Process exclusions configured in McAfee MOVE AV On Access Scan Policy must be formally documented by the System Administrator and approved by the ISSO/ISSM.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-78539	MV45-OAS-000008	SV-93245r1_rule		Medium

Description
When scanning for malware, excluding specific file types will increase the risk of a malware-infected file going undetected. By configuring anti-virus software to scan all file types, the scanner has a higher success rate at detecting and eradicating malware. Excluding files, paths, and processes from being scanned expands the potential for malware to be allowed onto the information system. While it is recognized that some file types might need to be excluded for operational reasons and/or because there is protection afforded to those files through a different mechanism, allowing those exclusions should always be vetted, documented, and approved before applying.

Description

When scanning for malware, excluding specific file types will increase the risk of a malware-infected file going undetected. By configuring anti-virus software to scan all file types, the scanner has a higher success rate at detecting and eradicating malware. Excluding files, paths, and processes from being scanned expands the potential for malware to be allowed onto the information system. While it is recognized that some file types might need to be excluded for operational reasons and/or because there is protection afforded to those files through a different mechanism, allowing those exclusions should always be vetted, documented, and approved before applying.

STIG	Date
McAfee MOVE AV Multi-Platform 4.5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-07-09

Details

Check Text ( C-78109r1_chk )
Access the McAfee ePO console. Select Menu >> Policy >> Policy Catalog and then select "MOVE AntiVirus 4.5.0" from the Product list. From the Category list, select "On Access Scan". Select each configured On Access Scan policy. Under "Exclusions", verify no Process Exclusions have been configured other than the following: %WINDIR%\system32\mssearch.exe UserProfileManager.exe %WINDIR%\system32\searchindexer.exe %WINDIR%\system32\mssdmn.exe %WINDIR%\system32\winfs\winfs.exe %WINDIR%\system32\mssfh.exe If any Process Exclusions are configured and those Process Exclusions have not been formally documented by the System Administrator and approved by the ISSO/ISSM, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-78109r1_chk )

Access the McAfee ePO console.

Select Menu >> Policy >> Policy Catalog and then select "MOVE AntiVirus 4.5.0" from the Product list.

From the Category list, select "On Access Scan".

Select each configured On Access Scan policy.

Under "Exclusions", verify no Process Exclusions have been configured other than the following:

%WINDIR%\system32\mssearch.exe
UserProfileManager.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\searchindexer.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\mssdmn.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\winfs\winfs.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\mssfh.exe

If any Process Exclusions are configured and those Process Exclusions have not been formally documented by the System Administrator and approved by the ISSO/ISSM, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-85275r1_fix)
Access the McAfee ePO console. Select Menu >> Policy >> Policy Catalog and then select "MOVE AntiVirus 4.5.0" from the Product list. From the Category list, select "On Access Scan". Select each configured On Access Scan policy. Under "Exclusions", remove any Process Exclusions that have been configured other than the following: %WINDIR%\system32\mssearch.exe UserProfileManager.exe %WINDIR%\system32\searchindexer.exe %WINDIR%\system32\mssdmn.exe %WINDIR%\system32\winfs\winfs.exe %WINDIR%\system32\mssfh.exe Click "Save".

Fix Text (F-85275r1_fix)

Access the McAfee ePO console.

Select Menu >> Policy >> Policy Catalog and then select "MOVE AntiVirus 4.5.0" from the Product list.

From the Category list, select "On Access Scan".

Select each configured On Access Scan policy.

Under "Exclusions", remove any Process Exclusions that have been configured other than the following:

%WINDIR%\system32\mssearch.exe
UserProfileManager.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\searchindexer.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\mssdmn.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\winfs\winfs.exe
%WINDIR%\system32\mssfh.exe

Click "Save".