Adobe Reader DC must disable the ability to specify Host-Based Privileged Locations.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-65803	ARDC-CL-000320	SV-80293r3_rule		Medium

Description
Privileged Locations allow the user to selectively trust files, folders, and hosts to bypass some security restrictions, such as enhanced security and protected view. By default, the user can create privileged locations through the GUI. Disabling Host-Based Privileged Locations disables and locks the end user's ability to add hosts as a privileged location prevents them from assigning trust and thereby exempting that location from enhanced security restrictions.

Description

Privileged Locations allow the user to selectively trust files, folders, and hosts to bypass some security restrictions, such as enhanced security and protected view. By default, the user can create privileged locations through the GUI. Disabling Host-Based Privileged Locations disables and locks the end user's ability to add hosts as a privileged location prevents them from assigning trust and thereby exempting that location from enhanced security restrictions.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-66485r2_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: bDisableTrustedSites Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If the value for bDisableTrustedSites 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 'Privileged Locations' section, verify 'Add Host' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Privileged host locations' must be set to 'Disabled'. 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-66485r2_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: bDisableTrustedSites
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

If the value for bDisableTrustedSites 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 'Privileged Locations' section, verify 'Add Host' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding.

Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Privileged host locations' must be set to 'Disabled'.

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-71873r2_fix)
Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\2015\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisableTrustedSites Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Privileged host locations' to 'Disabled'. 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-71873r2_fix)

Configure the following registry value:

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

Value Name: bDisableTrustedSites
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Classic > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Privileged host locations' to 'Disabled'.

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.