How to run NOT elevated in Vista (.NET)
11,259
Solution 1
The WinSafer API's allow a process to be launched as a limited, normal, or elevated user.
Sample Usage:
CreateSaferProcess(@"calc.exe", "", SaferLevel.NormalUser);
Source code:
//http://odetocode.com/Blogs/scott/archive/2004/10/28/602.aspx
public static void CreateSaferProcess(String fileName, String arguments, SaferLevel saferLevel)
{
IntPtr saferLevelHandle = IntPtr.Zero;
//Create a SaferLevel handle to match what was requested
if (!WinSafer.SaferCreateLevel(
SaferLevelScope.User,
saferLevel,
SaferOpen.Open,
out saferLevelHandle,
IntPtr.Zero))
{
throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
}
try
{
//Generate the access token to use, based on the safer level handle.
IntPtr hToken = IntPtr.Zero;
if (!WinSafer.SaferComputeTokenFromLevel(
saferLevelHandle, // SAFER Level handle
IntPtr.Zero, // NULL is current thread token.
out hToken, // Target token
SaferTokenBehaviour.Default, // No flags
IntPtr.Zero)) // Reserved
{
throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
}
try
{
//Now that we have a security token, we can lauch the process
//using the standard CreateProcessAsUser API
STARTUPINFO si = new STARTUPINFO();
si.cb = Marshal.SizeOf(si);
si.lpDesktop = String.Empty;
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi = new PROCESS_INFORMATION();
// Spin up the new process
Boolean bResult = Windows.CreateProcessAsUser(
hToken,
fileName,
arguments,
IntPtr.Zero, //process attributes
IntPtr.Zero, //thread attributes
false, //inherit handles
0, //CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE
IntPtr.Zero, //environment
null, //current directory
ref si, //startup info
out pi); //process info
if (!bResult)
throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
if (pi.hProcess != IntPtr.Zero)
Windows.CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
if (pi.hThread != IntPtr.Zero)
Windows.CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
}
finally
{
if (hToken != IntPtr.Zero)
Windows.CloseHandle(hToken);
}
}
finally
{
WinSafer.SaferCloseLevel(saferLevelHandle);
}
}
P/Invoke declarations:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace PInvoke
{
public class WinSafer
{
/// <summary>
/// The SaferCreateLevel function opens a SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="scopeId">The scope of the level to be created.</param>
/// <param name="levelId">The level of the handle to be opened.</param>
/// <param name="openFlags">Must be SaferOpenFlags.Open</param>
/// <param name="levelHandle">The returned SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE. When you have finished using the handle, release it by calling the SaferCloseLevel function.</param>
/// <param name="reserved">This parameter is reserved for future use. IntPtr.Zero</param>
/// <returns></returns>
[DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static extern bool SaferCreateLevel(SaferLevelScope scopeId, SaferLevel levelId, SaferOpen openFlags,
out IntPtr levelHandle, IntPtr reserved);
/// <summary>
/// The SaferComputeTokenFromLevel function restricts a token using restrictions specified by a SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="levelHandle">SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE that contains the restrictions to place on the input token. Do not pass handles with a LevelId of SAFER_LEVELID_FULLYTRUSTED or SAFER_LEVELID_DISALLOWED to this function. This is because SAFER_LEVELID_FULLYTRUSTED is unrestricted and SAFER_LEVELID_DISALLOWED does not contain a token.</param>
/// <param name="inAccessToken">Token to be restricted. If this parameter is NULL, the token of the current thread will be used. If the current thread does not contain a token, the token of the current process is used.</param>
/// <param name="outAccessToken">The resulting restricted token.</param>
/// <param name="flags">Specifies the behavior of the method.</param>
/// <param name="lpReserved">Reserved for future use. This parameter should be set to IntPtr.EmptyParam.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
[DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static extern bool SaferComputeTokenFromLevel(IntPtr levelHandle, IntPtr inAccessToken,
out IntPtr outAccessToken, SaferTokenBehaviour flags, IntPtr lpReserved);
/// <summary>
/// The SaferCloseLevel function closes a SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE that was opened by using the SaferIdentifyLevel function or the SaferCreateLevel function.</summary>
/// <param name="levelHandle">The SAFER_LEVEL_HANDLE to be closed.</param>
/// <returns>TRUE if the function succeeds; otherwise, FALSE. For extended error information, call GetLastWin32Error.</returns>
[DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static extern bool SaferCloseLevel(IntPtr levelHandle);
} //class WinSafer
/// <summary>
/// Specifies the behaviour of the SaferComputeTokenFromLevel method
/// </summary>
public enum SaferTokenBehaviour : uint
{
/// <summary></summary>
Default = 0x0,
/// <summary>If the OutAccessToken parameter is not more restrictive than the InAccessToken parameter, the OutAccessToken parameter returns NULL.</summary>
NullIfEqual = 0x1,
/// <summary></summary>
CompareOnly = 0x2,
/// <summary></summary>
MakeInert = 0x4,
/// <summary></summary>
WantFlags = 0x8
}
/// <summary>
/// The level of the handle to be opened.
