Title

ActiveX Installs must be configured for proper restriction. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Microsoft ActiveX controls allow unmanaged, unprotected code to run on the user computers. ActiveX controls do not run within a protected container in the browser like the other types of HTML or Microsoft Silverlight-based controls. Disabling or not configuring this setting does not block prompts for ActiveX control installations and these prompts display to users. This could allow malicious code to become active on user computers or the network.

Check Content

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict ActiveX Install" must be set to "Enabled" and "powerpnt.exe" and "pptview.exe" are checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_ACTIVEXINSTALL Criteria: If the value powerpnt.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding. AND HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_ACTIVEXINSTALL Criteria: If the value pptview.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict ActiveX Install" to "Enabled" and "powerpnt.exe" and "pptview.exe" are checked.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-242158r961779_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-242158

Group Title: SRG-APP-000488

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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