Title

Display external content and pictures in HTML eMail - Outlook. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Malicious e-mail senders can send HTML e-mail messages with embedded Web beacons, which are pictures and other content from external servers that can be used to track whether specific recipients open the message. Viewing an e-mail message that contains a Web beacon provides confirmation that the recipient's e-mail address is valid, which leaves the recipient vulnerable to additional spam and harmful e-mail. By default, Outlook does not download external content in HTML e-mail and RSS items unless the content is considered safe. Content that Outlook 2007 can be configured to consider safe includes: • Content in e-mail messages from senders and to recipients defined in the Safe Senders and Safe Recipients lists. • Content from Web sites in Internet Explorer's Trusted Sites security zone. • Content in RSS items. • Content from SharePoint Discussion Boards. Users can control what content is considered safe by changing the options in the Automatic Download section of the Trust Center. If Outlook's default blocking configuration is overridden, in the Trust Center or by some other method, Outlook will display external content in all HTML e-mail messages, including any that include Web beacons.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 >> Security >> Automatic Picture Download Settings “Display pictures and external content in HTML email” is set to “Enabled”. NOTE: When this setting is Enabled, Outlook 2007 blocks automatic download of content from external servers unless the sender is included in the Safe Senders list. Recipients can choose to download external content from untrusted senders on a message-by-message basis. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Options\Mail Criteria: If the value BlockExtContent is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 >> Security >> Automatic Picture Download Settings “Display pictures and external content in HTML email” to “Enabled”. Click "Apply".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-18840r3_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-17672

Group Title:

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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