Windows 7 How to start an application from a service running in LOCAL SERVICE account?

[Anirban]

How to start an application from a service running in LOCAL SERVICE account?
Due to service hardening in Win 7 it is giving access denied error.

 

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To start an application from a service running under the LOCAL SERVICE account in Windows 7, you might encounter issues due to security restrictions. The LOCAL SERVICE account is a built-in account that has limited permissions and restrictions for security purposes. Here are some steps you can take to address the "access denied" error when starting an application from a service running under the LOCAL SERVICE account: 1. Change Service Account: Consider running the service under a different account with sufficient privileges to start the application. 2. Grant Necessary Permissions: - Security Permissions: Ensure that the application and its directory have appropriate security permissions for the LOCAL SERVICE account to execute it. - Registry Permissions: If the application interacts with the registry, ensure that the necessary registry keys have permissions set for the LOCAL SERVICE account. 3. Use a Proxy Application: Create a separate application that runs with elevated privileges and communicates with the service to start the required application. This proxy application can be configured to run with the necessary permissions. 4. Explicitly Set Permissions: - Grant necessary permissions explicitly in the security settings for the application executable and any related files or directories. - Use tools like icacls or cacls in Command Prompt to set permissions if needed. 5. Debugging: Enable auditing to identify the exact resource (file, registry key, etc.) that is causing the access denied error. Use tools like Process Monitor to track down the specific permission issue. 6. Run as Administrator: You can try setting the service to run with elevated privileges (Run as Administrator), but this should be done carefully considering security implications. Please note that modifying security settings and permissions should be done with caution, as it can impact the overall security and stability of the system. Be sure to test any changes in a controlled environment before deploying them in a production environment. If you continue to face issues, you may need to consult with your IT department or a security professional to ensure that the changes made comply with security policies and best practices.