The default search provider URL must be set

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-35625	DTBC-0008	SV-46912r2_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
"Specifies the URL of the search engine used when doing a default search. The URL should contain the string '{searchTerms}', which will be replaced at query time by the terms the user is searching for. This option must be set when the 'DefaultSearchProviderEnabled' policy is enabled and will only be respected if this is the case.." - Google Chrome Administrators Policy List When doing internet searches it is important to used an encrypted connection via https.

Description

"Specifies the URL of the search engine used when doing a default search. The URL should contain the string '{searchTerms}', which will be replaced at query time by the terms the user is searching for. This option must be set when the 'DefaultSearchProviderEnabled' policy is enabled and will only be respected if this is the case.." - Google Chrome Administrators Policy List When doing internet searches it is important to used an encrypted connection via https.

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 DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL is not displayed under the Policy Name column or it is not set to an organization approved encrypted search string (ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms}) 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 DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL value name does not exist or its value data is not set to an organization approved encrypted search string (ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms}) 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 DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL is not displayed under the Policy Name column or it is not set to an organization approved encrypted search string
(ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms}) 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 DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL value name does not exist or its value data is not set to an organization approved encrypted search string
(ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms}) then this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-40166r1_fix)
Valid for Chrome Browser version 8 or later. Windows registry: Key Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ Value Name: DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL Value Type: String (REG_SZ) Value Data: must be set to an organization approved encrypted search string (ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms}) Windows group policy: Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome\Default search provider\ Policy Name: Default search provider search URL Policy State: Enabled Policy Value: must be set to an organization approved encrypted search string (ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms})

Fix Text (F-40166r1_fix)

Valid for Chrome Browser version 8 or later.

Windows registry:
Key Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\
Value Name: DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL
Value Type: String (REG_SZ)
Value Data: must be set to an organization approved encrypted search string
(ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms})

Windows group policy:
Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome\Default search provider\
Policy Name: Default search provider search URL
Policy State: Enabled
Policy Value: must be set to an organization approved encrypted search string
(ex. https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%{searchTerms})