Title

Check for signatures on downloaded programs is not enabled. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer checks for digital signatures (which identifies the publisher of signed software and verifies it hasn't been modified or tampered with) on user computers before downloading executable programs. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will check the digital signatures of executable programs and display their identities before downloading them to user computers. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to user computers. If you do not configure this policy, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to user computers.

Check Content

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> "Check for signatures on downloaded programs" will be set to “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download Criteria: If the value CheckExeSignatures is REG_SZ = yes, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> "Check for signatures on downloaded programs" will be set to “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download Criteria: Set the value CheckExeSignatures to REG_SZ = yes.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-16350r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-15503

Group Title:

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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