Using Process.Start() to start a process as a different user from within a Windows Service

Question

I'd like to periodically run an arbitrary .NET exe under a specified user account from a Windows Service.

So far I've got my windows service running with logic to decide what the target process is, and when to run it. The target process is started in the following manner:

1. The Windows Service is started using "administrator" credentials.
2. When the time comes, an intermediate .NET process is executed with arguments detailing which process should be started (filename, username, domain, password).
3. This process creates a new System.Diagnostics.Process, associates a ProcessStartInfo object filled with the arguments passed to it, and then calls Start() on the process object.

The first time this happens, the target process executes fine and then closes normally. Every subsequent time however, as soon as the target process is started it throws the error "Application failed to initalize properly (0xc0000142)". Restarting the Windows Service will allow the process to run successfully once again (for the first execution).

Naturally, the goal is to have target process execute successfully every time.

Regarding step 2 above: To run a process as a different user .NET calls the win32 function CreateProcessWithLogonW. This function requires a window handle to log the specified user in. Since the Windows Service isn't running in Interactive Mode it has no window handle. This intermediate process solves the issue, as it has a window handle which can be passed to the target process.

Please, no suggestions of using psexec or the windows task planner. I've accepted my lot in life, and that includes solving the problem in the manner stated above.

Answer 1

I seem to have a working implementation (Works On My Machine(TM)) for the following scenarios:

Batch File, .NET Console Assembly, .NET Windows Forms application.

Here's how:

I have a windows service running as the Administrator user. I add the following policies to the Administrator user:

• Log on as a service
• Act as part of the operating system
• Adjust memory quotas for a process
• Replace a process level token

These policies can be added by opening Control Panel/ Administrative Tools / Local Security Policy / User Rights Assignment. Once they are set, the policies don't take effect until next login. You can use another user instead of the Administrator, which might make things a bit safer :)

Now, my windows service has the required permissions to start jobs as other users. When a job needs to be started the service executes a seperate assembly ("Starter" .NET console assembly) which initiates the process for me.

The following code, located in the windows service, executes my "Starter" console assembly:

Process proc = null; System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo info; string domain = string.IsNullOrEmpty(row.Domain) ? "." : row.Domain; info = new ProcessStartInfo("Starter.exe"); info.Arguments = cmd + " " + domain + " " + username + " " + password + " " + args; info.WorkingDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(cmd); info.UseShellExecute = false; info.RedirectStandardError = true; info.RedirectStandardOutput = true; proc = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(info); 

The console assembly then starts the target process via interop calls:

