Ability for users to enable or disable add-ons must be enforced.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-14245	DTBI697	SV-45057r2_rule	ECSC-1	Low

Description
Users often choose to install add-ons that are not permitted by an organization's security policy. Such add-ons can pose a significant security and privacy risk to your network. This policy setting allows you to manage whether users have the ability to allow or deny add-ons through Add-On Manager. If you enable this policy setting, users cannot enable or disable add-ons through Add-On Manager. The only exception occurs if an add-on has been specifically entered into the 'Add-On List' policy setting in such a way as to allow users to continue to manage the add-on. In this case, the user can still manage the add-on. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the appropriate controls in the Add-On Manager will be available to the user.

Description

Users often choose to install add-ons that are not permitted by an organization's security policy. Such add-ons can pose a significant security and privacy risk to your network. This policy setting allows you to manage whether users have the ability to allow or deny add-ons through Add-On Manager. If you enable this policy setting, users cannot enable or disable add-ons through Add-On Manager. The only exception occurs if an add-on has been specifically entered into the 'Add-On List' policy setting in such a way as to allow users to continue to manage the add-on. In this case, the user can still manage the add-on. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the appropriate controls in the Add-On Manager will be available to the user.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-04-01

Details

Check Text ( C-42431r3_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> "Do Not Allow users to enable or disable add-ons" must be "Disabled" or "Not Configured". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions Criteria: If the value NoExtensionManagement does not exist ("Not Configured") or the value is set to REG_DWORD = 0 ("Disabled"), this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-42431r3_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> "Do Not Allow users to enable or disable add-ons" must be "Disabled" or "Not Configured".

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions

Criteria: If the value NoExtensionManagement does not exist ("Not Configured") or the value is set to REG_DWORD = 0 ("Disabled"), this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-38466r2_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer-> "Do Not Allow users to enable or disable add-ons" to "Disabled" or "Not Configured".