Network access Do not allow anonymous enumeration - Windows
10
By vinaypamnani-msft
Archived: 2026-04-05 16:25:34 UTC
Applies to
Windows 10
Describes the best practices, location, values, and security considerations for the Network access: Do not allow
anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines which other permissions will be assigned for anonymous connections to the device.
Windows allows anonymous users to perform certain activities, such as enumerating the names of domain
accounts and network shares. This permission is convenient, for example, when an administrator wants to give
access to users in a trusted domain that doesn't maintain a reciprocal trust. However, even with this policy setting
enabled, anonymous users will have access to resources with permissions that explicitly include the built-in group,
ANONYMOUS LOGON.
This policy setting has no impact on domain controllers. Misuse of this policy setting is a common error that can
cause data loss or problems with data access or security.
Possible values
Enabled
Disabled
No other permissions can be assigned by the administrator for anonymous connections to the device.
Anonymous connections will rely on default permissions. However, an unauthorized user could
anonymously list account names and use the information to attempt to guess passwords or perform social-engineering attacks.
Not defined
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/network-access-do-not-allow-anonymous-enumeration-of-sam-accounts-and-shares
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Default values
The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the
policy’s property page.
Server type or GPO Default value
Default Domain Policy Not defined
Default Domain Controller Policy Not defined
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings Disabled
DC Effective Default Settings Disabled
Member Server Effective Default Settings Disabled
Client Computer Effective Default Settings Disabled
Policy management
This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy.
Restart requirement
None. Changes to this policy become effective without a device restart when they're saved locally or distributed
through Group Policy.
Policy conflicts
Even with this policy setting enabled, anonymous users will have access to resources with permissions that
explicitly include the built-in group, ANONYMOUS LOGON (on systems earlier than Windows Server 2008 and
Windows Vista).
Group Policy
This policy has no impact on domain controllers.
Security considerations
This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the
countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.
Vulnerability
An unauthorized user could anonymously list account names and shared resources and use the information to
attempt to guess passwords or perform social-engineering attacks.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/network-access-do-not-allow-anonymous-enumeration-of-sam-accounts-and-shares
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Countermeasure
Enable the Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares setting.
Potential impact
It's impossible to grant access to users of another domain across a one-way trust because administrators in the
trusting domain are unable to enumerate lists of accounts in the other domain. Users who access file and print
servers anonymously are unable to list the shared network resources on those servers; the users must be
authenticated before they can view the lists of shared folders and printers.
Security Options
Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/network-access-do-not-allow-anonymous
-enumeration-of-sam-accounts-and-shares
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/network-access-do-not-allow-anonymous-enumeration-of-sam-accounts-and-shares
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