Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Continuous Track STIG Version Comparison

There are 27 differences between versions v1 r5 (July 27, 2018) (the "left" version) and v2 r1 (July 23, 2021) (the "right" version).

Check ARDC-CN-000310 was removed from the benchmark in the "right" version. The text below reflects the old wording.

This check's original form is available here.

Title

Adobe Reader DC must disable the ability to specify Host-Based Privileged Locations.

Check Content

Verify the following registry configuration: Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisableOSTrustedSites Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If the value for bDisableOSTrustedSites is not set to “1” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding. GUI path: Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > In the 'Privileged Locations' section, verify 'Automatically trust sites from my Win OS security zones' option is unchecked and greyed out (locked). If this box is checked and not greyed out, this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > Automatically trust sites from my Win OS security zones' must be set to 'Disabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Discussion

Privileged Locations allow the user to selectively trust files, folders, and hosts to bypass some security restrictions, such as enhanced security and protected view. By default, the user can create privileged locations through the GUI. Disabling Host-Based Privileged Locations disables and locks the end user's ability to add hosts as a privileged location prevents them from assigning trust and thereby exempting that location from enhanced security restrictions.

Fix

Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisableOSTrustedSites Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > Automatically trust sites from my Win OS security zones' to 'Disabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.