Title

Access to Windows Online Troubleshooting Service (WOTS) must be prevented. (Cat III impact)

Discussion

Some features may communicate with the vendor, sending system information or downloading data or components for the feature. Turning off this capability will prevent potentially sensitive information from being sent outside the enterprise and uncontrolled updates to the system. This setting prevents users from searching troubleshooting content on Microsoft servers. Only local content will be available.

Check Content

If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ScriptedDiagnosticsProvider\Policy\ Value Name: EnableQueryRemoteServer Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Troubleshooting and Diagnostics -> Scripted Diagnostics -> "Troubleshooting: Allow users to access online troubleshooting content on Microsoft servers from the Troubleshooting Control Panel (via the Windows Online Troubleshooting Service - WOTS)" to "Disabled".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-226179r794435_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-226179

Group Title: SRG-OS-000095-GPOS-00049

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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