auditpol.exe

What is auditpol.exe?

auditpol.exe is a Windows command-line utility used to inspect and adjust the local security audit policy. It enables administrators to enable, disable, and configure which event categories and subcategories generate audit records, and to view current policy settings. It does not collect data by itself but controls what gets logged.

auditpol.exe communicates with the local security policy store to query and modify audit categories and subcategories. Commands modify category/subcategory flags and ensure changes propagate to the policy cache and event log sources.

Types of Auditpol Actions

• Policy Query: auditpol /get /category:* displays current audit settings for all categories
• Policy Update: auditpol /set /subcategory:<sub> /success /failure configures logging for a specific subcategory
• Policy Restore: auditpol /restore restores a previously exported policy state
• Status Check: auditpol /Get /category:* shows the effectiveness of current auditing rules and their state

Is auditpol.exe Safe?

Yes, auditpol.exe is safe when sourced from Microsoft and located in C:\Windows\System32. It’s a legitimate Windows utility for auditing policy.

Is auditpol.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real auditpol.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may mimic its name. Always verify the digital signature and location.

How to Tell if auditpol.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\auditpol.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\auditpol.exe. Any auditpol.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "Microsoft Corporation".
3. Resource Usage: Typically minimal CPU and memory usage since it’s a CLI tool invoked on demand.
4. Behavior: Auditpol.exe should not run in the background without user action. Unprompted activity can indicate tampering.

Why Is auditpol.exe Running on My PC?

auditpol.exe runs when an administrator or security component queries or modifies the local audit policy. It does not autonomously generate events, but is invoked to adjust what gets logged.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Policy Review: An administrator or service is querying current audit settings to verify compliance or troubleshoot issues.
• Policy Update: A command was issued to enable or disable specific audit subcategories or events.
• Policy Refresh: Windows or services refresh local audit policy following changes or during startup.
• Compliance Scans: Security tooling checks audit policy to ensure logging meets regulatory requirements.
• System Maintenance: Routine maintenance or scripting tasks call auditpol to document policy state before/after changes.

Can I Disable or Remove auditpol.exe?

Yes, you can disable the ability to modify audit policy by restricting access to auditpol.exe. You cannot fully uninstall a built-in Windows utility, but you can limit its usage.

How to Stop auditpol.exe

• Avoid Invocation: Do not run auditpol.exe; since it is a CLI, there is no persistent background process to stop.
• Restrict Permissions: Deny read/execute permissions for non-administrative users on C:\Windows\System32\auditpol.exe
• Group Policy Controls: Use Local Group Policy to restrict scripts or tasks that call auditpol.exe
• Monitor Tool Usage: Enable auditing of process creation to detect unexpected auditpol.exe invocations
• Education and Policy: Document and enforce who can modify audit policy within your organization

How to Remove Auditpol?

• ✔ auditpol.exe is a built-in Windows component and cannot be uninstalled individually.
• ✔ To minimize exposure, restrict access to the executable and disable any scripts or tasks that call it.
• ✔ If necessary for compliance, consider deploying a managed policy that prevents non-approved changes to audit settings.
• ✔ System-wide removal would require OS reinstallation, which is not recommended solely to remove auditpol.exe.

Common Problems: Audit Policy Changes Not Applying

If audit policy changes don’t take effect after running auditpol, check rights, policy scope, and refresh behavior.

Common Causes & Solutions

• Insufficient privileges: Run auditpol with administrative rights (elevated CMD/PowerShell).
• Incorrect category or subcategory: Verify exact category/subcategory names with auditpol /get /category:* before applying changes.
• Policy cache not refreshed: Force a policy refresh or restart the system to apply changes to the event log sources.
• Group Policy conflicts: Check for conflicting Group Policy settings that override local audit settings.
• Corrupt policy store: Use system tools to repair the security policy store or restore from a known-good backup.
• Audit log saturation: Adjust log size, archival settings, or filter categories to reduce volume and ensure new events are recorded.

Related Processes