Title

Disable the feature to automatically update links when the document opens - Word. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

By default, when users open documents Word 2007 automatically updates any links to external content, such as graphics, Excel worksheets, and PowerPoint slides. To disable automatic updating, the user can click the Office Button, click Word Options, click Advanced, scroll to the General section, and then clear the Update automatic links at open check box. If Word is configured to automatically update links when documents are open, document content can change without the user's knowledge, which could put important information at risk.

Check Content

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office Word 2007 -> Word Options -> Advanced “Update automatic links at Open” will be set to “Disabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Options\vpref Criteria: If the value fNoCalcLinksOnOpen_90_1 is REG_DWORD = 1 this is not a finding.

Fix Text

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office Word 2007 -> Word Options -> Advanced “Update automatic links at Open” will be set to “Disabled”.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-19048r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-17811

Group Title:

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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