Cis Azure Foundations 5.3.3

Ensure use of the 'User Access Administrator' role is restricted

Description

The User Access Administrator role grants the ability to view all resources and manage access assignments at any subscription or management group level within the tenant. Due to its high privilege level, this role assignment should be removed immediately after completing the necessary changes at the root scope to minimize security risks.

Rationale

The User Access Administrator role provides extensive access control privileges. Unnecessary assignments heighten the risk of privilege escalation and unauthorized access. Removing the role immediately after use minimizes security exposure.

Impact

Increased administrative effort to manage and remove role assignments appropriately.

Audit Procedure

Using Azure Portal

1. From Azure Home select the Portal Menu.
2. Select Subscriptions.
3. Select a subscription.
4. Select Access control (IAM).
5. Look for the following banner at the top of the page: Action required: X users have elevated access in your tenant. You should take immediate action and remove all role assignments with elevated access. If the banner is displayed, the User Access Administrator is assigned.

Using Azure CLI

az role assignment list --role "User Access Administrator" --scope "/"

Ensure that the command does not return any User Access Administrator role assignment information.

Expected Result

No users should have the User Access Administrator role assigned at the root scope ("/"). The Azure CLI command should return an empty result, and no banner warning should appear in the Azure Portal.

Remediation

Remediate from Azure Portal

1. From Azure Home select the Portal Menu.
2. Select Subscriptions.
3. Select a subscription.
4. Select Access control (IAM).
5. Look for the following banner at the top of the page: Action required: X users have elevated access in your tenant. You should take immediate action and remove all role assignments with elevated access.
6. Click View role assignments.
7. Click Remove.

Remediate from Azure CLI

az role assignment delete --role "User Access Administrator" --scope "/"

Default Value

The User Access Administrator role is not assigned by default.

References

1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/built-in-roles
2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/elevate-access-global-admin

CIS Controls

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Level 1 | Automated