Controls/EDCA-IAC-005.json

{
  "id": "EDCA-IAC-005",
  "title": "RDP requires Network Level Authentication",
  "description": "Network Level Authentication (NLA) is an RDP security feature that requires users to authenticate with valid credentials before the Remote Desktop server allocates a full desktop session, moving authentication to the network layer before a session is established. Each Exchange server MUST require Network Level Authentication (NLA) for all Remote Desktop connections. NLA authenticates users before establishing a full desktop session, reducing the RDP attack surface.",
  "verify": true,
  "subject": "Server",
  "category": "Identity and Access Control",
  "severity": "High",
  "severityWeight": 8,
  "frameworks": [
    "CIS",
    "ANSSI",
    "BSI",
    "ISM"
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "name": "CIS Microsoft Windows Server 2019/2022/2025 Benchmarks",
      "url": "https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/microsoft_windows_server"
    },
    {
      "name": "NLA for Remote Desktop",
      "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/clients/remote-desktop-allow-access"
    },
    {
      "name": "CIS 18.10.28.3.8 (L1): Ensure 'Require user authentication for remote connections by using Network Level Authentication' is set to 'Enabled'",
      "url": "https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/microsoft_windows_server"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANSSI - Mise en œuvre sécurisée d'un serveur Windows membre AD DS (2025)",
      "url": "https://messervices.cyber.gouv.fr/guides/mise-en-oeuvre-securisee-dun-serveur-windows"
    },
    {
      "name": "BSI SYS.1.2.3.A6 — Sicherheit beim Fernzugriff über RDP",
      "url": "https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Grundschutz/IT-GS-Kompendium_Einzel_PDFs_2023/07_SYS_IT_Systeme/SYS_1_2_3_Windows_Server_Edition_2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile"
    },
    {
      "name": "ISM: Guidelines for System Hardening (ISM-1546)",
      "url": "https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/ism/cyber-security-guidelines/guidelines-for-system-hardening"
    }
  ],
  "remediation": {
    "automatable": true,
    "description": "Require NLA for RDP-Tcp endpoint.",
    "scriptTemplate": "Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Terminal Server\\WinStations\\RDP-Tcp' -Name UserAuthentication -Type DWord -Value 1"
  },
  "considerations": "Enabling Network Level Authentication (NLA) for RDP requires that connecting clients support CredSSP authentication. Very old RDP clients (pre-Vista) may not connect. Some RDP proxy solutions may require configuration updates. Test admin connectivity after enabling NLA before applying broadly.",
  "roles": [
    "Mailbox",
    "Edge"
  ]
}