Disclaimer

This is for advanced users only.

If Microsoft has hidden this registry key and removed permissions for administrators, it’s probably for a good reason.

Thus, the following script is provided as is.
Don’t use it or modify it if you don’t understand what you are doing, or if you are not aware of the consequences of what you are doing.

How to do it

1. Read the two following documents:

• Digital Forensics – SuperTimeline & Event Logs – Part I

• Windows 7/2008 x64 Audit Policy Registry Structure

2. Adapt the script below depending on your needs.
   You just have to replace all 3 values by 0, 1, 2, or keep the 3.

function Set-RegistryValue
{
    $Parameters = @{
        Path        = $Registry.Path
        Name        = $Registry.ValueName
        ErrorAction = 'SilentlyContinue'
    }

    Get-ItemProperty @Parameters

    Remove-ItemProperty @Parameters

    $Parameters.Remove('ErrorAction')
    $Parameters.Add('Value', $Registry.ValueData)
    $Parameters.Add('PropertyType', $Registry.ValueType)

    New-ItemProperty @Parameters
}

#region Add access for Administrators
$RegistrySubKey = 'SECURITY'

$RegistryKeyControl = [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::
LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(
$RegistrySubKey,
[Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKeyPermissionCheck]::ReadWriteSubTree,
[System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryRights]::ChangePermissions
)

$AccessControlList = $RegistryKeyControl.GetAccessControl()
$BackupOfAccessControlList = $RegistryKeyControl.GetAccessControl()

$Account = [System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators'
$Permissions = [System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryRights]'FullControl'
$InheritanceFlag = [System.Security.AccessControl.InheritanceFlags]'ContainerInherit,ObjectInherit'
$PropagationFlag = [System.Security.AccessControl.PropagationFlags]'None'
$AccessType = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]'Allow'

$AccessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryAccessRule(
$Account,
$Permissions,
$InheritanceFlag,
$PropagationFlag,
$AccessType
)

$AccessControlList.AddAccessRule($AccessRule)

$RegistryKeyControl.SetAccessControl($AccessControlList)
#endregion

#region set audit values
#Advanced Audit Policy Configuration
#https://countuponsecurity.com/tag/poladtev
#https://www.kazamiya.net/files/PolAdtEv_Structure_en_rev2.pdf
$Registry = @{
Path = 'HKLM:\Security\Policy\PolAdtEv'
ValueName = '(default)'
ValueData = [byte[]] @(
0, 1, 0, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0, 128, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3,
0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3,
0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3,
0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3, 0, 3,
0, 3, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 10, 0, 14, 0, 3, 0, 5, 0, 6, 0, 6, 0, 4, 0, 4, 0
)
ValueType = 'None'
}

Set-RegistryValue

#Audit: Force audit policy subcategory settings (Windows Vista or later) to override audit policy category settings ==> Enabled
#https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj852246(v=ws.11).aspx
$Registry.Path = 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa'
$Registry.ValueName = 'SCENoApplyLegacyAuditPolicy'
$Registry.ValueData = 1
$Registry.ValueType = 'DWord'

Set-RegistryValue
#endregion

#region Remove access for Administrators
$RegistryKeyControl.SetAccessControl($BackupOfAccessControlList)
#endregion