Question

SUPPORT_388945a0 - can this be deleted safely?

Asked by: advanceIT

All,

A highly respected security organisation, one of our customers, recommended this account be deleted off our Windows 2000/Exchange 55 and Windows 2003/Exchange 2003 servers.

However, a Microsoft contact advised us to not delete it as it could impact scripts running on the system, under certain circumstances.

Can anyone advise as to whether deleting this account has caused issues for anyone?

Rgds

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Asked On
2005-09-29 at 00:54:41ID21578038
Tags

support_388945a0

,

account

Topic

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: jvuzPosted on 2005-09-29 at 01:01:23ID: 14981841

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread31921.html

"I did some searching and found that it is an account that users in the Administrators group can assign rights to. When signed scripts get called from Help and Support Services pages, the scripts receive the rights of that account. So, in a nutshell, it cannot be used as a standard user. It is a very specific-use account. Got to love MS for that."

 

by: jvuzPosted on 2005-09-29 at 01:02:25ID: 14981845

http://www.toggit.com/290/290kguide6.asp

 Support_388945a0

The Support_388945a0 account is primarily used to control access to signed scripts that are accessible from within Help and Support Services. Administrators can use this account to delegate the ability for an ordinary user, who does not have administrative access over a computer, to run signed scripts from links embedded within Help and Support Services. These scripts can be programmed to use the Support_388945a0 account credentials instead of the users credentials to perform specific administrative operations on the local computer that otherwise would not be supported by the ordinary users account.

 

by: huntersvcsPosted on 2005-09-29 at 02:07:54ID: 14982141

The following is taken from this site, the translation I did myself (sorry for any mistakes):

http://www.giza-web.de/html/benutzeranmeldung-windows-xp.html#SUPPORT_388945a0

Der Support User “SUPPORT_388945a0”
Spionageverfechter und Menschen die Ihre Kunden erschrecken wollen, sehen oft das Benutzerkonto "SUPPORT_388945a0" als Microsoft-Hintertür. Dies ist in meinen Augen mehr als Panikmache. Es ist absolut als ungefährlich einzustufen! Das sowohl in der Home- als auch Professional-Edition existierende Konto SUPPORT_388945a0 dient laut Microsoft dazu, in die Online-Hilfe von XP aktive Inhalte eines OEM-Partners mit eingeschränkten Rechten, einbinden zu können.

Ich wette, Sie haben noch nicht mal dieses Konto bemerkt, oder?

Normalerweise ist dieses Konto gesperrt. Der Benutzer darf sich weder lokal noch übers Netzwerk anmelden. Das einzige Recht, das XP ihm zugesteht, ist das Anmelden als Stapelverarbeitungsauftrag.

OK, ich sehe es ja ein, die Existenz eines Benutzerkontos, das Sie nicht selber angelegt haben und dessen Nutzen eventuell zweifelhaft ist, ist schwer einzusehen. Sollten Sie daher dennoch ein unwohles Gefühl haben, dann Löschen Sie dieses Benutzerkonto in der Benutzerverwaltung und schließen Sie damit eine mögliches Sicherheitsleck in Ihr System. Aber beschweren Sie sich anschließen nicht beim Supporter, dass er Ihnen nicht helfen kann ;-)



Rough Translation:

Hackers and people who want to scare your customers often mistake the SUPPORT_388945a0 account as a Microsoft "Backdoor".  In my opinion this causes unwarranted panic.  It should absolutely be categorized as SAFE.  The existence of this account in both the Home and Professional versions of XP is, according to Microsoft, to provide connectivity to Online Help Files from OEM Partners for users without admin rights.

I'll bet you haven't even noticed this account.

Normally, this account is deactivated.  The user cannot logon either locally or over a network.  The only privilege XP authorizes this account is to start as a batch job.

OK, I can see the insecurity evoked by the existence of a user account that you didn't create yourself and the questionable use of such an account.  In the event you are still uneasy about the existence of this account, then delete this user account – thereby closing a POSSIBLE security risk.  But don't complain later if certain Support measures no longer work properly

 

by: huntersvcsPosted on 2006-01-29 at 02:45:49ID: 15816878

I think I pretty much answered this question, but have had no feedback since it was asked.  It might be time to close this one out unless we get something further.

 

by: jvuzPosted on 2006-01-29 at 23:35:31ID: 15821678

So, the explanation I gave wasn't good?

 

by: huntersvcsPosted on 2006-01-29 at 23:57:16ID: 15821740

Didn't mean that jvuz.  Just thought this one was a bit old and we since we got no feedback I think the mods should close this one out.

 

by: jvuzPosted on 2006-01-30 at 00:02:06ID: 15821756

OK, sorry, I ask myself often, why there are people that ask a auestion, but don't seem to be interested in the answer. It's a pity.

Jvuz

 

by: huntersvcsPosted on 2006-01-30 at 00:29:17ID: 15821853

I agree!  I just took a quick look through my comment history.  I've got one that has been left open since November 2004!

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Security/Q_21214120.html

The person asking the question got all kinds of useful advice, but never reacted.  Many people were trying to help.  No feedback - never closed out or points awarded -- nothing.

A real waste of time and effort.  Fortunately, the majority are not like that :=)

 

by: TolomirPosted on 2006-03-08 at 14:26:26ID: 16139320

@ huntersvcs {http:#15821853}: NP, we take care of it :-)

You question is already closed.

Tolomir CV

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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