The Download unsigned ActiveX controls property must be disallowed (Internet zone).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-6244	DTBI023	SV-40559r1_rule	DCMC-1	Medium

Description
Unsigned code is potentially harmful, especially when coming from an untrusted zone. This policy setting allows you to manage whether users may download unsigned ActiveX controls from the zone. If you enable this policy setting, users can run unsigned controls without user intervention. If you select Prompt in the drop-down box, users are queried to choose whether to allow the unsigned control to run. If you disable this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned controls. If you do not configure this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned controls.

Description

Unsigned code is potentially harmful, especially when coming from an untrusted zone. This policy setting allows you to manage whether users may download unsigned ActiveX controls from the zone. If you enable this policy setting, users can run unsigned controls without user intervention. If you select Prompt in the drop-down box, users are queried to choose whether to allow the unsigned control to run. If you disable this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned controls. If you do not configure this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned controls.

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 -> "Download unsigned ActiveX controls" must be “Enabled” and "Disable" 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 1004 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 -> "Download unsigned ActiveX controls" must be “Enabled” and "Disable" 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 1004 is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-34431r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> "Download unsigned ActiveX controls" to “Enabled” and select "Disable" from the drop-down box.