Adobe Reader DC must disable the ability to elevate (trusts) certified documents as a Privileged Location.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-65671	ARDC-CN-000325	SV-80161r2_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 certified documents disables and locks the end user's ability to elevate certified documents as a privileged location.

STIG	Date
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Continuous Track Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-06-12

Details

Check Text ( C-66245r2_chk )
Verify the following registry configuration: Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bEnableCertificateBasedTrust Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0 If the value for bEnableCertificateBasedTrust is not set to “0” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding. GUI path: Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > In the 'Privileged Location' section, verify 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' option is unchecked and greyed out (locked). If this box is checked and not greyed out, this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' must be set to 'Disabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Check Text ( C-66245r2_chk )

Verify the following registry configuration:

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

Value Name: bEnableCertificateBasedTrust
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0

If the value for bEnableCertificateBasedTrust is not set to “0” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding.

GUI path: Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > In the 'Privileged Location' section, verify 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' option is unchecked and greyed out (locked). If this box is checked and not greyed out, this is a finding.

Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' must be set to 'Disabled'.

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

Fix Text (F-71631r2_fix)
Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bEnableCertificateBasedTrust Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' to 'Disabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-71631r2_fix)

Configure the following registry value:

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

Value Name: bEnableCertificateBasedTrust
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > Security (Enhanced) > 'Automatically trust documents with valid certification' to 'Disabled'.

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