Title

Windows Server 2019 must not have Windows PowerShell 2.0 installed. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Windows PowerShell 5.x added advanced logging features that can provide additional detail when malware has been run on a system. Disabling the Windows PowerShell 2.0 mitigates against a downgrade attack that evades the Windows PowerShell 5.x script block logging feature.

Check Content

Open "PowerShell". Enter "Get-WindowsFeature | Where Name -eq PowerShell-v2". If "Installed State" is "Installed", this is a finding. An Installed State of "Available" or "Removed" is not a finding.

Fix Text

Uninstall the "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine". Start "Server Manager". Select the server with the feature. Scroll down to "ROLES AND FEATURES" in the right pane. Select "Remove Roles and Features" from the drop-down "TASKS" list. Select the appropriate server on the "Server Selection" page and click "Next". Deselect "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine" under "Windows PowerShell" on the "Features" page. Click "Next" and "Remove" as prompted.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-205685r569188_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-205685

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.