Adobe Reader DC must enable Enhanced Security in a Browser.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-65735	ARDC-CL-000010	SV-80225r2_rule		Medium

Description
PDFs have evolved from static pages to complex documents with features such as interactive forms, multimedia content, scripting, and other capabilities. These features leave PDFs vulnerable to malicious scripts or actions that can damage the computer or steal data. The Enhanced security feature protects the computer against these threats by blocking or selectively permitting actions for trusted locations and files. Enhanced Security determines if a PDF is viewed within a browser application. A threat to users of Adobe Reader DC is opening a PDF file that contains malicious executable content. Enhanced Security “hardens” the application against risky actions: prevents cross domain access, prohibits script and data injection, blocks stream access to XObjects, silent printing, and execution of high privilege JavaScript. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000112, SRG-APP-000206, SRG-APP-000207, SRG-APP-000209, SRG-APP-000210

Description

PDFs have evolved from static pages to complex documents with features such as interactive forms, multimedia content, scripting, and other capabilities. These features leave PDFs vulnerable to malicious scripts or actions that can damage the computer or steal data. The Enhanced security feature protects the computer against these threats by blocking or selectively permitting actions for trusted locations and files. Enhanced Security determines if a PDF is viewed within a browser application. A threat to users of Adobe Reader DC is opening a PDF file that contains malicious executable content. Enhanced Security “hardens” the application against risky actions: prevents cross domain access, prohibits script and data injection, blocks stream access to XObjects, silent printing, and execution of high privilege JavaScript. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000112, SRG-APP-000206, SRG-APP-000207, SRG-APP-000209, SRG-APP-000210

STIG	Date
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Classic Track Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-06-11

Details

Check Text ( C-66393r2_chk )
Verify the following registry configuration: Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\2015\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bEnhancedSecurityInBrowser Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If the value for bEnhancedSecurityInBrowser is not set to “1” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding. GUI path: Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > In the 'Enhanced Security' section> Verify 'Enable Enhanced Security' checkbox is checked and greyed out (locked). If the box is not checked nor greyed out (locked), this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Enable Enhanced Security In Browser' must be set to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCClassic custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCClassic.admx" and "AcrobatDCClassic.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Check Text ( C-66393r2_chk )

Verify the following registry configuration:

Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\2015\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bEnhancedSecurityInBrowser
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

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

GUI path: Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > In the 'Enhanced Security' section> Verify 'Enable Enhanced Security' checkbox is checked and greyed out (locked). If the box is not checked nor greyed out (locked), this is a finding.

Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Enable Enhanced Security In Browser' must be set to 'Enabled'.

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

Fix Text (F-71781r2_fix)
Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\2015\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bEnhancedSecurityInBrowser Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Enable Enhanced Security In Browser' to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCClassic custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCClassic.admx" and "AcrobatDCClassic.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-71781r2_fix)

Configure the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\2015\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bEnhancedSecurityInBrowser
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Enable Enhanced Security In Browser' to 'Enabled'.

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