Prevent specific applications from being run as administrator

Posted by Unsigned on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Unsigned
Published on 2012-09-09T21:21:40Z Indexed on 2012/09/18 21:42 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 139

Filed under:

Windows

|

uac

Background

Most installation toolkits have the ability to launch, automatically or otherwise, external programs after installation. This is often appears in the installer via such options as "Show readme", or "Start program".

Issue

The problem is, many of these installers are poorly coded, and do not drop permissions appropriately. For example, starting the application automatically, or opening the application's homepage in the browser, often results in launching the application or browser with the installer's Administrative privileges, or a "High" UAC integrity level!

This has the potential to open up security breaches, by opening up the installed application, or a web page (and possibly browser add-ons), that are now running with elevated permissions.

^{(This is the reason I strongly recommend never choosing auto-launch options when installing software.)}

Question

The question is: Is there a way to prevent certain applications (such as a web browser) from ever being launched with Administrative privileges, i.e., an automatic drop-privilege?

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about Windows

Server 2012 DFS New Member Issue

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I am trying to add a new member to our DFS topology. We have 3 DCs (VMs - VMware) running Windows server 2012, two servers are located in or Primary site and the third at our DR site. Currently the two servers at our primary site are currently replicating DFS (full mesh) and are working fine. I have… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
Microsoft Management Console stops working when I add snap-in to it

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have Windows 7 Ultimate OS. I'm opening mmc.exe as administrator and trying add Certificates or any other snap-in, then while loading that snap-in MMC breaks and displays following message and after that it closes automatically once I click on close button on that message. What could be the problem… >>> More
Handling keyboard and mouse input (Win API)

as seen on Game Development - Search for 'Game Development'
There is a number of ways to catch mouse or keyboard under Windows. So I tried some of them, but every of them has some advantages and drawbacks. I want to ask you: Which method do use? I've tried these: WM_KEYDOWN/WM_KEYUP - Main disadvantage is that, I can't distinguish between left and right-handed… >>> More

Related posts about uac

[GEEK SCHOOL] Network Security 2: Preventing Disaster with User Account Control

as seen on How to geek - Search for 'How to geek'
In this second lesson in our How-To Geek School about securing the Windows devices in your network, we will talk about User Account Control (UAC). Users encounter this feature each time they need to install desktop applications in Windows, when some applications need administrator permissions in order… >>> More
Win7: Always remember UAC choice for an application

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have some applications that I open from time to time, and I always get this UAC message with Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to this computer? Is there a way I can mark a single program so that won't ask me that again? Like, I think it is… >>> More
Windows Vista: turn off UAC dimming.

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I'm running Windows Vista HP 32-bit on my laptop right now (used to have Windows 7 Ultimate RC 32-bit). The thing is, I miss the fact that in Windows 7, UAC could be adjusted so that the whole screen doesn't dim when UAC activates. Is there software or a tweak that I could use to stop the whole… >>> More
Getting RINGING response on SIP UAC without sending it from the other UAC

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi, I hope this would be my last question about this SIP subject, I have managed to overcome the last issue I had by asking a friend to help me from a remote computer, I'm able to connect between the computers, but here is the thing, according to all the examples I saw, the Callee should invoke the… >>> More
A Quick-Start Guide of Process Mandatory Level Checking and Self-elevation under UAC

as seen on Code Project - Search for 'Code Project'
This example demonstrates how to check the privilege level of the current process, and how to self-elevate the process by giving explicit consent with the Consent UI. >>> More