The standard UAC value for KRBTGT is 514, which represents:

- **NORMAL_ACCOUNT (0x0200 = 512)**: Standard user account
- **ACCOUNTDISABLE (0x0002 = 2)**: Account is disabled
- **Combined: 514 (0x0202)**

**Security Risks of Non-Standard UAC:**
- **Enabled Account**: KRBTGT should never be enabled
- **Delegation Flags**: Could allow dangerous delegation configurations
- **Password Flags**: DONT_EXPIRE_PASSWORD could prevent required rotations
- **Tampering Indicator**: Non-standard UAC may suggest malicious modification

#### Control Type

**Preventive**

#### Security Recommendation

1. **Maintain standard UAC (514)**:
   - Account must remain disabled
   - No additional flags should be set
   - Regular audits of UAC settings

2. **Investigate non-standard UAC immediately**:
   - Determine who made changes
   - Assess if compromise has occurred
   - Reset UAC to standard value (514)

3. **Monitor for changes**:
   - Implement alerts for KRBTGT account modifications
   - Include UAC changes in security monitoring

#### How the Test Works

This test retrieves the KRBTGT account and:
- Compares current UAC against standard value (514)
- Decodes and displays all UAC flags
- Reports any non-standard configurations

#### Related Tests

- `Test-MtAdKrbtgtPasswordLastSet` - Checks KRBTGT password age
- `Test-MtAdKrbtgtLastLogon` - Verifies no interactive logons

## Details

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

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-KRBTGT-03 |
| Severity | Medium |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Account security |
| Area | Authentication |
| Resource type | User |
| User impact | Low |
| Implementation cost | Low |
| MITRE ATT&CK | T1098 Account Manipulation |
| Supports controls | nist-800-53-r5:CM-6 |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdKrbtgtNonStandardUacCount](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/security/Test.AD-KRBTGT-03.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Ldap:user:ReadProperty |

</details>

## Source

- Test: [`tests/ad/security/Test.AD-KRBTGT-03.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/security/Test.AD-KRBTGT-03.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/security/Test.AD-KRBTGT-03.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/security/Test.AD-KRBTGT-03.md)