Browser must retain history on exit.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-46829	DTBI760-IE11	SV-59695r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Delete Browsing History on exit automatically deletes specified items when the last browser window closes. Disabling this function will prevent users from deleting their browsing history, which could be used to identify malicious websites and files that could later be used for anti-virus and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) signatures. Furthermore, preventing users from deleting browsing history could be used to identify abusive web surfing on government systems.

Description

Delete Browsing History on exit automatically deletes specified items when the last browser window closes. Disabling this function will prevent users from deleting their browsing history, which could be used to identify malicious websites and files that could later be used for anti-virus and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) signatures. Furthermore, preventing users from deleting browsing history could be used to identify abusive web surfing on government systems.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-03-01

Details

Check Text ( C-49915r2_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Delete Browsing History -> 'Allow deleting browsing history on exit' must be 'Disabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Privacy Criteria: If the value "ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-49915r2_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Delete Browsing History -> 'Allow deleting browsing history on exit' must be 'Disabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Privacy Criteria: If the value "ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-50573r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Delete Browsing History -> 'Allow deleting browsing history on exit' to 'Disabled'.