Question

protect file against administrators on windows

Asked by: seva

User "joe" wants to deny the built-in group Administrators all access to
some particular file which is owned by user "joe".
Therefore, joe opens explorer -> file properties -> security and deletes
"Administrators" and "System" from the list of trusted users and groups.

Is there any way for an administrator to circumvent that (like there is some
security policy that can be changed to allow adminsitrators the access even
if they are not in the file trustee list) ?

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Asked On
2006-03-07 at 13:19:54ID21764419
Tags

windows

,

file

,

protect

,

users

Topic

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
3
Points
200
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: sevaPosted on 2006-03-07 at 14:12:45ID: 16128240

One correction: I mean a file on NTFS, since there is no security attributes
qssociated with a file on FAT.

 

by: eaperezhPosted on 2006-03-07 at 14:18:20ID: 16128303

A file will be initially denied access to administators if "joe" removes the administrators permissions. However, administrators have *always* the chance to "Change ownership" of the file back to the admin group and re-establish read/write perms.
also, a domain policy can also revert back those "joe" changes.

A very high domain policy can remove the admins group with the priviledge to "change owership" but you must have someone in your office with permission to take control, otherwise you will end up having files no one can access if that employee leaves the office.

 

by: KellyCraigPosted on 2006-03-07 at 14:30:06ID: 16128419

Well.
Lets put it this way.
Here is the tree of permission.

-Admins=God
--Power Users
---Users
----Restricted Users/Guests

You can tell the computer that no one below you can read the file and they cant do anything abtou it, as they are no longer on the tree.

-Admins=God
--Power Users

But if you tell the computer that Admins cant read the file, thats just temporary as the Admin is still on the tree

-Admins=God
--Power Users

The admin then just adds themselfs to the list again and most likely boots you.

-Admins=God

But the only way to keep them out of it is to encrypt it or passowrd protect it with a key only you have.
Note: Don't use the password you use to login, they knwo that one :p

Hope that helps.

 

by: eaperezhPosted on 2006-03-07 at 15:02:27ID: 16128690

It is a common (and we sysadmin like it) mistake to belive that the IT guys cannot watch you on the network. That's why I keep preaching that IT must be the most well paid personnel in an organization....
CEO=God (remeber he can always give you a pink slip)
CIO=God's right hand
IT guys= God's left hand, CIO's right hand, right and left foot, arms and legs.

 

by: FermionPosted on 2006-03-07 at 15:13:58ID: 16128776

One role of an administrator is to have access to issues in a computing environment in order to properly perform their functions.
Whether or not this access extends to "private" files is somewhat up to the policy of the organization, but Federal Law states that any and all activities on a computer within a business environment is subject to full inspection at any time by authorized personel in/outside that business. In other words, in most business computing environments, "private" is a legally moot term.
As an administrator myself, I am suspect of employee encrypted files. Why?
First, confidential business related info that an employee works with will be encrypted under company standards, not theirs. So, when I find a "private" file I ask myself 2 questions:

Why have they chosen to encrypt the file(s) outside of company inspection?
What potential risk does this file(s) present to the whole organization?

 

by: sevaPosted on 2006-03-07 at 15:15:57ID: 16128791

Kelly,

what do you mean "they know your password"?
I understand they can change your password, but how could they know it?

 

by: eaperezhPosted on 2006-03-07 at 19:32:01ID: 16130100

Seva: there are many brute force NTLM password crackers that given today's CPU power, a complex password may be recovered without your knowledge in a matter of minutes (less than 8 positions) or in a matter of hours or days (given an already precompiled password hash DB like the one l0pht has).

Also, there are a thousand ways an admin can install sniffers without your being aware of. However that's why you hire people that you can trust.

However there is no way to "know" the password in Windows 2k. You must crack it.

 

by: eaperezhPosted on 2006-03-07 at 19:32:39ID: 16130105

Oh, thanks for the points!!!


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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