Bypass traverse checking
Updated: May 8, 2013
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista
This security policy reference topic for the IT professional describes the best practices, location, values, policy management, and security considerations for this policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines which users (or a process that acts on behalf of the user’s account) have permission to navigate an object path in the NTFS file system or in the registry without being checked for the Traverse Folder special access permission. This user right does not allow the user to list the contents of a folder. It only allows the user to traverse folders to access permitted files or subfolders.
This policy setting is supported on versions of Windows that are designated in the Applies To list.
Constant: SeChangeNotifyPrivilege
Possible values
User-defined list of accounts
Not Defined
Best practices
Use access–based enumeration when you want to prevent users from seeing any folder or file to which they do not have access.
Use the default settings of this policy in most cases. If you change the settings, verify your intent through testing.
Location
GPO_name\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 |
Administrators Authenticated Users Everyone Local Service Network Service Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Access |
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings |
Administrators Backup Operators Users Everyone Local Service Network Service |
Domain Controller Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Authenticated Users Everyone Local Service Network Service Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Access |
Member Server Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Backup Operators Users Everyone Local Service Network Service |
Client Computer Effective Default Settings |
Administrators Backup Operators Users Everyone Local Service Network Service |
Operating system version differences
There are no differences in the way this policy setting works between supported versions of Windows.
Policy management
Permissions to files and folders are controlled though the appropriate configuration of file system access control lists (ACLs).The ability to traverse the folder does not provide any Read or Write permissions to the user.
A restart of the computer is not 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.
Group Policy
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:
Local policy settings
Site policy settings
Domain policy settings
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
The default configuration for the Bypass traverse checking setting is to allow all users to bypass traverse checking. Permissions to files and folders are controlled though the appropriate configuration of file system access control lists (ACLs) because the ability to traverse the folder does not provide any Read or Write permissions to the user. The only scenario in which the default configuration could lead to a mishap would be if the administrator who configures permissions does not understand how this policy setting works. For example, the administrator might expect that users who are unable to access a folder are unable to access the contents of any child folders. Such a situation is unlikely, and, therefore, this vulnerability presents little risk.
Countermeasure
Organizations that are extremely concerned about security may want to remove the Everyone group, and perhaps the Users group, from the list of groups that have the Bypass traverse checking user right. Taking explicit control over traversal assignments can be an effective way to limit access to sensitive information. Access–based enumeration can also be used. If you use access–based enumeration, users cannot see any folder or file to which they do not have access. For more information about this feature, see Access-based Enumeration.
Potential impact
The Windows operating systems and many applications were designed with the expectation that anyone who can legitimately access the computer will have this user right. Therefore, we recommend that you thoroughly test any changes to assignments of the Bypass traverse checking user right before you make such changes to production systems. In particular, IIS requires this user right to be assigned to the Network Service, Local Service, IIS_WPG, IUSR_<ComputerName>, and IWAM_<ComputerName> accounts. (It must also be assigned to the ASPNET account through its membership in the Users group.) We recommend that you leave this policy setting at its default configuration.