Internet Explorer Processes Restrict ActiveX Install must be enforced (iexplore).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223035	DTBI1020-IE11	SV-223035r879573_rule		Medium

Description
Users often choose to install software such as ActiveX controls that are not permitted by their organization's security policy. Such software can pose significant security and privacy risks to networks. This policy setting enables blocking of ActiveX control installation prompts for Internet Explorer processes. If you enable this policy setting, prompts for ActiveX control installations will be blocked for Internet Explorer processes. If you disable this policy setting, prompts for ActiveX control installations will not be blocked and these prompts will be displayed to users. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user's preference will be used to determine whether to block ActiveX control installations for Internet Explorer processes.

Description

Users often choose to install software such as ActiveX controls that are not permitted by their organization's security policy. Such software can pose significant security and privacy risks to networks. This policy setting enables blocking of ActiveX control installation prompts for Internet Explorer processes. If you enable this policy setting, prompts for ActiveX control installations will be blocked for Internet Explorer processes. If you disable this policy setting, prompts for ActiveX control installations will not be blocked and these prompts will be displayed to users. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user's preference will be used to determine whether to block ActiveX control installations for Internet Explorer processes.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-01

Details

Check Text ( C-24708r428655_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Security Features -> Restrict ActiveX Install -> 'Internet Explorer Processes' must be 'Enabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_ACTIVEXINSTALL Criteria: If the value "iexplore.exe" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-24708r428655_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Security Features -> Restrict ActiveX Install -> 'Internet Explorer Processes' must be 'Enabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_ACTIVEXINSTALL Criteria: If the value "iexplore.exe" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-24696r428656_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Security Features -> Restrict ActiveX Install -> 'Internet Explorer Processes' to 'Enabled'.