Title

Unencrypted password is sent to 3rd party SMB Server. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Some non-Microsoft SMB servers only support unencrypted (plain text) password authentication. Sending plain text passwords across the network, when authenticating to an SMB server, reduces the overall security of the environment. Check with the Vendor of the SMB server to see if there is a way to support encrypted password authentication.

Check Content

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for “Microsoft Network Client: Send unencrypted password to connect to third-party SMB servers” is not set to “Disabled”, then this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters\ Value Name: EnablePlainTextPassword Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “Microsoft Network Client: Send unencrypted password to connect to third-party SMB servers” to “Disabled”.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-1141r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-1141

Group Title: Unencrypted Password is Sent to SMB Server.

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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