Title

File validation in Excel must be enabled. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

This policy setting allows you turn off the file validation feature. If you enable this policy setting, file validation will be turned off. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, file validation will be turned on. Office Binary Documents (97-2003) are checked to see if they conform against the file format schema before they are opened.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Excel 2016 >> Excel Options >> Security >> Turn off file validation is set to "Disabled". Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security\filevalidation If the value for enableonload is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text

Set policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Excel 2016 >> Excel Options >> Security >> Turn off file validation to "Disabled".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-223334r879573_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-223334

Group Title: SRG-APP-000112

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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