/// </summary>
public enum SaferLevel : uint
{
/// <summary>Software will not run, regardless of the user rights of the user.</summary>
Disallowed = 0,
/// <summary>Allows programs to execute with access only to resources granted to open well-known groups, blocking access to Administrator and Power User privileges and personally granted rights.</summary>
Untrusted = 0x1000,
/// <summary>Software cannot access certain resources, such as cryptographic keys and credentials, regardless of the user rights of the user.</summary>
Constrained = 0x10000,
/// <summary>Allows programs to execute as a user that does not have Administrator or Power User user rights. Software can access resources accessible by normal users.</summary>
NormalUser = 0x20000,
/// <summary>Software user rights are determined by the user rights of the user.</summary>
FullyTrusted = 0x40000
}
/// <summary>
/// The scope of the level to be created.
/// </summary>
public enum SaferLevelScope : uint
{
/// <summary>The created level is scoped by computer.</summary>
Machine = 1,
/// <summary>The created level is scoped by user.</summary>
User = 2
}
public enum SaferOpen : uint
{
Open = 1
}
} //namespace PInvoke
Solution 2
From: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=81232
A frequently asked question is how to launch an un-elevated application from an elevated process, or more fundamentally, how to I launch a process using my un-elevated token once I’m running elevated. Since there is no direct way to do this, the situation can usually be avoided by launching the original application as standard user and only elevating those portions of the application that require administrative rights. This way there is always a non-elevated process that can be used to launch additional applications as the currently logged on desktop user. Sometimes, however, an elevated process needs to get another application running un-elevated. This can be accomplished by using the task scheduler within Windows Vista. The elevated process can register a task to run as the currently logged on desktop user.
Here is an example of how to schedule the un-elevated process (again from the same link)
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// This file is part of the Microsoft .NET Framework SDK Code Samples.
//
// Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
//
//This source code is intended only as a supplement to Microsoft
//Development Tools and/or on-line documentation. See these other
//materials for detailed information regarding Microsoft code samples.
//
//THIS CODE AND INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY
//KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE
//IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A
//PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
/****************************************************************************
* Main.cpp - Sample application for Task Scheduler V2 COMAPI * Component: Task Scheduler
* Copyright (c) 2002 - 2003, Microsoft Corporation
* This sample creates a task to that launches as the currently logged on deskup user. The task launches as soon as it is registered. *
****************************************************************************/
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <comdef.h>
#include <comutil.h>
//Include Task header files - Included in Windows Vista Beta-2 SDK from MSDN
#include <taskschd.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;
#define CLEANUP \
pRootFolder->Release();\
pTask->Release();\
CoUninitialize();
HRESULT CreateMyTask(LPCWSTR, wstring);
void __cdecl wmain(int argc, wchar_t** argv)
{
wstring wstrExecutablePath;
WCHAR taskName[20];
HRESULT result;
if( argc < 2 )
{
printf("\nUsage: LaunchApp yourapp.exe" );
return;
}
// Pick random number for task name
srand((unsigned int) time(NULL));
wsprintf((LPWSTR)taskName, L"Launch %d", rand());
wstrExecutablePath = argv[1];
result = CreateMyTask(taskName, wstrExecutablePath);
printf("\nReturn status:%d\n", result);
}
HRESULT CreateMyTask(LPCWSTR wszTaskName, wstring wstrExecutablePath)
{
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Initialize COM.
