Security

Sitecore PowerShell Extensions (SPE) is a powerful administrative tool that requires proper security configuration. This guide provides comprehensive security documentation to help you secure your SPE installation.

Critical Warning: SPE is a powerful tool that should NEVER be installed on Content Delivery (CD) instances or internet-facing servers. Always implement security best practices and follow the principle of least privilege.

Quick Start

New to SPE security? Start here:

  1. Getting Started - Essential security setup for new installations

  2. Security Policies - Understand the SPE security model

  3. Security Checklist - Validate your deployment before going live

Security Documentation

Core Security Topics

Security Policies

Understand the two-layer security model that governs SPE:

  • Application Pool Service Account (OS-level access)

  • Sitecore User Account (API-level access)

    • Application and menu item security

  • Best practices for both security contexts

Session Elevation (UAC)

Configure User Account Control to require reauthentication:

  • How Session Elevation works

  • Elevation actions (Allow, Block, Password, Confirm)

  • Token configuration and expiration

  • Environment-specific recommendations

  • Interface behaviors (Console, ISE, Content Editor)

Web Services Security

Control external access to SPE through web services:

  • Service descriptions and security implications

  • Enable/disable individual services

  • HTTPS and requireSecureConnection

  • Role-based authorization

  • Configuration examples for different scenarios

Hardening and Protection

File Upload Restrictions

Prevent malicious file uploads:

  • File type restrictions (extensions and MIME types)

  • Upload location restrictions

  • Dangerous file types to never allow

  • Configuration examples

  • Testing upload restrictions

Delegated Access

Grant controlled privilege escalation:

  • How delegated access works

  • Configuration steps

  • Use cases (publishing, reports, bulk operations)

  • Script implementation patterns

  • Security best practices and monitoring

IIS-Level Security

Add defense in depth at the web server level:

  • Deny anonymous access

  • Windows Authentication

  • IP address restrictions

  • SSL/TLS requirements

  • Request filtering and URL rewrite rules

User Management

Users and Roles

Manage Sitecore users and roles:

  • Bulk user operations

  • Role queries and management

  • Item Access Control Lists (ACL)

  • Active Directory integration

  • PowerShell examples for user management

Deployment and Operations

Minimal Web Service Deployment

Deploy only what's needed for CI/CD:

  • Required files for web services only

  • Disable UI components

  • Configuration for automation scenarios

  • Security best practices

  • Common deployment patterns

Logging and Monitoring

Track security events and detect incidents:

  • What gets logged

  • Log levels and configuration

  • Real-time monitoring strategies

  • Log analysis examples

  • Integration with SIEM systems

  • Security metrics and dashboards

Validation and Compliance

Security Checklist

Comprehensive validation before deployment:

  • Pre-deployment validation

  • Configuration checklist

  • Testing procedures

  • Environment-specific checklists

  • Post-deployment monitoring

  • Emergency procedures

Security by Environment

Development Environment

Priority: Productivity with basic security

Recommendations:

  • Session Elevation: Relaxed (Allow or long timeouts)

  • Web Services: Enable as needed for testing

  • Logging: DEBUG level for troubleshooting

  • IP Restrictions: Not required

Start here: Getting Started - Development

QA/Staging Environment

Priority: Match production security for testing

Recommendations:

  • Session Elevation: Password or Confirm (5-15 minute timeout)

  • Web Services: Match production configuration

  • Logging: INFO level

  • IP Restrictions: Optional

Start here: Getting Started - QA/Staging

Production Environment

Priority: Maximum security

Recommendations:

  • Session Elevation: Password or Confirm (3-5 minute timeout)

  • Web Services: Only handleDownload, client, execution (disable remoting)

  • Logging: INFO or WARN level

  • IP Restrictions: Recommended

  • HTTPS: Required

Start here: Security Checklist - Production

CI/CD Environment

Priority: Automation with strict access control

Recommendations:

  • Minimal Deployment: Use minimal package

  • Remoting: Enabled with IP restrictions

  • Web Services: Only required services

  • Logging: INFO level with monitoring

  • HTTPS: Required

Start here: Minimal Deployment

Security Layers (Defense in Depth)

SPE security uses multiple layers for comprehensive protection:

1. Network Security
   - Firewall rules
   - VPN/private network
   - Not internet-facing
2. IIS-Level Security
   - Deny anonymous access
   - IP restrictions
   - HTTPS requirements
   - Request filtering
3. Sitecore User Security
   - Role-based access control
   - Application-level permissions
   - Item-level security
4. SPE Security Hardening
   - Session Elevation (UAC)
   - Web service controls
   - File upload restrictions
   - Delegated access controls
5. Logging and Monitoring
   - Comprehensive logging
   - Real-time alerting
   - Regular audit reviews
   - SIEM integration

Each layer provides additional protection. If one layer is compromised, others provide continued security.

