Formula
Group
OS
Keywords
NTLMWindowsActive DirectoryMicrosoft
Last edited time
May 27, 2024 7:34 AM
Slug
Status
In progress
Title
Code inside page
Github
👉 Overview
👀 What ?
Windows Force NTLM Privileged Authentication is a security feature of Microsoft's Windows operating system that forces certain user accounts to use NTLM (NT LAN Manager) authentication. NTLM is a suite of Microsoft security protocols meant to provide authentication, integrity, and confidentiality to users.
🧐 Why ?
This feature is essential because it helps protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access. By forcing privileged accounts to use NTLM authentication, Windows adds an extra layer of protection. This is because NTLM is a challenge-response authentication protocol, which means it doesn't send password credentials in plaintext over the network. Instead, it uses a three-way handshake, making it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
⛏️ How ?
To implement this feature, you need to navigate to the 'Local Security Policy' on your Windows system. From there, go to the 'Security Settings' -> 'Local Policies' -> 'Security Options'. Look for the policy named 'Network security: Force NTLMv2 session security if negotiated' and enable it.
⏳ When ?
The practice of forcing NTLM privileged authentication started with the introduction of the NTLMv2 protocol with Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 in 1996. It has since become a standard security measure in Windows systems.
⚙️ Technical Explanations
The NTLM authentication process works in three steps: negotiation, challenge, and authentication. In the negotiation phase, the client and server establish communication settings. During the challenge phase, the server generates and sends a challenge to the client, who must respond with proof of identity. In the final authentication phase, the server verifies this proof. By forcing privileged accounts to use this process, Windows NTLM Privileged Authentication adds a robust safeguard against unauthorized access. However, it's not foolproof and should be used alongside other security measures.