Third-party browser extensions must be disallowed.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-15500	DTBI355	SV-45445r2_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer will launch COM add-ons, known as browser helper objects such as toolbars. Browser helper objects may contain flaws such as buffer overruns which impact Internet Explorer's performance or stability. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer automatically launches any browser helper objects that are installed on the user's computer. If you disable this policy setting, browser helper objects do not launch. If you do not configure this policy, Internet Explorer automatically launches any browser helper objects that are installed on the user's computer.

Description

This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer will launch COM add-ons, known as browser helper objects such as toolbars. Browser helper objects may contain flaws such as buffer overruns which impact Internet Explorer's performance or stability. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer automatically launches any browser helper objects that are installed on the user's computer. If you disable this policy setting, browser helper objects do not launch. If you do not configure this policy, Internet Explorer automatically launches any browser helper objects that are installed on the user's computer.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-12-16

Details

Check Text ( C-42794r1_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> "Allow third-party browser extensions" must be "Disabled". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Criteria: If the value Enable Browser Extensions is REG_SZ = no, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-42794r1_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> "Allow third-party browser extensions" must be "Disabled".

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

Criteria: If the value Enable Browser Extensions is REG_SZ = no, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-38842r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> "Allow third-party browser extensions" to "Disabled".