Internet Explorer must be configured to use machine settings.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-3427	DTBI320	SV-40549r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Users who change their Internet Explorer security settings could enable the execution of dangerous types of code from the Internet and web sites listed in the Restricted Sites zone in the browser. This setting enforces consistent security zone settings to all users of the computer. Security zones control browser behavior at various web sites and it is desirable to maintain a consistent policy for all users of a machine. This policy setting affects how security zone changes apply to different users. If you enable this policy setting, changes that one user makes to a security zone will apply to all users of that computer. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, users of the same computer are allowed to establish their own security zone settings.

Description

Users who change their Internet Explorer security settings could enable the execution of dangerous types of code from the Internet and web sites listed in the Restricted Sites zone in the browser. This setting enforces consistent security zone settings to all users of the computer. Security zones control browser behavior at various web sites and it is desirable to maintain a consistent policy for all users of a machine. This policy setting affects how security zone changes apply to different users. If you enable this policy setting, changes that one user makes to a security zone will apply to all users of that computer. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, users of the same computer are allowed to establish their own security zone settings.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-04-01

Details

Check Text ( C-39317r1_chk )
The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer “Security Zones: Use only machine settings” must be “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings Criteria: If the value Security_HKLM_only is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-39317r1_chk )

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer “Security Zones: Use only machine settings” must be “Enabled”.

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

Criteria: If the value Security_HKLM_only is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-34425r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer “Security Zones: Use only machine settings” to “Enabled”.