TASK_STATE taskState;
int i;
HRESULT hr = CoInitializeEx(NULL, COINIT_MULTITHREADED);
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCoInitializeEx failed: %x", hr );
return 1;
}
// Set general COM security levels.
hr = CoInitializeSecurity(
NULL,
-1,
NULL,
NULL,
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY,
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE,
NULL,
0,
NULL);
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCoInitializeSecurity failed: %x", hr );
CoUninitialize();
return 1;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Create an instance of the Task Service.
ITaskService *pService = NULL;
hr = CoCreateInstance( CLSID_TaskScheduler,
NULL,
CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER,
IID_ITaskService,
(void**)&pService );
if (FAILED(hr))
{
printf("Failed to CoCreate an instance of the TaskService class: %x", hr);
CoUninitialize();
return 1;
}
// Connect to the task service.
hr = pService->Connect(_variant_t(), _variant_t(), _variant_t(), _variant_t());
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("ITaskService::Connect failed: %x", hr );
pService->Release();
CoUninitialize();
return 1;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Get the pointer to the root task folder. This folder will hold the
// new task that is registered.
ITaskFolder *pRootFolder = NULL;
hr = pService->GetFolder( _bstr_t( L"\\") , &pRootFolder );
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("Cannot get Root Folder pointer: %x", hr );
pService->Release();
CoUninitialize();
return 1;
}
// Check if the same task already exists. If the same task exists, remove it.
hr = pRootFolder->DeleteTask( _bstr_t( wszTaskName), 0 );
// Create the task builder object to create the task.
ITaskDefinition *pTask = NULL;
hr = pService->NewTask( 0, &pTask );
pService->Release(); // COM clean up. Pointer is no longer used.
if (FAILED(hr))
{
printf("Failed to CoCreate an instance of the TaskService class: %x", hr);
pRootFolder->Release();
CoUninitialize();
return 1;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Get the trigger collection to insert the registration trigger.
ITriggerCollection *pTriggerCollection = NULL;
hr = pTask->get_Triggers( &pTriggerCollection );
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCannot get trigger collection: %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
// Add the registration trigger to the task.
ITrigger *pTrigger = NULL;
hr = pTriggerCollection->Create( TASK_TRIGGER_REGISTRATION, &pTrigger );
pTriggerCollection->Release(); // COM clean up. Pointer is no longer used.
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCannot add registration trigger to the Task %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
pTrigger->Release();
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Add an Action to the task.
IExecAction *pExecAction = NULL;
IActionCollection *pActionCollection = NULL;
// Get the task action collection pointer.
hr = pTask->get_Actions( &pActionCollection );
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCannot get Task collection pointer: %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
// Create the action, specifying that it is an executable action.
IAction *pAction = NULL;
hr = pActionCollection->Create( TASK_ACTION_EXEC, &pAction );
pActionCollection->Release(); // COM clean up. Pointer is no longer used.
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\npActionCollection->Create failed: %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
hr = pAction->QueryInterface( IID_IExecAction, (void**) &pExecAction );
pAction->Release();
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\npAction->QueryInterface failed: %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
// Set the path of the executable to the user supplied executable.
hr = pExecAction->put_Path( _bstr_t( wstrExecutablePath.c_str() ) );
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCannot set path of executable: %x", hr );
pExecAction->Release();
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
hr = pExecAction->put_Arguments( _bstr_t( L"" ) );
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nCannot set arguments of executable: %x", hr );
pExecAction->Release();
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------
// Save the task in the root folder.
