Macros must be blocked from running in Office files from the Internet.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-238194	DTOO600	SV-238194r879630_rule		Medium

Description
This policy setting allows you to block macros from running in Office files that come from the Internet. If you enable this policy setting, macros are blocked from running, even if 'Enable all macro's is selected in the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center. Also, instead of having the choice to 'Enable Content', users will receive a notification that macros are blocked from running. If the Office file is saved to a trusted location or was previously trusted by the user, macros will be allowed to run. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the settings configured in the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center determine whether macros run in Office files that come from the Internet.

Description

This policy setting allows you to block macros from running in Office files that come from the Internet. If you enable this policy setting, macros are blocked from running, even if 'Enable all macro's is selected in the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center. Also, instead of having the choice to 'Enable Content', users will receive a notification that macros are blocked from running. If the Office file is saved to a trusted location or was previously trusted by the user, macros will be allowed to run. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the settings configured in the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center determine whether macros run in Office files that come from the Internet.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Excel 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-02-21

Details

Check Text ( C-41404r652513_chk )
Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2016 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center "Block macros from running in Office files from the Internet" is set to "Enabled". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\excel\security Criteria: If the value blockcontentexecutionfrominternet is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-41404r652513_chk )

Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2016 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center "Block macros from running in Office files from the Internet" is set to "Enabled".

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\excel\security

Criteria: If the value blockcontentexecutionfrominternet is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-41363r652514_fix)
Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2016 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center "Block macros from running in Office files from the Internet" to "Enabled".