Outdated or unused accounts on Windows Server 2025 must be removed or disabled.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-278003 | SRG-OS-000118-GPOS-00060 | WN25-00-000190 | SV-278003r1182254_rule | 2026-02-20 | 1 |
Description
Outdated or unused accounts provide penetration points that may go undetected. Inactive accounts must be deleted if no longer necessary or, if still required, disabled until needed.
Satisfies: SRG-OS-000118-GPOS-00060, SRG-OS-000590-GPOS-00110
ℹ️ Check
Open Windows PowerShell.
Domain Controllers:
Enter "Search-ADAccount -AccountInactive -UsersOnly -TimeSpan 35.00:00:00".
This will return accounts that have not been logged on to for 35 days, along with various attributes such as the Enabled status and LastLogonDate.
Member servers and stand-alone or nondomain-joined systems:
Copy or enter the lines below to the PowerShell window and enter. (Entering twice may be required.)
([ADSI]('WinNT://{0}' -f $env:COMPUTERNAME)).Children | Where { $_.SchemaClassName -eq 'user' } | ForEach {
$user = ([ADSI]$_.Path)
$lastLogin = $user.Properties.LastLogin.Value
$enabled = ($user.Properties.UserFlags.Value -band 0x2) -ne 0x2
if ($lastLogin -eq $null) {
$lastLogin = 'Never'
}
Write-Host $user.Name $lastLogin $enabled
}
This will return a list of local accounts with the account name, last logon, and if the account is enabled (True/False).
For example: User1 10/31/2015 5:49:56 AM True
Review the list of accounts returned by the above queries to determine the finding validity for each account reported.
Exclude the following accounts:
- Built-in administrator account (Renamed, SID ending in 500).
- Built-in guest account (Renamed, Disabled, SID ending in 501).
- Application accounts.
If any enabled accounts have not been logged on to within the past 35 days, this is a finding.
Inactive accounts that have been reviewed and deemed to be required must be documented with the information system security officer (ISSO).
✔️ Fix
Regularly review accounts to determine if they are still active. Remove or disable accounts that have not been used in the last 35 days.