Domain controller: Allow server operators to schedule tasks
Applies to
- Windows Server
Describes the best practices, location, values, and security considerations for the Domain controller: Allow server operators to schedule tasks security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines whether server operators can use the at command to submit jobs. If you enable this policy setting, jobs that are created by server operators by means of the at command run in the context of the account that runs the Task Scheduler service. By default, that account is the Local System account.
Note: This security option setting affects only the scheduler tool for the at command. It does not affect the Task Scheduler tool.
Enabling this policy setting means jobs that are created by server operators through the at command will be executed in the context of the account that is running that service—by default, that is, the Local System account. This synchronization with the local account means that server operators can perform tasks that the Local System account is able to do, but server operators would normally not be able to do, such as add their account to the local Administrators group.
The impact of enabling this policy setting should be small for most organizations. Users, including those users in the Server Operators group, will still be able to create jobs by using the Task Scheduler Wizard, but those jobs will run in the context of the account that the user authenticates with when setting up the job.
Possible values
- Enabled
- Disabled
- Not defined
Best practices
- Best practices for this policy are dependent on your security and operational requirements for task scheduling.
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options
Default values
The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
| Server type or GPO | Default value |
|---|---|
| Default Domain Policy | Not defined |
| Default Domain Controller Policy | Not defined |
| Stand-Alone Server Default Settings | Not defined |
| DC Effective Default Settings | Not defined |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | Not defined |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | Not defined |
Policy management
This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy.
Restart requirement
None. Changes to this policy become effective without a device restart when they're saved locally or distributed through Group Policy.
Command-line tools
The at command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use the at command.
Security considerations
This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.
Vulnerability
Tasks that run under the context of the Local System account can affect resources that are at a higher privilege level than the user account that scheduled the task.
Countermeasure
Disable the Domain controller: Allow server operators to schedule tasks setting.
Potential impact
The impact should be small for most organizations. Users (including those users in the Server Operators group) can still create jobs through the Task Scheduler snap-in. However, those jobs run in the context of the account that the user authenticates with when setting up the job.