ActiveX controls without prompt property must be used in approved domains only (Internet zone).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-22155	DTBI830	SV-40734r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
This policy setting controls whether or not the user is prompted to allow ActiveX controls to run on web sites other than the web site that installed the ActiveX control. If the user were to disable the setting for the zone, malicious ActiveX controls could be executed without the user's knowledge. Disabling this setting would allow the possibility for malicious ActiveX controls to be executed from non-approved domains within this zone without the user's knowledge. Enabling this setting enforces the default value and prohibits the user from changing the value. Web sites should be moved into another zone if permissions need to be changed.

Description

This policy setting controls whether or not the user is prompted to allow ActiveX controls to run on web sites other than the web site that installed the ActiveX control. If the user were to disable the setting for the zone, malicious ActiveX controls could be executed without the user's knowledge. Disabling this setting would allow the possibility for malicious ActiveX controls to be executed from non-approved domains within this zone without the user's knowledge. Enabling this setting enforces the default value and prohibits the user from changing the value. Web sites should be moved into another zone if permissions need to be changed.

STIG	Date
Internet Explorer 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2014-03-21

Details

Check Text ( http://oval.mitre.org/XMLSchema/oval-definitions-5 )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> “Only allow approved domains to use ActiveX controls without prompt” must be “Enabled” and “Enable” selected from the drop-down box. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 Criteria: If the value 120b is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

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

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> “Only allow approved domains to use ActiveX controls without prompt” must be “Enabled” and “Enable” selected from the drop-down box.

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3

Criteria: If the value 120b is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-34593r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> “Only allow approved domains to use ActiveX controls without prompt” to “Enabled” and select “Enable” from the drop-down box.