Certificate template hardening involves implementing security best practices and configurations for AD CS certificate templates to reduce the risk of misuse, unauthorized access, and potential exploitation.

• Prevents unauthorized certificate issuance
• Mitigates risks associated with ESC1 and other template-related vulnerabilities
• Enhances overall AD CS security posture
• Helps maintain compliance with security standards and best practices

1. Audit Existing Templates

   Review all certificate templates for potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

   Copy command

   certutil -v -template | findstr /i "msPKI-Certificate-Name-Flag" | findstr /i "CT_FLAG_ENROLLEE_SUPPLIES_SUBJECT"

2. Remove Unnecessary Templates

   Disable or delete templates that are not actively used or required.

   Copy command

   certutil -v -template TemplateName -delete

3. Restrict Enrollment Permissions

   Limit who can request certificates from sensitive templates.

   Copy command

   dsacls "CN=TemplateName,CN=Certificate Templates,CN=Public Key Services,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=domain,DC=com" /G "DOMAIN\Group:CA;Enroll"

4. Implement Strong Naming Conventions

   Use clear, descriptive names for templates that indicate their purpose and security level.

5. Enable Certificate Template Auditing

   Turn on auditing for all certificate template modifications and access attempts.

   Copy command

   auditpol /set /subcategory:"Certification Services" /success:enable /failure:enable

• Use the principle of least privilege when assigning permissions
• Regularly review and update template configurations
• Implement strong authentication for certificate requests
• Use separate templates for different purposes and security levels
• Implement a change management process for template modifications