DOCUMENT:Q132679 10-DEC-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Local System Account and Null Sessions in Windows NT PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbusage ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= This article discusses the Local System account and its security implications, as well as a useful way to run applications in Local System security context. MORE INFORMATION ================ Background ---------- The shell application, which is typically Progman.exe, runs under the Domain\User security context. Most processes that start from the shell process inherit the same security context. When you set up Windows NT services, you choose a security context for the service to be started under (because these services are typically not started by a user). To check the security being used by a service: 1. Click Start, click Run, type "control panel" (without the quotation marks), and then double click Services. 2. Select a service, and then click Startup. The security context of the service is set in the Log On As window pane. Services Using The System Account --------------------------------- Services that use the system account start in the system context (without credentials). In Windows NT 3.5 and later, Windows NT services with no credentials (no domain name, user name, or password) that attempt to connect to network resources are denied access because they have no credentials and they are using a null session. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q122702 Using the System Account as a Service in Windows NT 3.5 NOTE: System Account and This Account: Local System use the same account. A null session is only established when there are no credentials for a process to start under (no user name or password). Typically, only the operating system itself runs as system. On the local computer, the operating system is known as: Default Owner: Administrators local group User: System pseudo group - local group scope Groups: Administrators local group Everyone pseudo group - local group scope When this context is used to access the network, a null session is used. This produces the following context on remote computers: Default Owner: Everyone User: Everyone Groups: AnonymousLogon pseudo group - local group scope Network pseudo group - local group scope Only three identifiers can provide the null session access (Everyone, AnonymousLogon, and Network). The local system context and null session context have only the identifier Everyone in common. To configure Windows NT so that a service can access objects on its own computer directly, as well as over the network, use the Everyone identifier. The default owners of these two contexts (as well as their default DACLs) are different. Any files you created in these contexts will be owned by Administrators. Any files you create through a null session will be owned by Everyone. Additional query words: prodnt localsystem username ====================================================================== Keywords : kbusage Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search Version : :3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.