Site tracking users location must be disabled

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-35619	DTBC-0002	SV-46906r2_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Tracking of user location data over time poses a significant OPSEC issue. "allows you to set whether websites are allowed to track the users' physical location. Tracking the users' physical location can be allowed by default, denied by default or the user can be asked every time a website requests the physical location. If this policy is left not set, 'AskGeolocation' will be used and the user will be able to change it. 1 = Allow sites to track the users' physical location 2 = Do not allow any site to track the users' physical location 3 = Ask whenever a site wants to track the users' physical location" - Google Chrome Administrators Policy List

Description

Tracking of user location data over time poses a significant OPSEC issue. "allows you to set whether websites are allowed to track the users' physical location. Tracking the users' physical location can be allowed by default, denied by default or the user can be asked every time a website requests the physical location. If this policy is left not set, 'AskGeolocation' will be used and the user will be able to change it. 1 = Allow sites to track the users' physical location 2 = Do not allow any site to track the users' physical location 3 = Ask whenever a site wants to track the users' physical location" - Google Chrome Administrators Policy List

STIG	Date
Google Chrome v24 Windows Benchmark	2013-03-07

Details

Check Text ( http://oval.mitre.org/XMLSchema/oval-definitions-5 )
Universal method (Requires Chrome Browser v15 or later): 1. In the omnibox (address bar) type chrome://policy 2. If DefaultGeolocationSetting is not displayed under the Policy Name column or it is not set to Do not allow any site to track the users’ physical location under the Policy Value column, then this is a finding. Windows method: 1. Start regedit 2. Navigate to HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ 3. If the DefaultGeolocationSetting value name does not exist or its value data is not set to 2, then this is a finding.

Check Text ( http://oval.mitre.org/XMLSchema/oval-definitions-5 )

Universal method (Requires Chrome Browser v15 or later):
1. In the omnibox (address bar) type chrome://policy
2. If DefaultGeolocationSetting is not displayed under the Policy Name column or it is not set to Do not allow any site to track the users’ physical location under the Policy Value column, then this is a finding.

Windows method:
1. Start regedit
2. Navigate to HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\
3. If the DefaultGeolocationSetting value name does not exist or its value data is not set to 2, then this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-40160r1_fix)
Valid for Chrome Browser version 10 or later. Windows registry: Key Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ Value Name: DefaultGeolocationSetting Value Type: REG_DWORD Value Data: 2 Windows group policy: Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome\Content Settings\ Policy Name: Default geolocation setting Policy State: Enabled Policy Value: Do not allow any site to track the users' physical location

Fix Text (F-40160r1_fix)

Valid for Chrome Browser version 10 or later.

Windows registry:
Key Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\
Value Name: DefaultGeolocationSetting
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 2

Windows group policy:
Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome\Content Settings\
Policy Name: Default geolocation setting
Policy State: Enabled
Policy Value: Do not allow any site to track the users' physical location