Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous Default Handler changes must be disabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-79385	AADC-CN-001280	SV-94091r1_rule		Low

Description
Acrobat Pro allows users to change the version of Acrobat Pro that is used to read PDF files. This is a risk if multiple versions of Acrobat are installed on the system and the other version has dissimilar security configurations or known vulnerabilities. When the Default PDF Handler is disabled, the end users will not be able to change the default PDF viewer.

STIG	Date
Adobe Acrobat Professional DC Continuous Security Technical Implementation Guide	2019-07-01

Details

Check Text ( C-78999r4_chk )
Verify the following registry configuration: Using the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If the value for bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching is not set to “1” and Type is not configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, this is a finding. GUI path: Edit > Preferences > General > Verify the 'Select As Default PDF Handler' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' must be set to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatProDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatProDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatProDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Check Text ( C-78999r4_chk )

Verify the following registry configuration:

Using the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

If the value for bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching is not set to “1” and Type is not configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, this is a finding.

GUI path: Edit > Preferences > General > Verify the 'Select As Default PDF Handler' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding.

Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' must be set to 'Enabled'.

This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatProDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatProDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatProDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-86157r3_fix)
Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatProDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatProDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatProDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-86157r3_fix)

Configure the following registry value:

Registry Hive:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path:
\Software\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' to 'Enabled'.

This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatProDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatProDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatProDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.