Detections
Analytics

18.10.58.3.10.1 Ensure 'Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services sessions' is set to 'Enabled: 15 minutes or less, but not Never (0)'

Information

This policy setting allows you to specify the maximum amount of time that an active Remote Desktop Services session can be idle (without user input) before it is automatically disconnected.

The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled: 15 minutes or less, but not Never (0).

Rationale:

This setting helps to prevent active Remote Desktop sessions from tying up the computer for long periods of time while not in use, preventing computing resources from being consumed by large numbers of inactive sessions. In addition, old, forgotten Remote Desktop sessions that are still active can cause password lockouts if the user's password has changed but the old session is still running. For systems that limit the number of connected users (e.g. servers in the default Administrative mode - 2 sessions only), other users' old but still active sessions can prevent another user from connecting, resulting in an effective denial of service.

Impact:

Remote Desktop Services will automatically disconnect active but idle sessions after 15 minutes (or the specified amount of time). The user receives a warning two minutes before the session disconnects, which allows the user to press a key or move the mouse to keep the session active. Note that idle session time limits do not apply to console sessions.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration, set the following Device Configuration Policy to Enabled:15 minutes or less, but not Never (0):

To access the Device Configuration Policy from the Intune Home page:

Click Devices

Click Configuration profiles

Click Create profile

Select the platform (Windows 10 and later)

Select the profile (Administrative Templates)

Click Create

Enter a Name

Click Next

Configure the following Setting

Path: Computer Configuration\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Session Time Limits
Setting Name: Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services sessions
Configuration: Enabled: 15 minutes or less, but not Never (0)

Select OK

Continue through the Wizard to complete the creation of the profile (profile assignments, applicability etc.)

Note: More than one configuration setting from each of the Configuration profiles (ex: Administrative Templates, Custom etc.) can be added to each Device Configuration Policy.

Default Value:

Disabled. (Remote Desktop Services allows sessions to remain active but idle for an unlimited amount of time.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/14355

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-11, CSCv7|16.11

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 1b6580f678bb2c674dc40872ba38101e62abb815b3978df6eeefb094661c8716