Checking for signatures on downloaded programs must be enforced.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223079	DTBI370-IE11	SV-223079r942483_rule		Medium

Description
This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer checks for digital signatures (which identifies the publisher of signed software and verifies it has not been modified or tampered with) on user computers before downloading executable programs. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will check the digital signatures of executable programs and display their identities before downloading them to the user computers. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to the user computers. If you do not configure this policy, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to the user computers.

Description

This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer checks for digital signatures (which identifies the publisher of signed software and verifies it has not been modified or tampered with) on user computers before downloading executable programs. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will check the digital signatures of executable programs and display their identities before downloading them to the user computers. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to the user computers. If you do not configure this policy, Internet Explorer will not check the digital signatures of executable programs or display their identities before downloading them to the user computers.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-24752r428787_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> 'Check for signatures on downloaded programs' must be 'Enabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download Criteria: If the value "CheckExeSignatures" is REG_SZ = yes, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-24752r428787_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> 'Check for signatures on downloaded programs' must be 'Enabled'. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download Criteria: If the value "CheckExeSignatures" is REG_SZ = yes, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-24740r428788_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Advanced Page -> 'Check for signatures on downloaded programs' to 'Enabled'.