Applies to
- Windows Server
This article describes the best practices, location, values, and security considerations for the Domain controller: LDAP server signing requirements security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines whether the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server requires LDAP clients to negotiate data signing.
Unsigned network traffic is susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, where an intruder captures packets between the server and the client device and modifies them before forwarding them to the client device. In the example of an LDAP server, a malicious user can cause a client device to make decisions based on false records from the LDAP directory. You can lower this risk in a corporate network by implementing strong physical security measures to protect the network infrastructure. Furthermore, implementing Internet Protocol security (IPsec) Authentication Header mode, which provides mutual authentication and packet integrity for IP traffic, can make all types of man-in-the-middle attacks difficult.
This setting doesn't have any impact on LDAP simple bind through SSL (LDAP TCP/636).
If signing is required, then LDAP simple binds not using SSL are rejected (LDAP TCP/389).
Caution: If you set the server to Require signature, you must also set the client device. Not setting the client device results in loss of connection with the server.
Possible values
- None. Data signatures aren't required to bind with the server. If the client computer requests data signing, the server supports it.
- Require signature. The LDAP data-signing option must be negotiated unless Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL) is in use.
- Not defined.
Best practices
- We recommend that you set Domain controller: LDAP server signing requirements to Require signature. Clients that don't support LDAP signing will be unable to execute LDAP queries against the domain controllers.
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 | None |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | None |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | None |
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.
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
Unsigned network traffic is susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. In such attacks, an intruder captures packets between the server and the client device, modifies them, and then forwards them to the client device. Regarding LDAP servers, an attacker could cause a client device to make decisions that are based on false records from the LDAP directory. To lower the risk of such an intrusion in an organization's network, you can implement strong physical security measures to protect the network infrastructure. You could also implement Internet Protocol security (IPsec) Authentication Header mode, which performs mutual authentication and packet integrity for IP traffic to make all types of man-in-the-middle attacks difficult.
Countermeasure
Configure the Domain controller: LDAP server signing requirements setting to Require signature.
Potential impact
Client devices that don't support LDAP signing can't run LDAP queries against the domain controllers.