class Program {     #region Interop      [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]     public struct LUID     {         public UInt32 LowPart;         public Int32 HighPart;     }      [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]     public struct LUID_AND_ATTRIBUTES     {         public LUID Luid;         public UInt32 Attributes;     }      public struct TOKEN_PRIVILEGES     {         public UInt32 PrivilegeCount;         [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst = 1)]         public LUID_AND_ATTRIBUTES[] Privileges;     }      enum TOKEN_INFORMATION_CLASS     {         TokenUser = 1,         TokenGroups,         TokenPrivileges,         TokenOwner,         TokenPrimaryGroup,         TokenDefaultDacl,         TokenSource,         TokenType,         TokenImpersonationLevel,         TokenStatistics,         TokenRestrictedSids,         TokenSessionId,         TokenGroupsAndPrivileges,         TokenSessionReference,         TokenSandBoxInert,         TokenAuditPolicy,         TokenOrigin,         TokenElevationType,         TokenLinkedToken,         TokenElevation,         TokenHasRestrictions,         TokenAccessInformation,         TokenVirtualizationAllowed,         TokenVirtualizationEnabled,         TokenIntegrityLevel,         TokenUIAccess,         TokenMandatoryPolicy,         TokenLogonSid,         MaxTokenInfoClass     }      [Flags]     enum CreationFlags : uint     {         CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB = 0x01000000,         CREATE_DEFAULT_ERROR_MODE = 0x04000000,         CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE = 0x00000010,         CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP = 0x00000200,         CREATE_NO_WINDOW = 0x08000000,         CREATE_PROTECTED_PROCESS = 0x00040000,         CREATE_PRESERVE_CODE_AUTHZ_LEVEL = 0x02000000,         CREATE_SEPARATE_WOW_VDM = 0x00001000,         CREATE_SUSPENDED = 0x00000004,         CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT = 0x00000400,         DEBUG_ONLY_THIS_PROCESS = 0x00000002,         DEBUG_PROCESS = 0x00000001,         DETACHED_PROCESS = 0x00000008,         EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT = 0x00080000     }      public enum TOKEN_TYPE     {         TokenPrimary = 1,         TokenImpersonation     }      public enum SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL     {         SecurityAnonymous,         SecurityIdentification,         SecurityImpersonation,         SecurityDelegation     }      [Flags]     enum LogonFlags     {         LOGON_NETCREDENTIALS_ONLY = 2,         LOGON_WITH_PROFILE = 1     }      enum LOGON_TYPE     {         LOGON32_LOGON_INTERACTIVE = 2,         LOGON32_LOGON_NETWORK,         LOGON32_LOGON_BATCH,         LOGON32_LOGON_SERVICE,         LOGON32_LOGON_UNLOCK = 7,         LOGON32_LOGON_NETWORK_CLEARTEXT,         LOGON32_LOGON_NEW_CREDENTIALS     }      enum LOGON_PROVIDER     {         LOGON32_PROVIDER_DEFAULT,         LOGON32_PROVIDER_WINNT35,         LOGON32_PROVIDER_WINNT40,         LOGON32_PROVIDER_WINNT50     }      #region _SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES     //typedef struct _SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES {       //    DWORD nLength;       //    LPVOID lpSecurityDescriptor;       //    BOOL bInheritHandle;     //} SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES,  *PSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES,  *LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES;     #endregion     struct SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES     {         public uint Length;         public IntPtr SecurityDescriptor;         public bool InheritHandle;     }      [Flags] enum SECURITY_INFORMATION : uint     {         OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION        = 0x00000001,         GROUP_SECURITY_INFORMATION        = 0x00000002,         DACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION         = 0x00000004,         SACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION         = 0x00000008,         UNPROTECTED_SACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION = 0x10000000,         UNPROTECTED_DACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION = 0x20000000,         PROTECTED_SACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION   = 0x40000000,         PROTECTED_DACL_SECURITY_INFORMATION   = 0x80000000     }      #region _SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR     //typedef struct _SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR {     //  UCHAR  Revision;     //  UCHAR  Sbz1;     //  SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR_CONTROL  Control;     //  PSID  Owner;     //  PSID  Group;     //  PACL  Sacl;     //  PACL  Dacl;     //} SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR, *PISECURITY_DESCRIPTOR;     #endregion     [StructLayoutAttribute(LayoutKind.Sequential)]     struct SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR     {         public byte revision;         public byte size;         public short control; // public SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR_CONTROL control;         public IntPtr owner;         public IntPtr group;         public IntPtr sacl;         public IntPtr dacl;     }      #region _STARTUPINFO     //typedef struct _STARTUPINFO {       //    DWORD cb;       //    LPTSTR lpReserved;       //    LPTSTR lpDesktop;       //    LPTSTR lpTitle;       //    DWORD dwX;       //    DWORD dwY;       //    DWORD dwXSize;       //    DWORD