# What does "restricted indices" means in Security:Has privileges API?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-does-restricted-indices-means-in-security-has-privileges-api/185175>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** elastic-stack-security\
**Created:** [June 11, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-does-restricted-indices-means-in-security-has-privileges-api/185175 "2019-06-11T11:46:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![Yogesh\_Gaikwad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/yogesh_gaikwad/32/27025_2.png) [@Yogesh\_Gaikwad](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Yogesh_Gaikwad)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-does-restricted-indices-means-in-security-has-privileges-api/185175/2 "2019-06-11T23:50:24Z")

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Hi @LoadingZhang,

> Restricted indices (currently only `.security*` ) are special internal indices that require setting the `allow_restricted_indices` flag on every index permission that covers them. If this flag is `false` (default) the permission will not cover these and actions against them will not be authorized.

The security index is used by the security module to provide security features for ES.  
When you define index privilege you can use `allow_restricted_indices` flag to authorize the user access to restricted indices.  
Hope this helps.

Thanks and Regards,  
Yogesh Gaikwad

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