Title

Document behavior if file validation fails must be set. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

This policy key controls how Office documents should be handled when failing file validation. By requiring such documents to be opened in Protected View, any potentially malicious code would be disabled, allowing the user to edit the document and resave correctly.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2013 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center -> Protected View "Set document behavior if file validation fails" is set to "Enabled: Open in Protected View" and Unchecked for "Do not allow edit". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following keys: If both HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\excel\security\filevalidation\OpenInProtectedView is set to REG_DWORD = 1 and HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\excel\security\filevalidation\DisableEditFromPV is set to REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding. If either, or both keys, is not set to REG_DWORD = 1, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2013 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center -> Protected View "Set document behavior if file validation fails" to "Enabled: Open in Protected View" and Unchecked for "Do not allow edit".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-242370r961092_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-242370

Group Title: SRG-APP-000210

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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