IRegisteredTask *pRegisteredTask = NULL;
hr = pRootFolder->RegisterTaskDefinition(
_bstr_t( wszTaskName ),
pTask,
TASK_CREATE,
_variant_t(_bstr_t( L"S-1-5-32-545")),//Well Known SID for \\Builtin\Users group
_variant_t(),
TASK_LOGON_GROUP,
_variant_t(L""),
&pRegisteredTask);
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nError saving the Task : %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
printf("\n Success! Task successfully registered. " );
for (i=0; i<100; i++)//give 10 seconds for the task to start
{
pRegisteredTask->get_State(&taskState);
if (taskState == TASK_STATE_RUNNING)
{
printf("\nTask is running\n");
break;
}
Sleep(100);
}
if (i>= 100) printf("Task didn't start\n");
//Delete the task when done
hr = pRootFolder->DeleteTask(
_bstr_t( wszTaskName ),
NULL);
if( FAILED(hr) )
{
printf("\nError deleting the Task : %x", hr );
CLEANUP
return 1;
}
printf("\n Success! Task successfully deleted. " );
// Clean up.
CLEANUP
CoUninitialize();
return 0;
}
Solution 3
Raymond Chen addressed this in his blog:
How can I launch an unelevated process from my elevated process and vice versa?
Searching in GitHub for a C# version of this code, I found the following implementation in Microsoft's Node.js tools for Visual Studio repository: SystemUtilities.cs (the ExecuteProcessUnElevated function).
Just in case the file disappears, here's the file's contents:
// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All Rights Reserved. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace Microsoft.NodejsTools.SharedProject
{
/// <summary>
/// Utility for accessing window IShell* interfaces in order to use them to launch a process unelevated
/// </summary>
internal class SystemUtility
{
/// <summary>
/// We are elevated and should launch the process unelevated. We can't create the
/// process directly without it becoming elevated. So to workaround this, we have
/// explorer do the process creation (explorer is typically running unelevated).
/// </summary>
internal static void ExecuteProcessUnElevated(string process, string args, string currentDirectory = "")
{
var shellWindows = (IShellWindows)new CShellWindows();
// Get the desktop window
object loc = CSIDL_Desktop;
object unused = new object();
int hwnd;
var serviceProvider = (IServiceProvider)shellWindows.FindWindowSW(ref loc, ref unused, SWC_DESKTOP, out hwnd, SWFO_NEEDDISPATCH);
// Get the shell browser
var serviceGuid = SID_STopLevelBrowser;
var interfaceGuid = typeof(IShellBrowser).GUID;
var shellBrowser = (IShellBrowser)serviceProvider.QueryService(ref serviceGuid, ref interfaceGuid);
// Get the shell dispatch
var dispatch = typeof(IDispatch).GUID;
var folderView = (IShellFolderViewDual)shellBrowser.QueryActiveShellView().GetItemObject(SVGIO_BACKGROUND, ref dispatch);
var shellDispatch = (IShellDispatch2)folderView.Application;
// Use the dispatch (which is unelevated) to launch the process for us
shellDispatch.ShellExecute(process, args, currentDirectory, string.Empty, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
}
/// <summary>
/// Interop definitions
/// </summary>
private const int CSIDL_Desktop = 0;
private const int SWC_DESKTOP = 8;
private const int SWFO_NEEDDISPATCH = 1;
private const int SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1;
private const int SVGIO_BACKGROUND = 0;
private readonly static Guid SID_STopLevelBrowser = new Guid("4C96BE40-915C-11CF-99D3-00AA004AE837");
[ComImport]
[Guid("9BA05972-F6A8-11CF-A442-00A0C90A8F39")]
[ClassInterfaceAttribute(ClassInterfaceType.None)]
private class CShellWindows
{
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("85CB6900-4D95-11CF-960C-0080C7F4EE85")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIDispatch)]
private interface IShellWindows
{
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.IDispatch)]
object FindWindowSW([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] ref object pvarloc, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] ref object pvarlocRoot, int swClass, out int pHWND, int swfwOptions);
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("6d5140c1-7436-11ce-8034-00aa006009fa")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
private interface IServiceProvider
{
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Interface)]
object QueryService(ref Guid guidService, ref Guid riid);
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("000214E2-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
