Using PowerShell to Update Registry Keys for the MFA Agent for Microsoft Windows
2 years ago
Originally Published: 2024-05-30
Article Number
000072369
Applies To
RSA Product/Service Type: RSA MFA Agent for Microsoft Windows
Version(s): 2.x
Issue
In scenarios where the MFA Agent is installed on Windows machines lacking graphical user interfaces (e.g., Windows Core Servers), certain IT administrators may need to update the associated registry keys.

If Group Policy Objects are locally applied on the machine rather than being pushed from the Domain Controller, PowerShell commands offer a method to update the agent's GPOs.
Resolution
  • Log in to the Windows Core server. 
  • Open Powershell by pressing 'Win + X', then select "Windows PowerShell". 
  • Run the below PowerShell command to update the Reserve Password value
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\RSA\RSA Desktop\Local Authentication Settings" -Name "ReservePasswordHashedValue" -Value "<enter the Reserve Password Value>"
  • After running the command, you can verify if the registry key was updated successfully:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\RSA\RSA Desktop\Local Authentication Settings" -Name "ReservePasswordHashedValue"


Here's a demonstration of how to update the Reserve Password value and confirm the change using the provided PowerShell commands:
image.png
Notes
Similarly, you can update any registry key if the registry path and key name are known. 

For example: 
Set-ItemProperty -Path "<RegistryPath>" -Name "<KeyName>" -Value "<NewValue>"