lapscsp.dll Download

What Is lapscsp.dll?

lapscsp.dll is a dynamic-link library used by Microsoft’s Windows LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution). It is not a virus or malware, but a core part of the LAPS architecture, specifically handling the Configuration Service Provider (CSP) logic. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

In Windows LAPS, there are three main binaries:

• laps.dll – the core logic for password management :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• lapscsp.dll – the CSP component, handling policy and communication via LRPC :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• lapspsh.dll – PowerShell module support for LAPS cmdlets :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Why Would Someone Download lapscsp.dll?

There are legitimate reasons why an administrator might want to obtain or re‑install lapscsp.dll:

1. Corruption or deletion: On a machine using LAPS, this DLL could become corrupted, accidentally deleted, or quarantined by security software.
2. Deployment: When deploying Windows LAPS in a corporate environment (e.g., via Group Policy or Microsoft Intune), administrators may need to ensure that the correct version of lapscsp.dll is present on endpoints.
3. Upgrading: Migrating from legacy LAPS to Windows LAPS might require replacing or updating relevant binaries. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
4. Security research or auditing: Analysts or security teams might study this DLL to understand how policy is applied, or how LAPS integrates with system services. For example, researchers have reverse‑engineered lapscsp.dll to observe how it queues post‑authentication tasks. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Is It Safe?

lapscsp.dll is a legitimate Microsoft component in the context of Windows LAPS. It is not inherently malicious when obtained from a trusted source.

However, two important caveats apply:

1. Source Matters

You should only use lapscsp.dll from official sources, such as:

• The Microsoft LAPS installer (MSI) package. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Your organization’s internal deployment repository if it maintains a clean, audited version.

2. Risk of Tampering

DLL‑hijacking attacks are a known vector: a malicious actor might place a tampered DLL with the same name in a location that gets loaded before the legitimate one, exploiting Windows’ DLL search order. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Because of this, it is good practice to:

• Validate the digital signature of lapscsp.dll.
• Use file‑integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes.
• Restrict write permissions on the directory where the DLL resides.

How Windows LAPS Uses lapscsp.dll

Here’s a technical breakdown of how lapscsp.dll participates in the LAPS workflow:

Configuration via CSP

When using Microsoft Intune or other mobile device management (MDM) solutions, LAPS settings are delivered to clients via CSP. lapscsp.dll is responsible for interpreting and acting on those policy definitions.

LRPC Communication

According to reverse‑engineering by independent researchers, lapscsp.dll makes internal LRPC calls (using the NCALRPC protocol) to a LAPS LRPC endpoint in LSASS. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

These calls enable the DLL to:

• Trigger a password reset based on a “ResetPassword” XML payload.
• Queue “post‑authentication actions” such as delayed tasks.

Task Queueing and Background Work

Some of the queued work is delayed (for example, periodic policy checks), while other tasks run immediately. These delayed tasks are implemented via threadpool timers. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

How to Safely Obtain or Restore lapscsp.dll

If you need to download or restore lapscsp.dll, follow these best practices:

Use the Official LAPS Installer

Get the correct version by downloading the LAPS setup package from Microsoft’s official site. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

The MSI installer provides a reliable, signed version of lapscsp.dll for supported architectures.

Validate the File

• After installing, check its digital signature via file properties.
• Verify version numbers correspond to the version of LAPS deployed in your environment.

Secure Deployment

Deploy lapscsp.dll via your standard software management pipeline (MDM, SCCM, Intune, etc.) rather than copying manually to individual machines. This ensures consistency, auditing, and integrity.

Monitoring

Implement file integrity monitoring on the folder containing LAPS DLLs so you can detect changes or tampering quickly.

Common Concerns and Issues

False Positives

Because lapscsp.dll runs with system-level privileges and communicates with core components (e.g., through LRPC), some security tools or heuristics may mistakenly flag it as suspicious. Administrators should validate detections carefully.

Legacy vs. Windows LAPS

The legacy “Microsoft LAPS” product (installed via older MSI) is being deprecated in favor of “Windows LAPS.” :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

If you’re migrating, make sure to use the up‑to-date version that matches your domain functional level and your deployment architecture.

Permission and Schema Requirements

Using LAPS with Active Directory requires schema changes and the right role assignments. For example, setting up LAPS requires extending the AD schema and assigning proper permissions to computer objects to write their own passwords. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Security Risks and Research Findings

Some security researchers have investigated how LAPS DLLs operate and flagged possible risks:

• DLL Poisoning: If an attacker gains elevated privileges, they might replace the legitimate lapscsp.dll or otherwise hijack its logic to leak or capture passwords. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• OverLAPS Research: At DEF CON, a talk titled “OverLAPS: Overriding LAPS Logic” demonstrated how LAPS functions can be overridden or manipulated by modifying LAPS DLLs, including lapscsp.dll. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• Post-Auth Actions Abuse: Researchers observed that lapscsp.dll schedules “post-authentication” operations via LAPS DLLs, which could be abused if manipulated. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Should You “Download lapscsp.dll” from Third‑Party Sites?

No — you should avoid downloading this DLL from untrusted third-party DLL‑repository sites. Using unsigned or tampered DLLs can introduce security risks, including potential elevation of privilege, DLL hijacking, or even malicious backdoors.

If there’s no legitimate reason from your business or IT team to replace or re-deploy lapscsp.dll, you should not manually download it from the internet.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If you’re running into issues related to lapscsp.dll, consider these troubleshooting steps:

1. Run Windows Update and make sure your system is fully patched.
2. Uninstall and reinstall LAPS using the official MSI.
3. Use sfc /scannow and “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” to repair system file corruption.
4. Check Group Policy or Intune/CSP deployment — make sure policies are correctly applied to devices.
5. Examine event logs for LAPS‑related errors, especially under “Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → LAPS” (or similar) depending on your system version.
6. Verify AD schema and permissions if computers are failing to write or reset local admin passwords. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Conclusion

lapscsp.dll is a vital but benign component of Microsoft’s Windows LAPS framework. It is responsible for interpreting policy, communicating to LAPS services via LRPC, and queuing scheduled tasks to manage local administrator passwords on domain-joined or Intune-managed machines.

Downloading or restoring this DLL should always be done via trusted, official packages, and with verification of its digital signature. In environments that rely on LAPS for security, ensuring the integrity of this DLL—and guarding against tampering—is essential.

In short: don’t search for “lapscsp.dll download” on random third-party sites; instead, use Microsoft’s provided tools, secure your deployment, and monitor its behavior within the context of your LAPS implementation.