# Enabled built-in administrator details should be investigated

Enabled built-in administrator style accounts provide immediate opportunities for misuse if their credentials are exposed.

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-USER-23

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

```powershell title="Run this check"
Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-USER-23
```

## Overview

Enabled built-in administrator style accounts provide immediate opportunities for misuse if their credentials are exposed. A simple inventory of active accounts in this category helps confirm whether emergency or legacy access remains enabled unnecessarily.

- **Exposure review**: Enabled privileged accounts increase attack surface.
- **Account validation**: Confirms which sensitive accounts remain active.
- **Operational control**: Supports decisions to disable or tightly restrict use.

#### Control Type

**Operational**

#### Security Recommendation

- Disable built-in administrator accounts when not required.
- If they must remain enabled, restrict sign-in paths and monitor all usage.
- Ensure password rotation, MFA-equivalent controls, and break-glass procedures are documented.

#### How the Test Works

This test returns enabled user accounts that match the built-in administrator RID (`-500`) or are marked as critical system objects.

#### Related Tests

- `Test-MtAdUserBuiltInAdminCount`
- `Test-MtAdUserBuiltInAdminLastLogonDetails`

## Details

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

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-USER-23 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Users |
| Area | Privileged access |
| Resource type | User |
| MITRE ATT&CK | T1078.001 Default Accounts |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdUserBuiltInAdminEnabledDetails](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/user/Test.AD-USER-23.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Ldap:user:ReadProperty |

</details>

## Source

- Test: [`tests/ad/user/Test.AD-USER-23.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/user/Test.AD-USER-23.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/user/Test.AD-USER-23.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/user/Test.AD-USER-23.md)