private interface IShellBrowser
{
void VTableGap01(); // GetWindow
void VTableGap02(); // ContextSensitiveHelp
void VTableGap03(); // InsertMenusSB
void VTableGap04(); // SetMenuSB
void VTableGap05(); // RemoveMenusSB
void VTableGap06(); // SetStatusTextSB
void VTableGap07(); // EnableModelessSB
void VTableGap08(); // TranslateAcceleratorSB
void VTableGap09(); // BrowseObject
void VTableGap10(); // GetViewStateStream
void VTableGap11(); // GetControlWindow
void VTableGap12(); // SendControlMsg
IShellView QueryActiveShellView();
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("000214E3-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
private interface IShellView
{
void VTableGap01(); // GetWindow
void VTableGap02(); // ContextSensitiveHelp
void VTableGap03(); // TranslateAcceleratorA
void VTableGap04(); // EnableModeless
void VTableGap05(); // UIActivate
void VTableGap06(); // Refresh
void VTableGap07(); // CreateViewWindow
void VTableGap08(); // DestroyViewWindow
void VTableGap09(); // GetCurrentInfo
void VTableGap10(); // AddPropertySheetPages
void VTableGap11(); // SaveViewState
void VTableGap12(); // SelectItem
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Interface)]
object GetItemObject(UInt32 aspectOfView, ref Guid riid);
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("00020400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIDispatch)]
private interface IDispatch
{
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("E7A1AF80-4D96-11CF-960C-0080C7F4EE85")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIDispatch)]
private interface IShellFolderViewDual
{
object Application { [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.IDispatch)] get; }
}
[ComImport]
[Guid("A4C6892C-3BA9-11D2-9DEA-00C04FB16162")]
[InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIDispatch)]
public interface IShellDispatch2
{
void ShellExecute([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.BStr)] string File, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] object vArgs, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] object vDir, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] object vOperation, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] object vShow);
}
}
}
Solution 4
I had the same requirement and I come to the solution to use the task scheduler service from Windows.
So, first add the Task Scheduler Managed Wrapper library to your project and use this code to create a task, configure it to run as limited user (td.Principal.RunLevel = TaskRunLevel.LUA;), register the task, run the task and after finish, delete the task.
// Get the service on the local machine
using (var ts = new TaskService())
{
const string taskName = "foo";
// Create a new task definition and assign properties
var td = ts.NewTask();
td.RegistrationInfo.Description = "start foo.exe as limited user";
// Create an action that will launch foo.exe, with argument bar in workingdir C:\\
td.Actions.Add(new ExecAction("C:\\foo.exe", "bar", "C:\\"));
td.Settings.Priority = ProcessPriorityClass.Normal;
// run with limited token
td.Principal.RunLevel = TaskRunLevel.LUA;
td.Settings.AllowDemandStart = true;
td.Settings.DisallowStartIfOnBatteries = false;
td.Settings.StopIfGoingOnBatteries = false;
// Register the task in the root folder
var ret = ts.RootFolder.RegisterTaskDefinition(taskName, td);
var fooTask = ts.FindTask(taskName, true);
if (null != fooTask )
{
if (fooTask.Enabled)
{
fooTask.Run();
Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1));
// find process and wait for Exit
var processlist = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach(var theprocess in processlist)
{
if (theprocess.ProcessName != "foo")
continue;
theprocess.WaitForExit();
break;
}
}
}
// Remove the task we just created
ts.RootFolder.DeleteTask(taskName);
}
Author by
idstam
I … usually call myself a software developer … have been doing this since 1996 … like to design databases … do not like to design flashy user interfaces … enjoy solving problems … am quite good at bookkeeping, invoicing and finance.
Updated on June 24, 2022Comments
-
idstam almost 2 years
I have an application that I have to run as Administrator.
One small part of that application is to start other applications with Process.Start
The started applications will also be run as administrators, but I'd rather see them run as the 'normal' user.
How do I accomplish that?
/johan/