Common Security Scenarios

Scenario 1: Locking Down Production CM

Goal: Secure SPE for production content management server

Steps:

  1. Review Security Policies to understand the model

  2. Configure Session Elevation with 5-minute Password timeout

  3. Disable unnecessary Web Services

  4. Configure IIS Security to deny anonymous access

  5. Enable Logging and Monitoring

  6. Complete the Security Checklist

Scenario 2: Setting Up CI/CD Automation

Goal: Enable remote automation from build servers

Steps:

  1. Use Minimal Deployment package

  2. Enable Remoting in Web Services with specific user

  3. Configure IIS Security with IP restrictions to build servers

  4. Configure File Upload Restrictions for packages only

  5. Set up Logging and Monitoring for automation activity

  6. Test with Security Checklist - CI/CD

Scenario 3: Delegating Access to Reports and Tools

Goal: Allow content authors to run administrative reports and tools

Steps:

  1. Understand Delegated Access concepts

  2. Create delegated access configuration for tooling or reporting role

  3. Configure impersonated user with read-only administrative access

  4. Test tool or report access as content author

  5. Monitor usage via Logging and Monitoring

Scenario 4: Identity Server Integration (Sitecore 9.1+)

Goal: Configure SPE with Sitecore Identity Server

Steps:

  1. Enable Spe.IdentityServer.config

  2. Configure Session Elevation with Confirm action (not Password)

  3. Test Console and ISE with federated authentication

  4. Configure Web Services if needed

Security Best Practices Summary

✅ Do

  • Always deny anonymous access at IIS level

  • Always use Session Elevation (UAC) in production

  • Always require HTTPS for any enabled web services

  • Always follow principle of least privilege

  • Always monitor logs for suspicious activity

  • Only enable web services you specifically need

  • Use short session elevation timeouts in production (3-5 minutes)

  • Restrict SPE access to trusted administrators only

  • Configure file upload restrictions when upload service is enabled

  • Regular security audits and role membership reviews

  • Document your security configuration

  • Test security in non-production before deploying

❌ Don't

  • Never install SPE on Content Delivery (CD) servers

  • Never expose SPE to internet-facing servers

  • Never use elevationAction="Allow" in production

  • Never enable all web services "just in case"

  • Never grant broad role access (e.g., "Everyone")

  • Never allow dangerous file types (.exe, .dll, .ps1, .bat)

  • Don't skip Session Elevation configuration

  • Don't ignore failed authentication attempts in logs

  • Don't use administrator accounts for automation

  • Don't forget to configure authorization when enabling remoting

Quick Reference

Configuration Files

File
Purpose
Documentation

App_Config\Include\Spe\Spe.config

Core SPE configuration

Web Services

App_Config\Include\Spe\Spe.IdentityServer.config

Identity Server integration

Getting Started

App_Config\Include\Spe\Custom\*.config

Your security patches

All topics

sitecore modules\PowerShell\Services\web.config

IIS-level security

IIS Security

Security Policies Location

Policy
Location
Documentation

Application Visibility

core:\content\Applications\PowerShell

Security Policies

Menu Item Security

core:\content\Applications\Content Editor\Context Menues\Default\

Security Policies

Script Library Security

Item-level security on scripts

Users and Roles

Delegated Access

SPE configuration items

Delegated Access

Default Roles

Role
Default Access
Recommendation

sitecore\Developer

Console, ISE

Keep restricted to developers only

sitecore\Sitecore Client Users

ListView, Runner

Appropriate for content authors

sitecore\Sitecore Client Authoring

Reports

Appropriate for content authors

sitecore\PowerShell Extensions Remoting

Remoting (when enabled)

Use custom role instead

Getting Help

Documentation Navigation

Support Resources

Security Incident Response

If you suspect a security breach:

  1. Immediately lock down SPE using Emergency Procedures

  2. Review logs using Logging and Monitoring guidance

  3. Document the incident

  4. Contact your security team

  5. Report to SPE maintainers if it's a product vulnerability

Additional Resources

Related Documentation

External References

Version-Specific Notes

Sitecore 9.1+ with Identity Server

Enable the Identity Server configuration:

  • File: App_Config\Include\Spe\Spe.IdentityServer.config

  • Purpose: Prevents infinite loop in SPE Console

  • Use elevationAction="Confirm" instead of "Password"

<configuration xmlns:patch="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/" xmlns:role="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/role/" xmlns:security="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/security/">
  <sitecore role:require="Standalone or ContentManagement or XMCloud" security:require="Sitecore">
    <pipelines>
      <owin.cookieAuthentication.validateIdentity>
        <processor type="Sitecore.Owin.Authentication.Pipelines.CookieAuthentication.ValidateIdentity.ValidateSiteNeutralPaths, Sitecore.Owin.Authentication">
          <siteNeutralPaths hint="list">
            <!-- This entry corrects the infinite loop of ExecuteCommand in the SPE Console -->
            <path hint="spe">/sitecore%20modules/PowerShell</path>
          </siteNeutralPaths>
        </processor>
      </owin.cookieAuthentication.validateIdentity>
    </pipelines>
  </sitecore>
</configuration>

Sitecore XM Cloud

Consult the latest SPE documentation for XM Cloud-specific security configurations.

Remember: Security is not a one-time configuration. Regular reviews, monitoring, and updates are essential to maintaining a secure SPE installation.

Last Updated: 2025 Maintained By: SPE Community

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