Create a token object
Applies to
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management, and security considerations for the Create a token object security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines which accounts a process can use to create a token, and which accounts it can then use to gain access to local resources when the process uses NtCreateToken() or other token-creation APIs.
When a user signs in to the local device or connects to a remote device through a network, Windows builds the user’s access token. Then the system examines the token to determine the level of the user's privileges. When you revoke a privilege, the change is immediately recorded, but the change isn't reflected in the user's access token until the next time the user logs on or connects.
Constant: SeCreateTokenPrivilege
Possible values
- User-defined list of accounts
- Not Defined
Best practices
- This user right is used internally by the operating system. Unless it's necessary, don't assign this user right to a user, group, or process other than Local System.
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment
Default values
This user right is used internally by the operating system. By default, it isn't assigned to any user groups.
The following table lists the actual and effective default policy values. 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 |
| Domain Controller Effective Default Settings | Local System |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | Local System |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | Local System |
Policy management
A restart of the device isn't required for this policy setting to be effective.
Any change to the user rights assignment for an account becomes effective the next time the owner of the account logs on.
Group Policy
Settings are applied in the following order through a Group Policy Object (GPO), which will overwrite settings on the local computer at the next Group Policy update:
- Local policy settings
- Site policy settings
- Domain policy settings
- OU policy settings
When a local setting is greyed out, it indicates that a GPO currently controls that setting.
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
Caution: A user account that is given this user right has complete control over the system, and it can lead to the system being compromised. We highly recommend that you do not assign this right to any user accounts.
Windows examines a user's access token to determine the level of the user's privileges. Access tokens are built when users sign in to the local device or connect to a remote device over a network. When you revoke a privilege, the change is immediately recorded, but the change isn't reflected in the user's access token until the next time the user logs on or connects. Users with the ability to create or modify tokens can change the level of access for any account on a computer if they're currently logged on. They could escalate their privileges or create a DoS condition.
Countermeasure
Don't assign the Create a token object user right to any users. Processes that require this user right should use the Local System account, which already includes it, instead of a separate user account that has this user right assigned.
Potential impact
None. Not Defined is the default configuration.