Title

Internet Explorer must be configured to use machine settings. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Users who change their Internet Explorer security settings could enable the execution of dangerous types of code from the Internet and websites listed in the Restricted Sites zone in the browser. This setting enforces consistent security zone settings to all users of the computer. Security zones control browser behavior at various websites and it is desirable to maintain a consistent policy for all users of a machine. This policy setting affects how security zone changes apply to different users. If you enable this policy setting, changes that one user makes to a security zone will apply to all users of that computer. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, users of the same computer are allowed to establish their own security zone settings.

Check Content

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer "Security Zones: Use only machine settings" must be "Enabled". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings Criteria: If the value Security_HKLM_only is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer "Security Zones: Use only machine settings" to "Enabled".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-45220r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-3427

Group Title: DTBI320 - Security zone machine settings

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.