Windows Server 2019 LAN Manager authentication level must be configured to send NTLMv2 response only and to refuse LM and NTLM.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
high	V-205919	SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227	WN19-SO-000310	SV-205919r991589_rule	2025-02-25	3

Description
The Kerberos v5 authentication protocol is the default for authentication of users who are logging on to domain accounts. NTLM, which is less secure, is retained in later Windows versions for compatibility with clients and servers that are running earlier versions of Windows or applications that still use it. It is also used to authenticate logons to standalone or nondomain-joined computers that are running later versions.

Description

The Kerberos v5 authentication protocol is the default for authentication of users who are logging on to domain accounts. NTLM, which is less secure, is retained in later Windows versions for compatibility with clients and servers that are running earlier versions of Windows or applications that still use it. It is also used to authenticate logons to standalone or nondomain-joined computers that are running later versions.

ℹ️ Check
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\ Value Name: LmCompatibilityLevel Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000005 (5)

✔️ Fix
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Network security: LAN Manager authentication level" to "Send NTLMv2 response only. Refuse LM & NTLM".