dwYSize;       //    DWORD dwXCountChars;       //    DWORD dwYCountChars;       //    DWORD dwFillAttribute;       //    DWORD dwFlags;       //    WORD wShowWindow;       //    WORD cbReserved2;       //    LPBYTE lpReserved2;       //    HANDLE hStdInput;       //    HANDLE hStdOutput;       //    HANDLE hStdError;      //} STARTUPINFO,  *LPSTARTUPINFO;     #endregion     struct STARTUPINFO     {         public uint cb;         [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)]         public string Reserved;         [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)]         public string Desktop;         [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)]         public string Title;         public uint X;         public uint Y;         public uint XSize;         public uint YSize;         public uint XCountChars;         public uint YCountChars;         public uint FillAttribute;         public uint Flags;         public ushort ShowWindow;         public ushort Reserverd2;         public byte bReserverd2;         public IntPtr StdInput;         public IntPtr StdOutput;         public IntPtr StdError;     }      #region _PROCESS_INFORMATION     //typedef struct _PROCESS_INFORMATION {       //  HANDLE hProcess;       //  HANDLE hThread;       //  DWORD dwProcessId;       //  DWORD dwThreadId; }      //  PROCESS_INFORMATION,  *LPPROCESS_INFORMATION;     #endregion     [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]     struct PROCESS_INFORMATION     {         public IntPtr Process;         public IntPtr Thread;         public uint ProcessId;         public uint ThreadId;     }      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]     static extern bool InitializeSecurityDescriptor(IntPtr pSecurityDescriptor, uint dwRevision);     const uint SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR_REVISION = 1;      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]     static extern bool SetSecurityDescriptorDacl(ref SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR sd, bool daclPresent, IntPtr dacl, bool daclDefaulted);      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]     extern static bool DuplicateTokenEx(         IntPtr hExistingToken,         uint dwDesiredAccess,         ref SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpTokenAttributes,         SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL ImpersonationLevel,         TOKEN_TYPE TokenType,         out IntPtr phNewToken);      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]     public static extern bool LogonUser(         string lpszUsername,         string lpszDomain,         string lpszPassword,         int dwLogonType,         int dwLogonProvider,         out IntPtr phToken         );      #region GetTokenInformation     //BOOL WINAPI GetTokenInformation(     //  __in       HANDLE TokenHandle,     //  __in       TOKEN_INFORMATION_CLASS TokenInformationClass,     //  __out_opt  LPVOID TokenInformation,     //  __in       DWORD TokenInformationLength,     //  __out      PDWORD ReturnLength     //);     #endregion     [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]     static extern bool GetTokenInformation(         IntPtr TokenHandle,         TOKEN_INFORMATION_CLASS TokenInformationClass,         IntPtr TokenInformation,         int TokenInformationLength,         out int ReturnLength         );       #region CreateProcessAsUser     //        BOOL WINAPI CreateProcessAsUser(     //  __in_opt     HANDLE hToken,     //  __in_opt     LPCTSTR lpApplicationName,     //  __inout_opt  LPTSTR lpCommandLine,     //  __in_opt     LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpProcessAttributes,     //  __in_opt     LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpThreadAttributes,     //  __in         BOOL bInheritHandles,     //  __in         DWORD dwCreationFlags,     //  __in_opt     LPVOID lpEnvironment,     //  __in_opt     LPCTSTR lpCurrentDirectory,     //  __in         LPSTARTUPINFO lpStartupInfo,     //  __out        LPPROCESS_INFORMATION lpProcessInformation);     #endregion     [DllImport("advapi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]     static extern bool CreateProcessAsUser(         IntPtr Token,          [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] string ApplicationName,         [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] string CommandLine,         ref SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES ProcessAttributes,          ref SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES ThreadAttributes,          bool InheritHandles,         uint CreationFlags,          IntPtr Environment,          [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] string CurrentDirectory,          ref STARTUPINFO StartupInfo,          out PROCESS_INFORMATION ProcessInformation);      #region CloseHandle     //BOOL WINAPI CloseHandle(     //      __in          HANDLE hObject     //        );     #endregion     [DllImport("Kernel32.dll")]     extern static int CloseHandle(IntPtr handle);      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]     internal static extern bool AdjustTokenPrivileges(IntPtr htok, bool disall, ref TokPriv1Luid newst, int len, IntPtr prev, IntPtr relen);      [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]     internal static extern bool LookupPrivilegeValue(string host, string name, ref long pluid);      [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 1)]     internal struct TokPriv1Luid     {         public int Count;         public long Luid;         