Websites in less privileged web content zones must be prevented from navigating into the Internet zone.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223097	DTBI515-IE11	SV-223097r428843_rule		Medium

Description
This policy setting allows a user to manage whether websites from less privileged zones, such as Restricted Sites, can navigate into the Internet zone. If this policy setting is enabled, websites from less privileged zones can open new windows in, or navigate into, this zone. The security zone will run without the added layer of security that is provided by the Protection from Zone Elevation security feature. If "Prompt" is selected in the drop-down box, a warning is issued to the user that potentially risky navigation is about to occur. If this policy setting is disabled, the potentially risky navigation is prevented. The Internet Explorer security feature will be on in this zone as set by the Protection from Zone Elevation feature control. If this policy setting is not configured, websites from less privileged zones can open new windows in, or navigate into, this zone.

Description

This policy setting allows a user to manage whether websites from less privileged zones, such as Restricted Sites, can navigate into the Internet zone. If this policy setting is enabled, websites from less privileged zones can open new windows in, or navigate into, this zone. The security zone will run without the added layer of security that is provided by the Protection from Zone Elevation security feature. If "Prompt" is selected in the drop-down box, a warning is issued to the user that potentially risky navigation is about to occur. If this policy setting is disabled, the potentially risky navigation is prevented. The Internet Explorer security feature will be on in this zone as set by the Protection from Zone Elevation feature control. If this policy setting is not configured, websites from less privileged zones can open new windows in, or navigate into, this zone.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-09-12

Details

Check Text ( C-24770r428841_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> 'Web sites in less privileged Web content zones can navigate into this zone' must be 'Enabled', and 'Disable' selected from the drop-down box. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 Criteria: If the value "2101" is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-24770r428841_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> 'Web sites in less privileged Web content zones can navigate into this zone' must be 'Enabled', and 'Disable' selected from the drop-down box. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 Criteria: If the value "2101" is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-24758r428842_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Internet Zone -> 'Web sites in less privileged Web content zones can navigate into this zone' to 'Enabled', and select 'Disable' from the drop-down box.