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winapilistfunctionuacelevated-privileges

List of Win32 APIs that require administrative privilege

I'm trying to find a list of Win32 API functions that require the process that uses them to have heightened administrative privileges in order to use them. Does anyone know where I could find a list of these functions? Thanks!

Solution

  • Such a list simply does not and can not exist. Because an API alone does not determine what privileges are required (it can, but in most cases it doesn't).

    For example take one of the oldest and most used APIs there is: CreateFile.

    • Reading a file in the windows directory is allowed for normal users, writing/creating one however isn't.
    • Using the API to create a local pipe is allowed for normal users, creating a global pipe or networked pipe usually isn't (depends on further security settings/group policies).

    And many more examples.