The Windows Server 2025 "Load and unload device drivers" user right must only be assigned to the Administrators group.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-278255 | SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125 | WN25-UR-000150 | SV-278255r1182223_rule | 2026-02-20 | 1 |
Description
Inappropriately granting user rights provides system, administrative, and other high-level capabilities.
The "Load and unload device drivers" user right allows a user to load device drivers dynamically on a system. This could be used by an attacker to install malicious code.
ℹ️ Check
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.
Run gpedit.msc.
Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> User Rights Assignment.
If any accounts or groups other than the following are granted the "Load and unload device drivers" user right, this is a finding:
- Administrators.
For server core installations, run the following command:
Secedit /Export /Areas User_Rights /cfg c:\path\filename.txt
Review the text file.
If any SIDs other than the following are granted the "SeLoadDriverPrivilege" user right, this is a finding:
S-1-5-32-544 (Administrators)
✔️ Fix
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> User Rights Assignment >> Load and unload device drivers to include only the following accounts or groups:
- Administrators.