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Deny log on locally

Applies to

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10

Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management, and security considerations for the Deny log on locally security policy setting.

Reference

This policy setting determines which users are prevented from logging on directly at the device's console.

Constant: SeDenyInteractiveLogonRight

Possible values

  • User-defined list of accounts
  • Not defined

Best practices

  1. Assign the Deny log on locally user right to the local guest account to restrict access by potentially unauthorized users.
  2. Test your modifications to this policy setting in conjunction with the Allow log on locally policy setting to determine if the user account is subject to both policies.

Location

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment

Default values

The following table lists the actual and effective default policy values for the most recent supported versions of Windows. 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 Not defined
Member Server Effective Default Settings Not defined
Client Computer Effective Default Settings Not defined

Policy management

This section describes features, tools, and guidance to help you manage this policy.

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.

If you apply this policy setting to the Everyone group, no one will be able to sign in locally.

Group Policy

This policy setting supersedes the Allow log on locally policy setting if a user account is subject to both policies.

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:

  1. Local policy settings
  2. Site policy settings
  3. Domain policy settings
  4. 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

Any account with the ability to sign in locally could be used to sign in at the console of the device. If this user right isn't restricted to legitimate users who must sign in to the console of the device, unauthorized users might download and run malicious software that elevates their user rights.

Countermeasure

Assign the Deny log on locally user right to the local Guest account. If you have installed optional components such as ASP.NET, you may want to assign this user right to other accounts that are required by those components.

Potential impact

If you assign the Deny log on locally user right to other accounts, you could limit the abilities of users who are assigned to specific roles in your environment. However, this user right should explicitly be assigned to the ASPNET account on devices that are configured with the Web Server role. You should confirm that delegated activities aren't adversely affected.