public int Attr;     }      //static internal const int TOKEN_QUERY = 0x00000008;     internal const int SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED = 0x00000002;     //static internal const int TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES = 0x00000020;      internal const int TOKEN_QUERY = 0x00000008;     internal const int TOKEN_DUPLICATE = 0x0002;     internal const int TOKEN_ASSIGN_PRIMARY = 0x0001;      #endregion      [STAThread]     static void Main(string[] args)     {         string username, domain, password, applicationName;         username = args[2];         domain = args[1];         password = args[3];         applicationName = @args[0];          IntPtr token = IntPtr.Zero;         IntPtr primaryToken = IntPtr.Zero;         try         {             bool result = false;              result = LogonUser(username, domain, password, (int)LOGON_TYPE.LOGON32_LOGON_NETWORK, (int)LOGON_PROVIDER.LOGON32_PROVIDER_DEFAULT, out token);             if (!result)             {                 int winError = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();             }              string commandLine = null;              #region security attributes             SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES processAttributes = new SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES();              SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR sd = new SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR();             IntPtr ptr = Marshal.AllocCoTaskMem(Marshal.SizeOf(sd));             Marshal.StructureToPtr(sd, ptr, false);             InitializeSecurityDescriptor(ptr, SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR_REVISION);             sd = (SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR)Marshal.PtrToStructure(ptr, typeof(SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR));              result = SetSecurityDescriptorDacl(ref sd, true, IntPtr.Zero, false);             if (!result)             {                 int winError = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();             }              primaryToken = new IntPtr();             result = DuplicateTokenEx(token, 0, ref processAttributes, SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL.SecurityImpersonation, TOKEN_TYPE.TokenPrimary, out primaryToken);             if (!result)             {                 int winError = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();             }             processAttributes.SecurityDescriptor = ptr;             processAttributes.Length = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(sd);             processAttributes.InheritHandle = true;             #endregion              SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES threadAttributes = new SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES();             threadAttributes.SecurityDescriptor = IntPtr.Zero;             threadAttributes.Length = 0;             threadAttributes.InheritHandle = false;              bool inheritHandles = true;             //CreationFlags creationFlags = CreationFlags.CREATE_DEFAULT_ERROR_MODE;             IntPtr environment = IntPtr.Zero;             string currentDirectory = currdir;              STARTUPINFO startupInfo = new STARTUPINFO();             startupInfo.Desktop = "";              PROCESS_INFORMATION processInformation;              result = CreateProcessAsUser(primaryToken, applicationName, commandLine, ref processAttributes, ref threadAttributes, inheritHandles, 16, environment, currentDirectory, ref startupInfo, out processInformation);             if (!result)             {                 int winError = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();                 File.AppendAllText(logfile, DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString() + " " + winError + Environment.NewLine);             }         }         catch         {             int winError = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();             File.AppendAllText(logfile, DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString() + " " + winError + Environment.NewLine);         }         finally         {             if (token != IntPtr.Zero)             {                 int x = CloseHandle(token);                 if (x == 0)                     throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());                 x = CloseHandle(primaryToken);                 if (x == 0)                     throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());             }         }     } 

The basic procedure is:

1. Log the user on
2. convert the given token into a primary token
3. Using this token, execute the process
4. Close the handle when finished.

This is development code fresh from my machine and no way near ready for use in production environments. The code here is still buggy - For starters: I'm not sure whether the handles are closed at the right point, and there's a few interop functions defined above that aren't required. The separate starter process also really annoys me. Ideally I'd like all this Job stuff wrapped up in an assembly for use from our API as well as this service. If someone has any suggestions here, they'd be appreciated.

Answer 2

I won't suggest neither psexec nor the task planner. But, have you looked at Sudowin?

It does almost exactly what you wish, with the exception it asks for a password before executing the process.

Also, being open source and all, you can see how it executes processes from the associated service time and again.